Vacation and Travel Talk

The Treasures of the Diocesan Museum of Salerno

2012-01-27T22:02:00.000+01:00

Winter is not the best tme to visit Italy but the vacation can offer many interesting things to learn and to see. For exsample, if you visit Salerno in this period, you can enjoy the new exposition in the Diocesan Museum that is open from December.

The Diocesan Museum is not very big but it has some rarities.

First of all are the medieval avory altar pieces. Well, nobody knows, sincerely, what it is and even how the pieces of this puzzle were composed originally. But the 69 pieces work that represents scenes from New and Old Testament is the only so complete collection in the world.

The second rarity are the pages of the Exultet -a "book" of images used to show to the believers what is the priest telling during the Mass. The persons did not understand latin and they used these pictures to make them participate consciously.

The next interesting object exposed in the diocesan Museum is the cross of Robert Guiscard. I'm not very sure that this cross is effectively the property of Robert Guiscard, the Normann Conquirer of Salerno but the artifact is very special in any case.

Is it Venice?

2012-01-20T17:24:00.002+01:00

These are the photos of my friend that lives in... oh no, not in Venice!
In SPb!
St. Petersburg. There are not so many cities that provoke so great love in the hearts of so many persons. SPb is a city that steals your heart. Forever.
If you want to visit Russia, think about SPb. Yes, you are right, I'm the part of that very nourished group of persons that believe SPb is the most beautiful place in the world.

On these photos is the outpost of SPb, Kronstadt. It's a town of sailors. If you visit SPb in summer (and I hope, you have this possibility), you can buy a ferry excursion that will visit Kronstadt. It's an excellent way to relax -a ferry.

«Форты Кронштадта» на Яндекс.Фотках

«По воде вокруг города Кронштадта» на Яндекс.Фотках

This temple is built for the sailors that died in the fights against the enemies of the homeland. It's dome is visible from all the parts of the gulf.

«Морской собор в Кронштадте» на Яндекс.Фотках

Bathing Before Christmas

2012-01-15T21:52:00.002+01:00

I want to precise that it's about orthodox Christmas and it means about Jan.6/ 7. My friend went in Siberia for a short vacation and found an interesting place in one of the towns they visited: a bath with hot mineral water. They say, the inhabitants of Siberia are very healthy because they like "banja" -Russian bath. After they take the bath, they go out anf swimm in the rivers or rub themselves with snow. That show the photos here.

«Покровом снежным, бело-синим вокруг окутала зима...» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Жаркая банька» на Яндекс.Фотках

But it's the first time I hear that there are such pools with hot mineral water used to enjoy the cold winter. My friend told me, she caught cold before the vacation but after this bath everything passed.

«Купание пред Рождеством...» на Яндекс.Фотках

Tortuguero, Costa Rica; a natural wonderland

2012-01-08T22:25:00.000+01:00

I recently had the privilege of visiting Tortuguero (loosely translate to “turtle land”), a small village and national park isolated in Costa Rica’s northwestern corner. The first thing that struck me upon arrivingat Moin is that the road abruptly ends. From Moin the journey continues by boatas there are no roads leading to, or in the Village of Tortuguero. The boat rideup the Canals of Tortuguero National Park was amazing. Wildlife is abundant inthis area, with three species of monkey in the trees, mellow manatees and snappycrocodile in the waters and beautiful toucans in the skies overhead. UnfortunatelyI was not lucky enough to see the elusive Jaguar, but the real stars of theshow were still to come.

The small village of Tortuguero is home to only a littleover 1000 people, but the town has many lodging options so there was no problemfinding accommodations on the fly. I had left the sounds of cars and buses leftlong ago. This is a slow paced town where relaxation is the action, and thejungle songs of birds and insects mesh with rolling waves to create a naturalfeeling almost like traveling back in time.

I strolled along the Coffee colored beach and encountered afew Nesting Hawksbill Turtles. It was an interesting sight as the turtle’s eyesactually tear as they lay their eggs. I forgot to ask why this occurs but Iwill just go with my notion that they are tears of joy. I walked about a mile then decided to turnaround as I began to get hungry, and a local told me the real action happensafter the sun goes down.

I went back to my lodge and booked a guide for a night timeturtle tour. One thing to note is that visitors are not allowed on the beachwithout a guide after 6PM, sadly this is because poachers have stolen the turtle’seggs pushing some species to the points of near extinction. We set out at 8PM,the guides use special red flashlights which I though was interesting and wastold this is because the turtle use the moon as a navigational tool. Regularflashlights confuse the turtles and sometimes force them to return to the seawithout laying their eggs.

There were many turtles exiting the sea and slowly crawlingup the beach. The first turtle we approached was a massive Leatherback. I neverimagined a turtle could be so big, the guide said they can reach lengths ofover two meters and weights of 900 kilograms! We stayed a few minutes andwatched the soon to be mother dig a hole by swatting away sand with her backflippers. An interesting fact is that Sea Turtles return to their birthplace tolay their eggs. Somehow after years at sea they find the beach where theyhatched. This amazed me.

Four species lay their eggs here; Green, Hawksbill,Leatherback and Loggerhead. We had the pleasure of seeing all but the Green Turtle,possibly because our tour got cut a bit short by some scary lightning nearby. Wedid not get a chance to see the famed “arribada” which is an event that occursa few times of year in which up to 100,000 turtles come to shore over a shortperiod of time to nest, maybe next time.

All in all Tortuguero was an amazing experience. The naturalismof the area and knowledge of the guides made the trip one I will never forget.To this day the all species of Sea Turtle are either on the threatened or endangeredlist. Many commercial fishing boats are catching turtles in their nets andpoachers are still a major problem. There are many foundations to help SeaTurtle conservation in Tortuguero and around the world. I truly hope they can effectivelyhelp preserve this natural wonderland for centuries to come.

Guest Post Written By Matt Ymbras for TV Pura Vida

Travel with a Good Group of Interested Persons

2012-01-04T11:42:00.003+01:00

December was very good month for me because I found an assotiation of the persons that like walking and like to visit interesting historical places -just as I do. We had an interesting walk over Sorrento

and than, on Jan.1, we climb a mountain to see the ruins of the Longobard castel and the breathtaking panorama of all our zone from the height of 1200 m.

With my husband, we visited Apulia with Taranto and Ostuni. We have seen 2 seas in the same day, Ionic and Adriatic sea. Traveling with the car was relatively difficult -mostly because it's hard to drive and to stay in the car all the day long, 12 hours. But the places we visited were really interesting and so fantastic!

This is Ostuni, the White town with Adriatic sea in the background.

Here is the countryside between Ostuni and Marina Franca with incredible trulli everywhere.

And this is the view in the direction of Taranto and the Ionic sea

Dubrovnik in Croatia

2011-12-25T12:09:00.001+01:00

Cruises are interesting because we can visit different countries or at least different cities in only some days. We can't explore those ports in-depth, but we can still visit the most special touristic objects. One of these ports is Dubrovnik in Croatia. I read somewhere that it's the most beautiful town in Europe. Sure is that many cruise ships visit the town.

«город Дубровник в Хорватии» на Яндекс.Фотках

It's possible you don't know that Dubrovnik is a town of great artistic interest. I noticed that all the tourists that visited it do not write about it's artistic beauties. Neither about it's numerous feasts. If you don't like them, you can enjoy it's modernity, too: nightlife, shows, water sports, adventure vacation and beaches. What I like particularly, is the rich nature and wild animals that are not too afraid of humans.

Great Savings with Online Canadian Pharmacy

2011-12-20T18:51:00.001+01:00

CanadaDrugCenter.com is a fully licensed online Canadian pharmacy selling prescription and non-prescription medications. You can save up to 90% on your meds thanks to the difference of the prices in countries like Canada and USA, for example. When you look for your medicine, you can choose from the list of brands and generic products. You have total control of the available drugs and their prices and can decide personally what medicine you want to order.

Let’s suppose you buy effexor, a medicine that cures depression with success. CanadaDrugCenter.com offers the list of equivalents with all the informations about the drug in the bottom of the page. You can find answers on your questions there, too. The most important are who and how can take this medicine. Don't forgetto study side effects when youdecide to buy it.

If you have high cholesterol levels, you probably buy lipitor to avoid deseases like heart attack and strokes. With CanadaDrugCenter.com you can save appreciably not only the lowest price is guaranteed by the company. Send a valid prescription written by your doctor with your order and request the drug you choose among the rich list of generic products there.

And your savings do not finish here. Imagine, you buy fosamax and save so significantly with the change and great chooice of prices. Look at right of the list of the products where you can see a little green button "Earn $35". Don't overlook it! It's a really great possibility- Because for every person you refere, you receive $35 credit. And your friend, too! Is it not a great gift to your budget?

Winter Is Here. In Italy, too

2011-12-18T23:49:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, the temperature was so nice. Yesterday, we had still autumn. Somebody could say it was similar to summer. Yesterday, the temperature was 18°C. It was yesterday.

Today, we have 8°C.
Probably, you will laugh. Is it cold winter? Well, maybe it is not cold if you look at it generally. But if we think that the temperature was 18°C till yesterday and it is 10 degrees lower today -this is the difference.
Yes, it's not like Siberia

«автор фото -Natavoro» на Яндекс.Фотках

They said that Vesuvius is covered with snow today. I did not see it because I was not from that part of our hill today. I'll photograph it tomorrow, promise. But Vesuvius is 1281 meters high and the temperature is low over 1000 m.

I'm afraid that all the water that fall on the earth in these 2 weeks becomes ice till tomorrow. Here, on the hills, it can happen. And I'm afraid to use the car in these conditions. But now, when I write it, I hear that the rain continue.

So, what do you mean when you say "winter"?

Hollywood Onboard

2011-12-15T20:05:00.001+01:00

What do you think about cruises?

If you say, I begin to speak about it because I'm a travel agent of Cruise Brothers and want to promove my site, you are not right. At least in part. Because I ask this question surely impressed by a webinar I followed yesterday, and this webinar was about the best cruise lines. About one of them, to be precise. The webinar was hold by Royal Caribbean to tell us how many awards they won this year (many awards, it's true Why Royal Caribbean has the Best Cruise Line Awards?) and what they want to improve in the next 3 years to become much more better.

But I was impressed not by the ships and awards. I was impressed by the programs they have onboard.

It's incredible, but cruise lines want to collect all the best our consumist society dreams to have, fantasizing during the day and sleep hours. Broadway class shows, Hollywood actors, best selling films in their cinemas and best selling books in their libraries. Winter gardens and Palm Courts with the camera bands playing personally for you... And I don't tell you about the water tubes and climbing walls, golf courts and promenades where you can run or sit in a bar...

Itineraries that allow you to visit different countries and even overnights in the most important ports for in-depth explorations. World known lecturers and cooking classes.

So, what do you think about today cruises?

Well, probably, these are really the best vacation options. I counted the cost of the vacation on land and all these all-inclusive cruises. They cost even less than the "normal" vacations, you know. Specially we, women, understand that it's the vacation of our dreams: we can finally have the time when we can relax together with all the family. Without any other thought except relaxation and pleasure. Somebody will clean, cook etc.

:-))) You are right, after all I said here, I have to send you to my cruise search page... It's in the right sidebar here.

A Particular Christmas Nativity Scene

2011-12-11T18:00:00.001+01:00

One of the most important local traditions is to create Christmas Nativity scenes. They believe, it's a good omen to create and to visit them.

There are entire shops and even streets where they sell only Nativity scene's pieces. And different villages and associations organize alive Nativity scenes, too. It comes from the times of St. Francisc of Assisi who tryed to explain the Bible to the unalphabet persons this way.
I write about it every year so I'll not stop on it this time.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception I passed with a trekking association. We had an excellent walk from Sorrento to Massa Lubrense and back. Here you see the main square of Sorrento with the Christmas tree.

I like the new custom to place a syntetic Christmas tree in the towns. They do not use to kill the alive trees more. But what I wanted to tell you this time is an interesting Christmas Nativity scene that is organized as you see in a gorge where there were the mills in antiquity.
The scenes are real: the participants change their places every day and Gesus Christ appears in the crib only when He is just born. So, here you see only the beginning of the story.

Italy: Sunny November

2011-12-01T20:18:00.001+01:00

Autumn is the best season in Italy. I just wtìrote about it in my article Autumn in Italy -Best Vacation ChoiceDo you like autumn? Many of us like it. But here, in southern Italy autumn is long, very-very long.

This year, all November was cool, too. Normally, this month is rainy. And December is lovely, than. But sometimes we can enjoy so high temperatures! Once, it was possible to swim till November! It's not about this year but... look at these photos, they will explain everything without words.

One of the beaches in the industrial zone of Salerno is desert. Nobody tryes to touch the water. I did not touch it, too. The stay near the sea is always not only joy, you absorb this healthy air and the rays of sun with every cell of your body.

Fishers find always time to sit on the stones that maintain the seaside in the center of Salerno. You can find them here day and night. I looked in their buckets but did not see anything else except young fishes. What is their interest in sitting there is a mystery for me.

The other interesting specie of humans flourish in the town: runners. The seaside of Salerno is very long. And, if you have this wish, you can arrive, comfortably running, till the end of the town. The most beloved is this central part that is about 1,5 km long.

Finally, if you do not belong to fishers and runners, you can always meditate looking on the boats that are slowly passing in front of you, giving to your walk and to all your vacation that incredible sense of calm and extreem relax.

What Affects Premiums of Car Insurance Policy

2011-11-23T22:00:00.001+01:00

Vehicle insurance is an important financial system thought to protect every participant of the traffic from damages and liability in case of collision. But the premium can vary considerably. We do not have to take it for granted for simple reason: the premium of a good informed person may save for her great amount of dollars every year because there are so many variables that can affect the premium! Here are some of them to keep your eye on.

You can lower your insurance premium if you take some precautions, first of all. Check your car, instal safety features and devices, take safe-driving courses. It's important not only for insurance companies but is a very important psychological factor for you, too. The feeling that you are brave and have everything and meet the requirements will entail low number of accidents and tickets. The scientifically proved fact is that more collisions and tickets have those persons that just have many of them (accidents and tickets).

Next step is to choose your car insurance where you will obtain interesting price and good discounts. An important thing that not all the drivers remember at the moment they shop for the car insurance is how many years they drive without violations. The number of requested years vary from company to company and can be three or five, for example. So, good driving records and attention to the peculiarities will help you to safe money.

Italy: Interesting and Unexplored

2011-11-22T17:44:00.001+01:00

Italy offers not only beautiful places to visit. There are many and frequent manifestations and exhibitions where you can learn practically anything here, too.

Some days ago I visited one of them, dedicated to the archaeological tourism. They said, it was the last of these manifestations (XIV) and I could not miss it since I am working as a travel agent, as you know.

I wanted to know people that will tell abut their lands. It was very interesting for me. Unfortunatelly, there were not representatives from north Italy but in any case, I could have a great tour of the large part of the country.

I took everything I could that was exposed there (every tour operator took books and brochures to give to those who is interested in), and now I have half of the house covered with that brochures that I have to systematize. It will be useful not only to answer the questions of the persons that ask me what and where they can visit in Italy. It is very interesting for me, too. Because I love to visit interesting places and to explore this country.

It's very often that I can't find enough information about this or that city or national, archaeological park or something other. I don't like to go somewhere and to discover after the visit that I did not see the main, the most interesting part of it. If I go somewhere, I go to learn the country, to discover it's importance, not to say than to my friends and relatives that "I was there". It's senseless and too expensive way to throw time and money, you know.

Well, now, when I accumulated all that treasure, I will study these brochures and will organize absolutely unforgettable travels for me and for my clients. And I've just seen some veeery veeeery ... :-)))

Impressive Mountains

2011-11-12T20:33:00.001+01:00

Sud Apennine mountains are very low if we look at them from the part where I live, between Salerno and Naples. They are similar to the hills more than to the mountains. You begin to understand that you are near the mountains when you travel on sud of Salerno. Here you can admire them and the frequent clouds over them, too. It's clear thet the tops of the moountain chains are much more clod than the plains but you understand it when you see the town on the beach caressed by the sunshine and treatening clouds that cover all the area only 4-5 km fare from there.

We were in Battipaglia and Eboli some days ago and I was amazed by the view of the mountains over Salerno how they present from that part. (and the clouds, as you see, do not delude me -I've told you the truth :-) )

But these mountains are very different from Vesuvius, for example, that is formed from the volcanic rock. Here you can see the layers from that our Earth is built.Sometimes they are calm as on this photo, other times they are broken violently. It makes a strange impression: you can see that terrible event with your own eyes if you have some imagination.

The mountains in our zone and in all Campania are not too high, but don't think they are old, low, tired. First of all, they arrive to 1800 (almost...) meter near Avellino and to the south of Salerno. And there are splendid stalactitic grotto there, too!

Monaco is the November Vacation of my Dreams

2011-11-05T17:55:00.000+01:00

Monaco is situated not too far from the place where my friends have their summer flat. When I visited them for the first time about 25 years ago, they wanted to show me all the most interesting places and Monaco was among them. We travelled with the car, and there were the custom barriers in that period. I had the permission to stay only in Italy and could not pass the border, normally. But we found one place where the customs officers did not look at the passes (even if the first time I laid on the seat under the coat).This way we passed every afternoon and evening abroad.

One evening we were near the famous casino of Monaco and wanted to enter inside. Together with the very beautiful women with evening dresses. :-) that went out from Aston Martins cabriolets... Do you think, it was unpossible to enter there? No, we could enter without any problem in the main hall. But it was only a beautiful building... The entrance of the casino was in that main hall. Clearly, we could not enter there without special evening clothes.
Monaco was so beautiful in the daytime and in the evening, and I was so much impressed by it's beauty...I thought, it is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life (betraying my love for Saint Petersburg).
Hotel in Monaco
I would like to visit Monaco once more. But NOW, in this period. Do you know, why? Because they have the most important feast on Nov. 19 and it will be the fireworks show in the evening. They say that those fireworks are the most beautiful in Europe. I would like to see this show...

Two Faces of Sorrento

2011-10-26T14:06:00.000+02:00

Sorrento is one of the ports of call for the cruise ships in Campania, in Italy. This little town is actually all faced to the tourists and they can found there everything they could look for when they step on the soil. There are comfortable connections to the other cities and tourist objects of Campania, too.

Sorrento is situated on the "terrace" of vulcanic stone (it's practically one tongue of lava) 50 meters over the port where there are only some services like taxis and bars. The tourists have to go up the stairs to reach the town for excursion or to take a train or a bus. This is the "new", the "modern" part.

If you are interested to explore the antique, original mode of life of the local population, you have to visit Marina Grande, a fishers' village that is situated from the other side of the rock you see on the first photo and that is possible to reach walking about 15 minutes from the center of the town. Here you can enjoy not only the colorful houses of the fishers but -if you want- you can swimm in those warm waters, too. So, if you like swimming and have to explore Sorrento don't forget your bathing suit. There is free and paid possibility and you will have a great walk up in the town after that -if you don't prefere the bus that stops directly on the beach.

Do you like Sorrento? You can book a cruise from this page -there is a cruise search engine on the right of this article. And remember -if you book your cruise from MY site, you can ask me to guide you in one of the touristic objects in Campania. There you will find the hotel search engine, too. If you prefere, you can contact me for last minute and other offers -you just know that I'm a home based travel agent.

Unusual Cruises Around the World

2011-10-21T13:49:00.000+02:00

Cruise holidays have become more and more popular over the years. Now catering for all age groups,cruises have it all in one place.

With locations constantly updated and cruise liners continuously being improved, cruises are the modernway to see the world.

They are no longer limited to the popular regions of the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Baltics, but nowalso go to more unusual places, such as the Norwegian Fjords and the Alaskan wilderness.

Here we look at some of the unusual cruise options available around her world:

Norway

A cruise along the Norwegian Fjords showcases a profusion of unique natural wonders; waterfalls, lakes,glaciers and fjords. Along the way, the majority of the ports visited are little fishing towns perched on theside of the bays, providing intimate and low key cruises.

There are a number of different stop-offs, which include Bergen, Oslo where you can see the Vigelandsculptures, Stavangar, the Viking capital of Trondheim and the gateway to the Arctic. Some liners crossthe Article circle where you can visit the lunar landscapes as well as the world's most northern town,Hammerfest.

The town is the best place to see the spectacular Northern Lights and is a very popular tourist area.Norwegian liners vary in size and luxury; a number boast private balconies, which at a slight extra costprovide a perfect way to view the Norwegian scenery.

Alaska

Despite being the largest state in America, Alaska is a land of immense beauty whilst being very sparselypopulated. Similarly to Norway, Alaska boasts a number of fjords, glaciers, icebergs, coastal wildernessand snow-capped mountains as well as fertile rainforests. A range of animals are also regularly spottedincluding whales, bears and eagles.

Alaskan cruises offer a number of different experiences that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else. Guestshave the chance to enjoy the unspoiled wilderness whilst also visiting frontier towns full of history andexperiencing up-close encounters with wildlife in their original and undisturbed natural habitats. Thereare also a number of on shore excursions available, including helicopter tours, river trips, bear watchingand dog sledding.

With two passages available, an Alaskan cruise has benefits for all kinds of people. The Inside Passage isusually a trip that does not involve flying into one city and out of another, but instead boasts a roundtripsail. On the other hand, the Gulf of Alaska allows the travellers to see a wider range of the Alaskanscenery, including additional glaciers. However, there is also the option for custom made trips to Alaska,which could include land tours of the interior country or Canadian Rockies as well as the conventionalcruise route.

Disney Themed

Themed cruises are also becoming more popular with choices such as active, relaxing and for the kidsamongst you, the Disney cruisers. Starting in Florida, the Disney cruise transports you into a fairytaleworld with activities for all ages. The cruise liners offer classic beauty with a twist of modern luxuries favoured by cruises nowadays. A wide range of dining is available, from snacks to sit down meals, buffetsto adult only restaurants.

Disney theatres are located on the liners so that travellers can enjoy an abundance of Disney themedshows throughout their trip. As well as this, there are regular character greetings, which give childrenand adults the chance to meet the Disney favourites. With restaurants, pools, rooms and spas namedspecifically after Disney characters and movies, the Disney cruise is a must for any Disney fan.

Hawaii

For those wishing for a more relaxing cruise, the Caribbean can provide a perfect place for a relaxed andharmonious cruise. The Caribbean provides individuality and spectacular landscape and diverse culture.Cruises around the area are usually divided into three areas; eastern, western and southern. The easternitinerary includes islands such as Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua; the western offers the Mexican Riviera,whilst the southern surrounds itself with the Panama Canal, Margarita Island, Aruba and Curacao.

A slightly less popular destination on the Caribbean cruise is Hawaii, due to its distance. However with itshistorical traditions, it is an ideal destination on relaxing cruises and can be combined with stopovers inother cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Luxury

There are a number of luxury cruise liners that run around the world. Despite most cruises offering luxury holidays and accommodation, certain liners go that extra way to ensure that guests have an even moreluxurious time aboard their ships. Not just for the privileged, luxury cruises allow the traveller to travelaround the world in the most stylish ocean liners.

With the majority also having an all inclusive policy, food and drink are included in the price with someliners offering premium wines, spirits and champagnes. Luxury liners give a feel of a private yacht ratherthan a large cruise liner with exceptional service. Staff to guest ratios are close to 1:1 with personalservice throughout your stay. Award winning restaurants are also available aboard the luxury liners, withculinary masterpieces influenced by renowned international chefs.

For those after smaller, less commercialised cruises, luxury liners are a perfect choice. Exclusivelydesigned for fewer guests, the liner boasts more space despite being generally smaller than other liners.Due to this it also enables the cruise itineraries to be based around more exotic and unique destinations,as they have the ability to call into ports that large mainstream cruise liners are not able to dock in.Regardless of the size, the liners still have the same facilities seen in a normal liner; show lounges, casinos,spas, swimming pools and large fitness facilities.

Although possessing similar facilities to mainstream liners the facilities come with a much higherspecification and level of comfort. Suites are also high-end luxury with many possessing balconies. 24hour room service is also commonplace to complement the spacious suites, bathrooms, fine cotton bedlinen and high quality toiletries; personal butlers are also sometimes provided with individual suites.

Family

Cruise holidays are also now becoming more popular for the whole family rather than just couples; it isnot uncommon to find more than 1000 kids on board certain mainstream large liners. With Disney cruisesbeing very popular, other themes have also sprung up with certain liners specifically set up for families.

Family cruises contain specific children's facilities, which can often rival those at land resorts. New linersare now being nicknamed 'floating resorts' as they possess everything expected on a land resort to keep children happy whilst allowing parents to relax, knowing their children are safe.

Milan -Cathedral Trimmed with Lace

2011-10-09T19:50:00.002+02:00

I was in Milan 2 days a week ago. It was a very busy trip but I had some hours free before I had to go home and decided to pass them exploring the terraces of the Dom. I was in Milan different times but I never had the possibility to visit it's interesting places. The only place I've just seen was right the Dome but it was under reconstruction in that period. So, this time I was sure I'll climb the stairs.

It was possible and there was a ticket -6 euro. But if you pay 10 euro, you can go there with the lift. Normally, there are 2 lifts as I understood. But one of them did not work. I spent more time to look wherer that lift is situating because it was from the other side of the building and I could not find it.

Other Travel Destinations

Here are some photos of the terraces of the Dom:

Autumn in Russia

2011-09-23T14:56:00.000+02:00

Autumn is the best time of the year. I love it everywhere, in any place of the world. Sometimes they say that autumn is sad or cold. But it's not so.

We spoke about autumn in Alaska with some friends some days ago. You know that I sell cruises and they told me that the best time to go in Alaska is summer. But if you like nature -and the cruise in Alaska is the time dedicated to the nature first of all- you HAVE to see Alaska in autumn. Not only for incredible colors that you can't see in an other places or seasons. There are many animals visible in this period because they graze in the open places.

Well, you can't maybe see all those animals if you visit Russia. They do not feel so free there. But the nature is very beautiful there, too. Here are some photos my friends took these days. I'm sure you will feel the calm, the silence, the infinity. Unfortunatelly, you can't feel the smels of the autumn... Imagine them.

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

«вид с холмов города Владимира» на Яндекс.Фотках

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

Zoosafari of Fasano, Italy

2011-09-11T21:03:00.002+02:00

Zoosafari of Fasano in Apulia waws the dream of my husband for years. But there was always a reason to set aside the travel. Last Monday, he has a day free and decided that we have to go there, finally. He says, we are not so young more, the life passes dedicated to the job and to duties only. And the dreams leave aside. So, he decided to fulfil his dreams.

It was a splendid experience, I have to say you. We saw persons that love animals. Than, there were many interesting scenes. I can't show you everything, it's clear but I want to share the feeling we had there.

We met a tiger for the entrance...

He was about 2 months old and loved his adoptive "mum" very much (he was week when he was born and his real mum did not want him).We were in the cage of the lions and of the tigers

We have seen many big herbivorous that were not so big as I thought watching them in TV.

Only some of them were so as I imagined them

The main part of Zoosafary was great experience that we loved very much.

Canada of my Dreams

2011-09-01T11:19:00.001+02:00

I never was in Canada. But I read so much about it's nature. And I wrote abut it many times, too. it's possible that I lived in a similar place in one of my previous lives -how can I explain this unusual love that I feel for the northern parts of this Earth? :-)

Sometimes I read the question when is the best time to visit New England and Canada -it's because the not very numerous rooms for tourists (specially the best) are sold about a year before the season. But there are always free rooms in Spring and Autumn. The "aborigens" say, that spring and autumn are more interesting for those who loves nature. It's because there are not only incredible colors in this period but you can see many animals grazing in the open spaces.

Here are some images I found about Canada in the web.

«Национальный парк Джаспер,остров Спирит» на Яндекс.Фотках

Montecassino is a White Stone Miracle

2011-08-21T22:09:00.001+02:00

Finally, we visited Montecassino, the place where the founder of the Benedictine Rule passed many years and created his monastery (Montecassino and Salerno Main Churches are Twins ). All the buildings were destroyed during the World War II but the love to the Saint is so great that all the monastery was created according to the numerous pictures and stories about it's origins.

The place is simply astonishing. It's unpossible to tell or explain. There is a feeling that you join something ... very special. Maybe it's a "place of power"? They say, the old churches, other places where people pray for centuries become marvelous. This monastery was founded in 529, so it has about 1500 years of very anguished history...

Some Views of Russia...

2011-08-11T18:24:00.003+02:00

Russia... You look in the morning from your tent and think if you have just to wash yourself... But somebody prepared just coffee on the fire and it's smell pulls you out... You make some exercises to extend your members ...and the day begins. Other infinite spaces wait for you here.

«река Уфа в тумане» на Яндекс.Фотках
«Александовская сопка под дождем» на Яндекс.Фотках
«река Уфа» на Яндекс.Фотках

Sochi is in Russia

2011-07-31T20:28:00.003+02:00

I have a day of nostalgy today. I think about my mother, about my country, about my happy young past days.

My mother lives in Sochi today. You could hear this name maybe. It's a costal city with subtropical climate in Russia. And my mother is there. She has 70 years this year. And I have seen her 3 years ago last time... I'm nostalgic and sad. There is not job here, in Italy, and I can't visit my mother because I have not job. So, I can only look at this photos.

Italian Feast "Sagra"

2011-07-25T20:54:00.001+02:00

If you plan to visit Italy, you probably want to taste local foods and to partecipate on local feasts and life. So, you have to look for announcements that you can see normally on the walls, on the poles and in special places that tell about the "Sagra". You can have them all year round. When residents of this or that village need money for their projects, they organize Sagras.

We have a period of mushrooms now and different villages offer sagras where they offer home made food with mushrooms. I do not eat mushrooms normally, but once a year I like to taste them, so we visited one of the sagras this Sunday, and I took photos for you.

All the sagras I ever visited in the time I live in Italy have the same "plan": you receive the menu, choose what you want to eat, pay it

Than you take your dishes in the other stall

...and choose the place where you want to eat them.

It looks like this

all the receipes were with porcinis this time

Residents of this village needed money for the pilgrimage to Lourdes.
What is good in these kind of feasts is that you can taste real local cuisine and pay 2-3 times less than you would pay in a restaurant in the same zone or village. We paid euro 10 for all what you see on the tray. And it was possible to buy a glass of local wine for 0,50 euro.

Challenge of the Tromboners

2011-07-12T11:14:00.002+02:00

I've just told you about the medieval town of Cava dei Tirreni in province of Salerno not too far from Naples. The central and the most antique part of it, Borgo, has very interesting look, storically created by the mercants and their shops with the porticos.

The town organizes different medieval manifestations during the year and the most believed is the "Challenge of the Tromboners" that had just the 37 edition. Here is one of part of the feast that I liked more than others. Hope, they won the contest the day after I coud not visit.

Monaco -My Love

2011-07-10T19:31:00.000+02:00

The place I loved more than other among those I was fortunate to visit in my life was without any doubts Monaco/ Monte Carlo (Principality of Monaco). Surely, the reason why I remembered it nnow is the wedding of it's Prince. But I don't want to remember the new sad princess. It's because I was very impressed of this beautiful land.

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

It seemed to occupy so little piece of soil! And it was the country everybody without taxes, where all the residents have so many freedoms.The houses grow high there. Over the houses, there are gardens and pools: on the roofs and terraces. The shops do not expose prices there. They say, it's because the clients do not think about the prices there. They see something beautiful, enter and take it. The most impressive was the part where is situating the institute of Oceanography. At that time, the director was very famous in our country Jacques-Yves Cousteau

«Спрут» на Яндекс.Фотках

The beautiful gardens and squares, the beautiful women and the cars I've never seen from that time... Everything was interesting and worth the visit. So, I can advise everybody to visitr this little country.

Spartacus, the Gladiator

2011-07-05T11:19:00.003+02:00

The amphitheatre of Capua I wrote about in my previous article Spartacus: Here the Gladiator Fought for Life was a kind of modern arenas where thousands of persons assist on the shows. The gladiators were very popular and they were heroes beloved by everybody.

We often think that they were "morituri", sentenced to death or war prisoners etc. Probably, it was so at the beginning. But this belief is not confirmed by the arcaeological excavations. And the amphitheater of Capua with it's underground part confirms the scientists. It was a real town with special entrances for participants and splendid (as you could see on my photos) part for spectators.

The little museum of gladiators near the amphitheatre presents very interesting pieces that you never would expect to see: the real armours of the gladiators and the reconstruction of the look of the arena.

Casually of fortunatelly (maybe because they were more numerous or more beloved) there are armours of the Thracians. The reconstructed look of these warriors was so:

And here are the pieses found in the amphitheatre:

Very interesting is this stone with the hunt of the wild boar. They say that the women-gladiators had the same clothes as the men but they had the breast bounded with a large belt. Here we see probably a hunt. Look at the woman: she is surely the protagonist. Look at her arms.

I noticed an interesting peculiarity: they have bracelets on the ankles.

This marble was a part of the decoration of the sittimngs for rich men (women had a special part where they could assist the battles, too, but they did not sit together with the men):

Spartacus: Here the Gladiator Fought for Life

2011-06-22T13:53:00.001+02:00

My husband wanted to visit the Amphitheater of Capua after he watched the American film about Spartacus.
I've just visited some amphitheaters before. That of Pozzuoli, of Pompei. What can I say you? As in most similar places, you know WHAT it is, you understand it. But you don't feel it. Because those are ruins.

Amphitheater of Capua impresses you because it is partially so as it was in the times of it's splendour. Externally and in the undergrounds. Actually, it's the second large amphitheater after Colosseus. And this one was probably built similar to the Capuan amphitheater.

To be precise, it's not the same building where Spartacus fought. This amphitheater was built about 2 centuries later. But this one was built on the same place.

Vacation on the Beach

2011-06-10T13:17:00.024+02:00

Vacations on the beach are favourite relax for many of us. Persons begin to dream sea waves and breeze just when they turn home from there. Some of my friends said me that the sea is not important for them but than confessed they go to the beach for a week or two every year.

Well, important or not, we want to experience the vacation near the seas. Sometimes it's relaxing and nice when there is enough place on the beach and in the sea. But some of us are not so fortunate or want to visit very popular beaches that are so full that you can hardly find place not only to lay but even to stand there. This photo that was sent me by one of my friends was published by Reuters, I think, about a year or two ago.

Is it a relaxing beach experience???

Carthusian Monasteries of Campania, Italy

2011-06-03T10:23:00.001+02:00

I've just told you about the Benedictine monastery situating not too far from my home that celebrates it's Millennium this year. This time I'll tell some words about one of the Charterhouses (Carthusian Monasteries) I visited in Naples about a month ago.

The strange name of this monastic orden derives from the name of the mountains in the French Alps (Chartreuse Mountains) where St. Bruno founded his first monastery that had eremitical and cenobitic life as their rule.

Well, if you visit the monasteries in Campania, Italy, you can deduct that these eremitical and cenobitic life is ...mmm... a little too comfortable. The monasteries are very lavish. They had great communities of persons that served them. The cells are similar to little villas with their 2-3 rooms and personal gardens.

It's the internal garden for the walks of those monks that did not choose the seclusion. The little fenced place is the cemetery where the monks were burried without coffin.

The secluded monks stayed in their "appartments" without seeing anybody. They received their food through the little window in the wall and lighted the candles to show that they are still alive. If the candle was not lighted and the food remeined in the window next day, the monks coould open the door to take and burry the body of their brother.

But these monasteries (those in Campania, that I could visit) are very rich. Maybe, it's because the monks of this order were from very rich noble families and they took good money and treasures with them. It's enough to see this church, for example, if the views of the internal parts were not enough to understand it. I swear, it's a place of incredible and astonish beauty.

:-))) This church was dedicated ONLY for visits of the males. Women were completely excluded. Tthere was a simple little chapel and a very little yard for them from other part of the building of the monastery.

Traduzioni Su Misura da Tanslia

2011-05-25T20:40:00.000+02:00

Cerchi un agenzia di traduzione con servizi professionali e tariffe anche 50% minori per traduzione di testi informali? Translia è quella che stavi cercando. Quà trovi migliore qualità senza -attenzione!- nè tariffe minime nè quantità minima di parole da tradurre. Qualunquè sia il tuo testo, piccolo o grande, basta che inserisci il tuo file nel sistema per ottenere il preventivo immediato. La garanzia di diritti d'autore offerta dall'agenzia ti assicura anche che nessuno può coppiare il tuo file, che puoi controllare l'andamento della traduzione e che la traduzione sarà fatta nello stesso formato che hai caricato.

Translia ha diversi servizi di traduzione che ti danno possibilità di scegliere una tariffa adatta alle tue esigenze: non devi pagare altissima qualità per un testo informale, puoi avere una traduzione fatta da due o più professionisti per un testo non troppo impegnativo a tariffa ridotte di 25% ed, infine, se hai un testo molto importante puoi essere sicuro che ottieni qualità insuperabile grazie all lavoro di diversi migliori traduttori.

Tutti servizi offerti sono traduzioni professionali che saranno eseguite nel tempo prestabilito con la garanzia Soddisfatti o Rimborsati. E se non sei ancora il cliente di Translia, il tuo primo preventivo includerà un buono sconto di benvenuto. I professionisti di Translia sono sicuri che apprezzerai il loro lavoro e diventerai un cliente fisso.

Cruise is the Perfect Way to Travel

2011-05-19T11:08:00.000+02:00

Cruise is an excellent choise for a vacation and Cruise Deals are available online today.One of the leading cruise specialists is Crusie 1st, specialist in Mediterranean, Caribbean and World cruises. The site of Crusie 1st is very easy to use and that is why you can find your destination or the deals that meet your needs just from the first gaze. Infact, the most important news and last updates you can see in the central part of the page.and some of most interesting offers are under this central slide show.

Crusie 1st chooses of the most Cheap Cruises that suit any budget so that every person can allow this great vacation option. Once on board, you have a real relax so as you wish it. It's because you do not think about anything else except entertainment organized your way. On a cruise ship, you can swim in a pool or climb a special wall, you can read a book among thousands titles in the library or make your jogging excercises. There are many night life possibilities and -what will bewitch you- absolutely fantastic cuisine that you can enjoy on any ship of any cruise line.

A vacation on a cruise ship is the best for exploring the marvels of the world without packing and unpacking every day, without changing trains, airplains and busses. Just relax and walk in an other town or country every day. Isn't it your dream about a perfect way to travel?

Myanmar is Burma

2011-05-12T18:14:00.000+02:00

I have many bloggers friends in Asia and probably created a kind of image of that part of the World reading their blogs and looking on their photos. This mental picture did not include people of this ethnic group -first of all because I was sure that this tradition to wear rings to make the neck longer is extinct for long time, at least from the years when I was a girl. But I was wrong. This photo I found in a Russian site, and the author took it not too far ago.

This ethnic group lives in Burma. Yes, in that country that was destroyed by the recent earthquacke, after Japan. The population is not so rich there but I did not hear that somebody wanted to help them or collected money to send them.

«Как я прекрасна и дивна, Как шея у меня длинна..................» на Яндекс.Фотках

Seychelles Islands

2011-05-03T21:19:00.001+02:00

Do you know that there are so many private islands in the warm seas between North and South Americas? I wrote about some of them when I told you about the private islands of the cruise companies ( Vacation on a Private Caribbean Island Easy Guide) Today I heard the notice about the royal Honeymoon on one of the private of Seychelle Islands and decided to see if there are the photos of the Russian users about these islands. Here are some examples.

«Сейшелы» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Сейшелы» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Cейшелы» на Яндекс.Фотках

Even if the Royal family has to pay more than 4000 dollars(?) for night for Honeymoon, we coud perfectly find something more convenient there if we would like to go for a vacation there. There is more beautiful notice: we could have a vacation gratis, too. In fact, the state includes more than 100 islands but only 33 among them have their population. Other islands are desert! Would you like to pass some days on such beautiful sandy beaches? Do it!

View on Naples from the Castle Sant Elmo

2011-04-26T17:22:00.001+02:00

This sunday I passed in Naples. I wanted to visit the castle and the museum that you have seen together with me from the port but did not planned it for the next days. My husband said me: the weather is still good and who knows if it will maintain so -go now there. And I followed his advise. Fortunatelly -because the weather changed yesterday, it's too cold and the wind is very strong.

Here in the center, on the hill, is the place I visited. What you can see is the wall of the Carthusian monastery. Behind it is situating the castle. I thought, it is the castle from early medieval times but I was wrong. It was built in XVI century. The monastery is older.

The castle is interesting because there are very beautiful views from it's walls. There were 2 exhibitions there, too. One, I did not visit it, -something about cartoons. Ther other is permanent and you can follow the development of the trends in the painting from the beginning till the end of the passed century. The guides explain what you see there.

After it I went up on the wall and made some photos. Here is the "classic" view of Naples with Vesuvius. By the way, if you look forward, behind the volcanoe, more or less the same distance, I think, will be the house where I sit now to tell you about this city. :-)))

Here is the other famous image. Probably you've seen it many times. But I'm sure, you did not associated it with Naples. Next time you'll visit it, remember that this helmet ("elmo" in Italian) is collocated in Castel dell' Elmo (with the island Capri behind it).

Surprising was the other view from the wall. The very desired in the Roman times part of this region where there were ( and there are till today) healing springs. Where Virgil ( Publius Vergilius Maro) collocated the entrance in the Hell. Where the other volcanoe, Solfatara, scares the persons living around it. Where there are many interesting attractions for the discovering this zone tourist.

Eternity

2011-04-20T21:18:00.000+02:00

I thought about the Eternity after I've discussed the life of Jesus between His childhood and 33 years. My friend wanted to know what I think about the possibility that Jesus passed some yars of His life in Tibet.

Well, I don't want to speak about it now. I simply wanted to understand: what feelings I have after this call. I opened the photos of my visits of Greek and Roman sites this year. And understood that all I feel now is possible to explain in only one word: Eternity. Maybe I'm not right, maybe I choosed a wrong definition. Here are the photos that made more impression on me.
Do you agree with me? Is it the right word to explain the concept?

(Photo 1,2 -Paestum; 3 -Roman town under Naples; 4 -the view from the crater of Vesuvius on Sorrento coast and Capri)

The Very First Baptistry

2011-04-11T20:38:00.001+02:00

Spring is just the main character of the life in Italy, we had more than a week of the relatively sunny days, and all the institutions awoke after the letargy of the winter inactivity. In Naples, there are different and very interesting exhibitions, an entire bunch, that are connected to the week of the culture, when the entrance in all the national museums is gratis.

I wanted to visit the castles situating over the city but the weather was not too good and I decided that the most wise way is to stay in the museums that morning. So, the itinerary was urgently changed just in the car and I had to visit the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro (here is the photo of the best piece-the mitre http://www.museosangennaro.it/ )

The actual Dom is built near one of two antique doms of the city, that is actually called Basilica of S. Restituta. Very beautiful and unique building that was created in IV cent. (!) Today, it practically has not the traces of that initial sanctuary.

The right part of the Basilica has an interestiong mosaic inspired, I think, by the mosaics of Constantinople, created in 1322.

On the left, you can find access to the most antique Baptistry (in Europe). It was built at the end of IV century and has unique, literally, mosaics that no one other site has. The Baptistery is actually opened for the visits after many years of important restaurations.

What is interesting in this site that the capitals of the columns are not from the Roman villas -that is usual- but they have signs of the cross and other christian symbols.

The catechumen had to rise his eyes to the god during the christening and could see all these signs over him.

Here are some photos of the mosaics.

Santa Lucia in Naples

2011-04-07T22:48:00.001+02:00

Quarter Santa Lucia of Naples is very beautiful. You have to go for a walk there if you visit this city. And it's unpossible that you miss it, if you decided to walk there. Because this quarter is situated just behind the Royal Palaceabout a km far from thje port where your cruise ship waits for you. By the way, I've just wrote about the restructured port of Naples ( “New” Port of Naples and Mariner of the Seas in Naples ) and went in the city to see the ship of Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas. Because the weather was so good and I had free time, I decided to spend some hours to see the places I like there.

I wanted to visit the fortress Castel dell'Ovo (on the photo, in the sea) to take some photos in this incredible medieval building, but did not want to walk all that way from the port to the castle -about one km, I think. So, I asked one man that was clearly from this place about a short way. He said me that there is only one but not very nice street, and, at the end, decided to accompain me. You can see the mountain road we took just behind the 5-star hotels of the sea front. You will see it, that road, on my next photos closely.

All the street was this way: go and return. 100 meters forward, 100 meters back.

And the castle was just under me, so near but so far... The first Greek sailors decided to leave on that rock in the sea and they used this mountain to excavate the caves for their needs and for their gods.

One of the bends of the street opened a splendid palace. Abandoned. The man that accompained me told, the residents burned it once to protest when the muniсipality wanted to transfer them from the caves where they live (you can see them on my next photo)

These "houses" and "apartments" are the caves in the side of the mountain. Did you ever claim your house? Look at this photo in the period when yoou are not content with your accomodation. But they are sure, I think, that their houses can not fall down during the earthquackes...

Fjord in France

2011-03-29T16:29:00.000+02:00

Did you know that there are fjords in France? No? I did not know about it, too. Till yesterday.Than I found a photo like this one:

«Утро на пляже» на Яндекс.Фотках

The title of that photo was "Calanques". I heard that word for the first time and thought it's something like a little mediterranean town that is situated not far or on the seaside of this formation -like Amalfi, Maiori etc. But I was not right. The word is possible to translate as "fjord" -well, you are right, "translate" is not the proper signification but everybody knows what it is. So, I, for example, sell vacation packages and cruises in Northern Europe that offer visits and trips to Norwegian fjords. Spectacular places, I have to say you.

But I' never thought that there are similar fjords in South Europe, too.

The region is full of them. Here is the photo from Wikipedia where you can find more general information about this place ( Calanque ). Because I did not know about it, I'll copy here some words to have them in my site.

The region is between Marseille and Cassis, there are different calanques there you can visit.

There arew similar formations. So here, in Italy, there is a Regional Natural Reserve of Atri (it's in the region Abruzzo) where you can visit calanques -without sea there, only mountains of this special form. Plants do not grow there but there are interesting animals like reptiles and many species of rapacious birds. Because there are so many different species, it would be interesting to go for bird watching there. We have some species here and they are very interesting to observe.

Happy Birthday, Italy: 150 Years

2011-03-16T11:48:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow is the great feast for Italy: 150 years. All the main cities open important exhibitions, shows, all kinds of the celebrations. Rome and Turin begin the feast just this night. Everything will be open all the night there. Concerts, concerts, concerts everywhere! Hope, the weather will be not very bad and it willl be possible to go in Naples where the feast begins tomorrow at 11:00 in Piazza Plebiscito.

I want to "celebrate" with some photos that represent (I think so) some attractive sides of Italy for all us.

Do You Love Salami?

2011-03-09T13:27:00.000+01:00

Well, "Salumi" -if we want to be precise. All kinds of sausages.

If you come in Italy, you WILL eat them in any case. There are hundreds and thousands of types of salumi in Italy. And you will remember some of my reports about one of the agricultural shows we visited a year ago. (on the photo)

This time I wanted to write about salumi once more because ther was an other "show" in our zone: one of the largest malls, the supermarket inside it, exposed typical products of an other zone of Italy, I do not remember, what zone but all I bought in the show was excellent. Cheese, salami.

And salami -besides the low quantity of salt- was ...look here how long it was! I've never seen such long sausage! And the low quantity of salt was the other good discovery because my husband has to avoid to eat it. Do you know, that the fresh made salami has completly different taste? Mature is good, but fresh is special. Maybe because we can taste it rarely.

This other is Mortadella. It was about 3 m long but it's not surprising because there are often long mortadellas exposed in the shows.

Looking For Cheap Vacation

2011-02-26T22:45:00.002+01:00

Budget travelers and not only they look always more often for cheap vacations. There are different reasons because this phenomena is so popular in the modern world. We work hard and want to have a good vacation, but we are conscious that there are many vendors that have excessive prices thought for unsuspecting tourists. And, from other side, it can happen that we do not inform us about the ways we have to behave in other countries and places we want to visit.

The most evident example from the life. If you go in a bar in a central street of a popular among the tourists town or in one that is near a very popular touristic destination, you can often pay what you order in that bar much more in confront to an other bar that is situating just some steps far from the main street.

Sometimes, I find advises about the airfares. You have to book your ticket choosing a little airport where there are not too many flights, they say. It can be right for some places. But using the air transportation in Italy, I noticed that the best prices I found, were always in the most big and hectic airports like Milan. Personally, I look in all the most important online agencies and carriers sites and choose the best for my intentions price among all them.

Sometimes, cheap means not "less paid". For example, my husband went in Argentina booking a flight for an incredible low price about half a year before the flight. In these 6 months, the company changed the time of departure and other similar things every week. Every time, we had to call their paid call center to confirm that he, my husband, wants to take this flight. Every call's cost was very high.

The other time, I bought an incredibly low cost ticket to fly in Russia about 2 month before the flight. I had an emergency and had to fly there in any case. The company suddenly transfered the flight from the airport near my house to an other, in North Italy just some days before the departure. All the "last minute" flights costed a fortune it that moment, and I had to accept the change of the airport. All the additional expenses raised the price to the business class sum.

That is why you have to read advises of those who just experienced the travel destination you choosed to avoid such bad experiences.

Everybody Loves Dubrovnik

2011-02-15T10:52:00.002+01:00

This port in Croatia that visit maybe all the cruise liners and not so big ships, too, is known -and I read about it many times- as the most beautiful town in Europe. It's possible not only come for one day for a short shore excursion, there are many hotels and resorts here. My friends that stopped in this town for a day during their vacation on board of their own car, told me, there were even wild roebucks that were not afraid of them and neared them so, that they could make photos.

«Дубровник. Хорватия.» на Яндекс.Фотках

As we can see on this photo, the place has interesting history, too. There was a Roman settling and a Slavic settling from both sides of a little river here. With time, the persons conjuncted their towns, burried the river that is the main street today.

«Вид на город с моря» на Яндекс.Фотках

Who knows why we are fashinated by the towns situated in similar places?What is so attractive to make us feel we are in a kind of Paradise? Colors? Our love to stay near water?

By the way, the name Dubrovnik comes from the groves that grew here. As I see on the photos, there are not those groves more. I would plant them...

«Дубровник. Хорватия.» на Яндекс.Фотках

Immersed in Ancient Life: Greeks in Italy

2011-02-09T20:17:00.000+01:00

The last week was difficult for me because I was ill. But I decided to take advantage of some suny days we had and went in Paestum.

Paestum is an excavation site not too far from Salerno (about 40 minutes of train) where you can see 3 of Greek temples and some interesting rests of the roman town. Than, there is a museum where you can see many original pieces of the cultures from 40000 years ago till Roman times. Very interesting. If you know what you have to look at.

The 2 temples on the photo are from Vi and V centuries BC. And here is the third of them that is situated far enough and is dedicated to an other deity. This one is from V century. BC, clear.

In this post I want to show you some greek vases. It's something simply incredible, the quality of the pictures!

Here is the rape of Europe (by the way, I've seen dufferent representations of this event but there was no one where Europe showed her disappointment about this crime :0)))

Most tourists do not look at the pictures on the vases. They go away and leave the juice of the exposition. Because these pictures represent the life of those persons. I went in Paestum this time with intention to photograph the pictures to show them to you. So, that you can enjoy it with me.

This is a picture on the vase that was given to the woman for her marriage. I think, the picture shows the moment when the woman was prepared for the cerimony. The most interesting is that these vases were found in the tombs too. So, the woman had to take this "marriage vase" with her in the life after the death.

What has to represent this picture I don't know. What surprised me here were the hairs of the man. Not only all the characters of the vase are blond (?????) but the man has this strange long hair. It was not comfortable to have long hair in the battle, I think, because the ancient fighters used them (on the pictures) to take the enemy. So, why this long hair?

Here is the proof of my doubts

Finally, to have this post not too long (more about Paestum I'll write in my blog "Marvelous World of Travel") I want to show you an other picture from the vase to attract your attention to the vases when you will visit a museum next time.
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By the way, if you plan a trip of a cruise in Italy or in Mediterranean, you can contact me to have a personal guide and travel agent in Italy. Mediterranean Cruises

Monaco, Monte Carlo -one of the Most Beautiful Places in Europe

2011-02-08T16:29:00.001+01:00

For many years I thought, Monaco is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life.

We traveled with my friends in Liguria and because they have a flat not far from Ventimilia, we visited the not too far situating towns and other interesting places. It was vvery interesting because the French part of the coast was much more illuminated and there was life all the night, there. This way we reached Monaco one of the days.

The road we came in Monaco was high enough, and we could see all the town. Ther is not so much soil between the mountains and the sea, and the buildings grow in high into the air there. And all the amenities like gardens and pools that all "normal" houses have on the ground, were on the roofs there.

«Монако, Монте-Карло» на Яндекс.Фотках

In the little harbour there was an interesting entertaining: you could sail with a little yacht that had glass bottom so that the tourists could see the underwater life of the harbour. But the cost of one ticket was 300 Francs (I don't remember the currency) and we were 4 persons, so we decided to leave this idea.

«Монако, Монте-Карло» на Яндекс.Фотках

We went in the old town where is situating the Palace of the Prince. The square was empty (maybe we came too early, I don't remember now) and we decided to walk there. We found a garden on the rock over the sea. Somebody said us that there is a prison just under our feet there. The prisoners could see only sea from the windows of their cells. Nearby was the Institute of the Oceanography which head was Jacques-Yves Cousteau in that period. We loved to watch his documentaries and felt honoured to stay near the place he worked in (even if he surely was in sea).

«Монако, Монте-Карло» на Яндекс.Фотках

It was clear that the old town was the residential area of the rich families. All the houses that seemed to come from XVIII-XIX centuries were very beautiful.

«Монако, Монте-Карло» на Яндекс.Фотках

In the evening we visited the square of the famous casino where we found different enormous cars that I've never seen from that time more. There were women clothed with long evening dresses, too. But not only these persons, everything there was very beautiful. We entered the building just to see that some persons came to visit theater, others went to casino. Tourists are not allowed in such places. So, we went out.

After that, we walked some steps and found "American casino" opened for everybody. We entered it, too. It was only touristic visit, nothing more. A week before, an other friend of this family left a big sum there. She lived 5 days there and passed all the evenings in this casino to prove that all the stories about the money that persons leave there are not true. Well, she proved it. ;-)))

It was night when we left Monte Carlo. And I could never forget it's beauty.
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For more articles and Travel and Cruise Deals visit my blog "Marvelous World of Travel"

Portofino -a Luxury Relax

2011-01-31T11:45:00.002+01:00

Portofino is a kind of Paradise for those who looks for luxury relax in Italy. There are different places everybody knows they are from this level here: Capri as an other example. If Capri is more "alive" with it's 2 towns and some brethtaking sightseeings, Portofino seemed to me decisively more isolated from the life. The right place for those who is tired by the great crush of the cities.

«Портофино, кусочек рая на земле» на Яндекс.Фотках

I was in Portofino when I came in Italy as a tourist, and it's about 20 years ago, there was this little village probably built to serve the owners of the villas over it (they tell about Roman origins). The village is lent to the rocks from one side and has a seafront where you can walk (about 300 m long, I think) and sit in one of the cafes.

You can come there with a car and leave it in a garage, too (as we did). Than you can have an excursion. Behind the houses, there is an antique street -very spectacular for those who likes such walks- and you can reach that villa over there (it was the municipality, if I remember it good).

«Набережная Портофино» на Яндекс.Фотках

The little port was full of big and not too big yachts when we were there. People like to pass some time there.In fact, this port is not only isolated from the land but the only road of access is not always open for visitors, too. At least it was so when we were there.

From time to time Italy is shaked up by the stories that happen with the families living in the luxury villas in Portofino, and if you want to write a book, it's probably the best place where to pass a productive vacation. I assure, you will have many inspirational moments when you stay there.

«Бухта Портофино» на Яндекс.Фотках

If you want to visit Portofino as a tourist, the best decision is to come there with a cruise ship: one day stay is enough to explore the place. You have to choose luxury cruise lines because they have relatively little ships that can enter such little ports.

Medieval Feast in Antique Benedictine Abbey

2011-01-29T20:53:00.000+01:00

Benedictine Abbey of Cava dei Tirreni (not far from Salerno and very comfortable to reach from Naples) celebrates it's Millennium this year. This very interesting place I've just wrote before (Reinforce Your Spirituality in an Antique Monastery) has an interesting story to tell to those who likes Medieval Feasts and "alive" shows. In 1092, this monastery was visited by Pope Urban II who consecrated the church built by S.Alferio. Urban II together with duke Roger of Salerno and his court came to the monastery at feet.

In the first weekend of September, today, you can assist a very interesting representation of this important for the Abbey event, when you can see all the residents of the village Corpo di Cava that was built to serve the necessities of monks and pilgrims showing not only the event but the style of live of the population at the time when Normanns ruled the region.

Flag flyers show their art, trombonieri (trumpet players) and jugglers, and -clear- many many tasty things fruits of this earth.

If you are interested to visit the Abbey, you can contact me (liudmila-@hotmail.it) or directly the guides of Badia (Abbey -www.badiadicava.it). You can stay one day or more there or in one of the B&B-s or other structures of the zone. Write me and I'll help you to plan your trip in Italy.

The photos are kindly offered by the guides of Badia di Cava dei Tirreni.

Herbal Teas in a Medieval Villa

2011-01-18T19:41:00.001+01:00

Medieval towns in Italy try to re-new their images and to attract interest to them remembering antique traditions, costumes and times of their splendour. Salerno has an unique sign that was very significant for about a millennium, and it's the Salernitan Medical School, the first from the similar institutions in Europe. So, you can find a Virtual Museum of the Medical School and the Antique medical herbs' garden here.

You can read one of the articles I just wrote about it here Medieval Botanical Garden of Salerno /1. This garden has an interesting "attraction": you can ordine a special herbal tea in the tearoom...

And drink it then on the terrace of the antique villa, actually a part of the museum "I Giardini della Minerva", the Minerva Gardens, situated in the site of a real medical herbs garden of XVI century.
The entrance in museum costs only euro 3. I had not time to ordine a tea when I visited it, so I can't tell you the prices here. But it's unpossible that it can be high.

Such a splendid suny winter day walk can assume an other glance with a cup of balmy tea, don't you think?
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Is your dream a visit of Italy? As a Travel Agent based in Italy, I can help you to make right choice of the places worth your attention. Travel in Italy will be much more interesting and informative if you know where to go, how much time you need for this or that visit, for transferts etc.
On the same page I've mentioned here, you can find everything you need to plan your trip: hotels, flights, car rentals and you can book even your cruise online.

Christian Pilgrimage to Antique Abbey

2011-01-10T22:20:00.003+01:00

Campania (a region) in Italy is an Island of Treasures for Christianity. You can find antique churches, abbeys, reperts coming from the first centuries of the existance of this religion. This year, one of the most antique monasteries, a Benedictine monastery of the Holy Trinity of Cava dei Tirreni not far from Salerno, celebrates it's Millennium.

This abbey was built by a Saint man, S. Alferio, in 1011, other 3 abbots are Saints, too, and 8 abbots of this monastery are Beatifyed. So reach was this Earth of Holy men (specially the first 3 centuries of the existance of the monastery), that the Papst Urban II wanted to walk till the abbey the way that so many Saint men touched with bare feet.

In the cave where the first monks lived is the marble altar with the relics of S. Alferio

A little cloister is so beautiful to take the breath literally. The antique architecture is clearly influenced by the oriental, arabic culture, that came here from Sicily, where the uncle of Salernitan Dukes ruled.

The underground churches and chapels were made with great love, and some frescs remain not only alive but look like new till today. It's an other miracle of this place.

Nobles made rich donations to be posted in the loculos under these churches to be near the relics of the Holy men. Posted -because there were not coffins or something else. Actually, their remains are burried for the hygiene of the place.

Today, everybody can visit the abbey, it's basilica, antique and underground parts. You have to come at 9 in the morning or call the guides to tell them the time when you will come there.

To organize your visit of Abbey or this zone, Campania or Italy, you can contact me ("Travel and Cruise Deals") and I will help you to make your vacation informative, interesting and unforgettable.

Travel Destination: Scandinavia

2011-01-05T21:28:00.001+01:00

What country do you think about when you say Scandinavia? Some of us will mention this or that country of the northern Europe, others say, it's about a historical term. You are not right. Scandinavia exists today, too. And it's about 3 countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

«Дания. Копенгаген.» на Яндекс.Фотках

Well, sometimes they ask me: is Russian not the same as Ucrainian or Belosussian? Is Russia not the same as Ucraina or Belorus? Is Italian not the same as Spanish? And other similar questions. The question about Scandinavia is from the same category.

«Norway trip» на Яндекс.Фотках

These three are different and distinct countries that have similar cultural roots. That is why, if you visited only Denmark, you can't say you've seen ALL the Scandinavia. Because you have not seen the Geirangerfjord and other spectacular fjords (UNESCO World Heritage, by the way), you have not seen Skansen's Open-Air museum's festivals and feasts -and many other interesting places and events like the best preserved (in Europe) medieval Old Town in Stockholm, for example.
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The best way to learn Northern Europe is to book a Scandinavia and Russia cruise -really very best itinerary with the visits of the most important, beautiful and interesting ports.

Happy New Year!!!

2010-12-31T15:57:00.001+01:00

Where Sirens Lived

2010-12-30T15:40:00.001+01:00

The story about Odysseus (Odysseus That Sailes 10 Years Round Sicily) was interesting for me because Homer tells about the Thyrrenian sea and about the coast of Campania.

In fact, even if the heroe passed more time to sail round Sicily, he passed near Sirens, too. Sirens were very beautiful females with feathering. They chanted to attract with their voices the passing sailors and ate them.

Scientists wanted to understand where is the place they (Sirens) lived, precisely, and if this legend can be truth. One of the possible destinations is situated not far from Sorrento. The village has the name Sirenuse till today.

So, how was it possible to listen those special voices? As you see on my photo, the coast is rocky. Some places have very good acoustics. But it is unpossible to hear voices of the persons from the ships. Than, scientists noticed that the "chants" of the Mediterranean Monk Seals (one of the most endangered mammals in the world today) that were very numerous in antiquity here are loud enough to be heard from the ships. And so this is one of the possible explanations of the phenomena.

If you want to visit all the places bounded to "Odissey", the best solution is to book a Mediterranean cruise that allows you to see all the coasts so as the Greek sailors 4000 years ago did. Open the page to look around the offers. And, if you are interested in the deals of the moment, pass to my Travel Fan Page (by the way, "Like" it, mmm?)

You can subscribe my newsletter for updates of my blog "Marvelous World of Travel", too.

Winter in Moscow

2010-12-25T22:23:00.000+01:00

Moscow is a city where I was different times but don't feel it as a place I know good enough. Moscow is too big to know it. Than, it changes very quickly. I found these very interesting photos that show the capital from very interesting point of view. Winter. Not too cold -it seems to me, because there is fog and the water in Moskwa-river is not frozen else. But there is snow on the streets. Beautiful...

«Сиреневый туман...» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Декабрь в Москве» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Зимние сказки Москвы» на Яндекс.Фотках

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By the way, if you are interested in river cruises in Europe, in Russia or you would like to sail for Scandinavia/ Russia or Baltic capitals, you can write me at liudmila-@hotmail.it and we will discuss the possibilities of a splendid dream cruise vacation for you. You can throw a glance on cruise booking online too

Sistine Chapel Panoramic View

2010-12-21T21:42:00.000+01:00

This part of Sistine Chapel that is situating in Vatican's residence of the Pope is known evrywhere. Not all other pictures decorating maybe the most known chapel in the world, are as much fortunate as this picture is.

To allow all the people in the world to admire the masterpiece of Michelangelo, Vatican ordered it's panoramic view uploaded in an internet site. We often criticize church and do not think how many good things the priests do. This is one of such examples (if we think how much costs this work).

To enjoy the view, you can not only move the image right/ left but you can zoom every part with the wheel of your mouse too. Here is the link http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

By the way, I read somewhere about the restoration that allowed to discover: the original figure in the center of the chapel (Anchestors of Christ) was nude. The later owners of the chapel were scandalized by this view and ordered to cloth the body.

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If you dream to visit Rome and Sistine chapel, give a look at this site of one of the most known companies where you can book a hotel in Rome or in any other side of the world.

Do You Know Italy?
On the Wall of my Travel Fan Page I publish questions about Italy. The solutions you will find a day later in the Notes there. If you follow my blog "Marvelous World of Travel", to remember the answers will not be too complicated for you.

Italy Means Good Food

2010-12-15T16:54:00.001+01:00

In only few months, the weather will change it's cold side here, the sun will shine brightly and many persons will come in Italy to know it's treasures.

One of these treasures is the so called Mediterranean Diet.

About it, there is one sad thing to tell you. The UE wants to destroy natural and for this reason precious aliments produced in Italy (and in other countries). They vote all the laws in favour of great industries and "kill" this way little producers. And you know how the industrial food is. Personally, I suffer allergy on all the industrian additives and have to use only natural aliments, so, all the persons like me suffer from such decisions of corrupt deputats in UE parlament.

Well, I began to told you about the unusual possibilities to visit Europe and Italy. I was very surprized to find many "gastronomic" tours among the offers of different tour operators. I just told you about the quality of the local wines (Passion For Wines From Vesuvius and other posts about the tasting) and explained why the wines and other aliments from Vesuvius are so different. In that posts I told that all those little fabrics are possible to visit and not only taste and purchase what you like from their products, you can even help the owners to make their specialities: olive oil, as example. This kind of relax -stay in a farm- is very popular in Italy so that you can find many similar farms in every region of the country today.

Gourmet walk, wine & cheese tasting, pasta-making, chocolate enjoying (even chocolate & wine "spas" -you remember, I just wrote about them) -all this seems to be for warm time tourism... But invention of attractions does not finish here. The winter-tourists, specially ski-lovers are persons too.

So, they decided to satisfy all the skiing gourmets. The notice of 2 days ago tells about the ski "excursions" when the group visits 10 restaurants descending the mountains. They eat a little piece of speciality of the restaurant, continue their way, enter an other restaurant etc.

«Дёминский марафон 2010.» на Яндекс.Фотках

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Loooking for a tour in Italy? Here you can book a hotel, and if you need an advise or help or translation, you can always write to me (liudmila-@hotmail.it), I'll help you to choose the vacation you look for. Visit my Fan Page to know all the last offers ("Like" it too ;-) and do not forget to subscribe my newsletter that will give you every Friday a smile and interesting information (Example)

Nepal: The Roof of the World

2010-12-05T21:21:00.000+01:00

One of my friends, Peng Bo, scolded me that I write about all the countries except Nepal. I thought, he is right. I'm bounded in some ways with this country, through our Teachers, but there are not often notices about this country in the news and travel sites. I decided to give a look at the photos of Nepal in the Russian photos-site I use normally. Here what I found special -from my point of view.

When we think about Nepal, we imagine something like this:

«Священная гора Мачапучаре» на Яндекс.Фотках

Did you notice the dimensions of the man and the mountains? You can feel like an ant near our 1130m high mountains. What has to feel a person there, in Himalaya? Like a grain of sand? One friend said me that it's very hard for many persons to stay there for the rarefied air. (I asked him if it's possible to stay there for a month or more.) So, if you have the interntion to go there, you have first try to stay ther some days, a normal touristic visit. Than, if everything was OK, you can rest for more time in this country.

«Сердце Гималаев» на Яндекс.Фотках

«Строгие взгляды...» на Яндекс.Фотках

But Nepal is a "normal" country too. The life in it's big cities, like the capital, do not differ too much from that of all others in the world:

«Школьницы» на Яндекс.Фотках

What can you find there? You will not believe...
-8 from 10 highest mountains of the Earth.
-Not so little state as you imagine looking on the map: it's bigger than Austria and Swiss together.
-the lost world of an antique Kingdom Mustang (Lo) with the pure Tibetan culture in it (this territory has to be partially clothed for visits till today, they say).
-To drink you have to buy water in bottles. It's forbidden to drink raw water. ( I thought, it has to be the best water there...)
-the main religion is... Guess... Hinduism. 90% There are only 5% of Buddhists.

There are interesting rules of behaviour for tourists but it's for the next post about Nepal.

Monetize your Blog with Ebuzzing

2010-11-24T12:03:00.000+01:00

Our blogs allow us to stay in touch not only with friends and other bloggers but with other organisations and brands we like in real and virtual life, too. For example, we like National Geographic Wild, visit their site often, write about it, watch their documentaries and embed them in our posts. All our friends like them too, and we discus the themes they publish with pleasure.

However, this passion can gratify us with money, too. It's enough to join the always growing community of bloggers on Ebuzzing that, working with the grand brands like Lloyds TSB, PayPal, Levis, FHM etc from 2007, connects bloggers with their favourite brands, and earn money for our articles.

The registration is very easy, and just in some minutes you can start earning. Ebuzzing does not obstruct your creativity with complicated rules and conditions. You can express your feelings free and explain them in your own words. Ebuzzing gives you only a few bullet points, links and images -all the rest is the flight of your fantasy.

Not only articles, your blog can be enriched with videos of brands you like. Is it not fantastic: meet your favourite brand or video every time you open you blog? And earn at the same time?

There were many discussions if bloggers may write sponsored posts in their blogs or not. Someone said, it is not correct towards the readers. They, readers, have to know you are paid for this or that post. Don't worry. It's not about Ebuzzing. The strict code of ethics of the company ensures that the readers are informed and the articles are clearly marked as sponsored so as you can see here, in the bottom.

Join us! Some doubts? Visit the site and remove them. F ind out more on ebuzzing.co.uk

Sponsored Post

Alpine Paradise

2010-11-17T18:04:00.000+01:00

Human being is done this strange way that we understand what we love only when we leave it. Somebody calls it nostalgie. And it's normally about the places we know very well, places where we were born, where we passed many years of our lives.

I did not know this feeling for many years till I begin to visit St Petersburg. It will seem not normal maybe, but I had my first nostalgie feeling for this city that I did not know too much, honestly. It was like obsession.

Many of us, who lives in central and northern parts of Europe, have a precise idea of Paradise: palms, sandy beaches, light breeze... I promote Caribbean cruises and learn much about this part of the world now, so, I have to confess, I acquired this other obsession myself, too: I dream about a cruise on Carnival Magic or Norwegian Epic...

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

Or, contrary, we think that Paradise are those southern towns where we can walk near that warm sea under the (same :-( ) palms...
Dreaming about an exotic destination? Booking Hotel before you leave is important to have serene vacation.

Only when we have to live far from our cold and not so shiny motherland for much time, we understand that the best and the most rich nature is there; that the best "palm" is a spruce; and that Baltic (etc) sea is not worse than southern seas. The sun is mild and not merciless. And the colors are more interesting there. Do you agree that the Paradise pictures are these in the bottom and not those over here?

Bella Napoli

2010-11-07T20:38:00.001+01:00

Napoli is a strange city. Probably, you could read reviews telling it's beautiful, others write it's terrible. I live here 15 years and visit the city from time to time but I don't love it. I said it in many occasions. And I was not right. I learned it Friday, when I had a meeting in a completely different Naples than I've seen before. Because there is Naples and Naples. Here is the reason of this definition.

Here I wait for the bus when I have to go to Naples, it's about 2 km from my house only.

We have to admit that all the capitals (at least those I could see in my life) have the same problems of overpopulation with the consequences of it. So, central parts of Naples, those most known by the tourists, are not the cleanest neither most beautiful.

Incredible, mmm? Click over to see it big.

As a habitual visitor of the central parts of the city, I could see only the worsest, the most dirty and dangerous places. This time I was invited to come in the place I've never seen before. I was really shocked. I did not wait to see Bella Napoli. Beautiful Naples.

Now, when they explained me where we were, I think, this street has to go down to the sea.

Now I know that Naples is not what you see near the central railway station. It's a decent city. Important is you know where to go. Girls said me, there are places where you can't even imagine to be in Naples -where it seems you are in one of the capitals of Northern Europe. They promised to show me it next time.

More posts about my last visit of Naples I'll publish in "Marvelous World of Travel", invite you to visit it next days and to leave me your precious comments that I love so much!

Royal Palace. Incorporated

2010-11-02T18:34:00.003+01:00

This building (right) is the original Longobard royal palace built about 774AD.The corner you see here collapsed probably about 80 years after the palace was built and the discendants of Arechi II built an other residence. Interesting is not the fact that this is extremly rare example of the civic Longobard building but that the persons continue to live in the 2000 years old constructions. More. All Salerno is based on Roman foundation, and the houses were repaired and adopted to the modern uses all the time of existance of the towns, because persons continued to live always inside the town walls. You have to visit Naples to see really extreem solutions in this sense.

Today, I wanted to show you, how antiquity is discovered where nobody could imagine it.

If you walk in the Old Town of Salerno, you can see Roman columns here and there. I even took some shorts once but could not find them now. I always asked what are they doing here, those columns? And they said me: medieval persons liked beauty too and they put these columns here in the streets to make the town more beautiful.Everybody thinks so, probably. But the citizens of the towns were more practical. They did not do such hard work only to put something "beautiful" in their streets. There were reasons for every component. This concept (mine) was proved recently during the renovating of the wall of the house near the column that was near the ex-royal palace (right on the photo).

They found the arcades of the royal palace! From the documents was known that the actual church and excavation site were the end of the palace that continued in the direction of sea and was covered with the pieces of marble from the Roman villas so that it sparkled in the rays of the sun. Now, it's clear that the palace had these splendid arcades too. It had to be really beautiful. The envoy of Charlemage said in 787, he heard about the beauty of this palace but did not wait to see something similar. They said, this envoy was disguised Charlemage that wanted to see Salerno himself. In fact, Charlemage built than a similar palace for him -it is known that that palace was built later than that of Salerno.

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Kiteboarding and Sandsurf

2010-10-30T20:41:00.003+02:00

You read the title of my post and did not believe me? You are not right. Those are real activities that are offered to the visitors of the Dominican Republic.

Some of you, my dear friends, maybe thought that I forgot about blogging in the last period. But it's not so. I simply try to set on it's feet my web-based travel agency and have not only do too many new for me things, but I have to study too. Actually I study in 2 American universities and have just some achievements. I am a barcelor of Carnival Cruise Lines and Specialist of the Dominican Republic.

I would like to write here some words of the publicity and invite you to join my Newsletter (in the bottom) and to "LIKE" my Fan Page on Facebook, but I want to tell you some interesting things about the Dominican Republic -especially because I've never write about this country in this blog. So, this is the first post about it.

«Дубль 1» на Яндекс.Фотках

I fall in love with this place only reading aboout it, imagine what you can feel if you visit this island. White sand beaches... Yes, you look on the photo... But there are not only white beaches there. Coud you imagine yellow and... PINK sand beaches???

What about the infinite quantities of animals -fishes and birds included. Did you know that they have 300 species of birds (possible to observe)? Did you know that they have a meeting place of the humpback whales that stay some months there? And fishes? Wow, look at this photo

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

History of the Columbus epoch, the very first street in the New World (and different other "very first" too). And Rum. You can taste it not only on every step you do there. You can even visit a factory that produces this drink.

Interesting is that those islands have 2 faces. One part of the islands is windy and rocky (from the side of Atlantic ocean) other side is calm and has those famous beaches. And if you think about the good weather all year round, you can imagine the fortunate population.

«Люблю двоих» на Яндекс.Фотках

Thanks to these differencies of the nature, they offer an incredibly variety of activities. I would waste your time and fall really in the publicity if I begin to post the full list of them here, but the most "strange" I just mentioned in the title. Some more? Off-roading, canyoning, spelunking. Want you guess what these words mean?

Well, maybe you've understood why I can't think other than Dominican Republic now. I thought, there is nothing that can attract me in such places, you know. I normally prefer Nordic parts of the world. But...
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Versailles -Panoramic View

2010-10-14T16:57:00.001+02:00

It is strange: why did I not visit France else? No, not France. I was in France in 1992 and 93, I think. There were border and customs between Italy and France in that period else, even if they were not very difficult to pass: I had not France visa and could not visit it but I did cheeky face, my friends "wanted to show" their passes to the border guards and they never controlled us. We visited Cote d'Azur, Monaco and Nice every day that year. But I never was in Paris.

I would like to see Versailles and Louvre, the castels of Loire... Well, maybe one day. Waiting for it we can enjoy a virtual visit. The link is in the bottom of this post.

«Версальский парк» на Яндекс.Фотках

http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen7/f30-versailles.html

I would be very happy if you visit my blog "Marvelous World of Travel" and write me a comment there.
_______________________________

This is the best period to book your cruise. There are terrific cruise discounts actually.And if you have doubts about the destination etc, we can discuss them. Write to me: liudmila-@hotmail.it

Egypt in Italy

2010-10-07T18:11:00.001+02:00

There are 2 great loves in Italy: Egypt and Dinosaurus. Not that all the population suddenly loose the heads for themб but you see everywhere massive pubblicity just for years. Egypt-mania is created by editors, I think, after the books about Ramsete, and I did not notice the source of the Dinosaurus-mania.

Pubblicity aside, Italy has the second by it's importance museum of the Antique Egypt's history. The museum is situated in a narrow street in the center of Turin (I did not mke the photo more luminous to make you feel the "air"). The entrance is among those columns.

This museum is very big and you can see many interesting exhibits. I'll write about them in other posts. Now I want to show you only some general views.

The first room has nothing different from other museums

Even if you can see one burial place just after your first steps

The persons that organized this museum made it really different from many others. So, you can see the recreated tombs, even a pyramid!

But the best is surely this incredible room:

The impression was really incredible. It seemed to be there, in Egypt, among all these "alive" statues.

There are many places to visit in Turin but this museum is the "must to go" even if you don't like the antique history. By the way, if you pay the service, you can have an Egyptologist as a guide there!

Look for a Tree when you Travel

2010-09-30T15:28:00.042+02:00

What are you looking for when you travel? Palaces? Streets? Artworks? You make an error. You have to look for big trees to understand the very soul of the residents, of the people, of the country you visit.

It is interesting that after 2000 years of monotheism, after entire lives of atheistic education etc, we all remain pagans in that place of our souls where there are our roots. Tender relations with the big trees come from there.

Our ancestors believed that deities lived in the trees. Trees themselves were images of human virtues and negativities. It's clear that the conditions of the life were criterions for the choise of the tree -there were not palms in northen catolic countries, for example, and we use firtrees to replace them.

Central- and north-European populations thought the main forces populated crowns of the oaks. Those were King-trees. So, that mani royalities had oaks in their gardens. And the ribellious, when they wanted to hit their governors, kept going at their trees even in the modern times.

In the Middle Ages, the agressors took care to go in the most important for the country places like churches etc where, strangely enough, grew the big trees, to annihilate those trees.

Oak was center of the Universe, Ideal world, world itself.

«Свидетель былых времён» на Яндекс.Фотках

If the oak was personification of the power, manhood, strength, Pines were a kind of antenna, axis, connecting this world with that celestial. A symbol of ethernity (evergreen) and longevity. Pines were used for funeral fire.

«В гордом одиночестве» на Яндекс.Фотках

I omit other trees like birch, symbol of youth, spring and verginity, for not too mach place in a post, to pass to a personification of the bad (not negative) forces. Even for pagans "black and white" were only sides of entire fenomenon. Aspen. This tree's sawn end becomes blue and it signify death. And the deity of the death lived in the crown of this tree. That is why it was forbidden to hide under it. But it protected from evils of all kinds. Included insects (fen-cricket) that could destroy the gardens (making a fence from asp around it).

«Даль туманная....» на Яндекс.Фотках

Far from us cultures had similar behaviour. I did not find information about the deestruction of the trees of the enemies, maybe my friends from Asia coul help me with their tales. For Muslim, planting mulberry tree or plane tree was very appreciated by Allah action.

So, if you visit an other country, look what trees are venerated by the population to understand their soul.
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Want to become a reporter assignment and to partecipate on the inauguration of the biggest cruise ship? Send your video till October 10. Details in "The Marvelous World of Travel"

There are some free cabins else with the discounts till $630 for those who dreams to visit Southern Caribbean (02/26,2011; 03/12,2011; 04/16,2011; 11/06,2011), Pacific Northwest (05/03,2011, 05/14,2011,) and Alaska (05/20,2011; 06/03,2011; 06/05,2011; 09/16,2011; 11/06,2011). If you are interested, contact me (liudmila@lazy-yogi.com or writing a comment here) -it's an exclusive offer and you will not find it in other places.

Paris -panoramic photo

2010-09-23T10:04:00.002+02:00

We have many fantasies about the world we can't reach. From our school years we know about the legendary cities, empires, events and rithuals that every good educated person has to visit, to see, to partecipate. The life passes and we are still here. We have not seen Paris, we have not drink beer during the Octoberfest in München, we did not climb Everest neither Mont Blanc... It's sad if we think about it from one side. Than, from other point of view, could you imagine that ALL those "good educated" persons climb Everest? What a mess would it be... Poor Everest. It's so good that not all those who dream about it could climb it...

When I begin to think about this unjustice of my destiny, I remember always my favourite German song that tells: my fiancee that's name is Marianne, wants to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon, but I can't accept it because there is not beer there. Here is a nice video with the song. By the way, do you "dance" like Germans when you sing? I like it very much!

If you still want to visit Paris but have not this possibility, here is a nice panoramic photo of this city with splendid song accompaining it:
Paris, panoramic photo

Visit of a Virtual Museum

2010-09-18T15:25:00.002+02:00

Virtual entertainment is very popular now. That is why you can find more and more virtual museums today. In our zone that is not so big and important there are 2 of them, too.

The aim of these museums is to "transform" a visitor in somebody or something and to allow him to live the epoque this museum tells about. This is not my idea, those have to be words of the man that invented this entertainment.

Most parts of these museums are more or less big screens or sounds or other "special" effects. Like this:

This barrier from the pulverized water represents the burning cloud that covered the population of Pompei and Ercolano during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. I has some doubts to pass through it but I did not understand the matter at the moment. Only after the visit, when I read the explanations and looked my photos, I cuold appreciate the idea.

If you want to read the reportage about that visit I invite you to read my post How to Live the Eruption of Vesuvius of 79AD where you will find many photos.

As said, I visited both our virtual museums and do not like them. I have my PC to look at the screen all days long, I have a TV too. And the idea to watch an other video when I go out for a walk does not inspire me. I prefere to walk and to observe nature and creations of the humans without adding an other screen to my life.

The "classic" museums could not be too entertaining, yes, but if you want to create something really very interesting, you have to go in the museums in Finland where they have scenes from the life near the "normal" exposition.

Some Photos of Capri Island

2010-09-10T13:59:00.002+02:00

As you know, I was in Pozzuoli on ritrit till Monday. If the ritrit can be interesting for you, you can visit my dedicated to Yungdrung Bon blog to see the photos. Here I wanted to show you some photos of Island Capri. Everybody probably knows about it and I will not write much to present it to you.

Here is the island seen from the train that goes to Naples, near Torre del Greco. You can see Sorrento coast too. Both are rocks with not too much place to live. That is why all the VIPs of all time liked to live in such places.

These next photos I took in Pozzuoli. It is surprizing how near is the island if you look at it from so distant places these are about 50 km between them.

Musicians Sealed In The Castel Of Salerno

2010-09-01T10:45:00.003+02:00

Oh yes, it's a terrible story about the destiny of some persons that lived in the castel of Salerno. I'll show it to you, all in the photos I've made just some days ago, on August 27. :-)))

The castel of Salerno was created to control the territory from the highest place over the town and it was used mostly for the defence. All the plan of the fortress that included the understanding town is so efficient that it was not necessary to live in the castel. The princes went only when it was necessary there, I think.

Some years ago the castel was repaired and now it's a splendid place where to go for a walk -with typical plants of the zone, some species of animals, normally living in the wild places here, and views that literally make you forget everything.

On the photo is the port of Salerno with a cruise ship in it and the Amalfi coast in the background.

The castel gave hospitality to a Festival of the classic music this year, and they decided to close musicians in the rooms of it. One artist told a love story of a princess Liutpranda to the guests and they were guided through the rooms, accompained by the classic and medieval music. There were many journalists, TV and many persons that wanted to partecipate on this event. Many of the guests, we too, thought, it will be a guided visit of the castel, but they wanted to present the musicians in this special way.

We wanted to see the castel before the show began and understood the idea of the presentation after we saw these strange cloistered artists:

They like to close the artists, the responsables for the tourism in the municipality of Salerno, you know. Some years ago they closed painters in a Cistersian monastery for a month. The painters had to create their artworks and than they could go out from the cloister.
You had to see those opuses! I think, they did not give them to eat too. Or maybe invented other kind of torture. At least it was the impression after I've seen what the painters created in that month.

Unknown City Beijing

2010-08-22T00:17:00.001+02:00

Writing about the cruises that begin in Japanese ports, I found an interesting name of a city in China: Beijing. I've never heard about it and wanted to learn more. The first information I've seen in internet was a collection of photos of a couple of travellers with the explanations under every photo. So, I knew many interesting things.

The couple visited Forbidden City, the largest palatial complex in the world. There is a Temple of Heaven built without any nail or beam inside the complex. The Emperors prayed to have good year and waited for signs of good auspices on Chinese New Year there. You can see the Emperors in the procession every year even today. Sure, those are only shows to attract visitors but it has to be interesting to see, I think.

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

The next point of the itinerary of the couple was Tiananmen Gate, than they visited cooking courses for foreigners hold directly in the street. Imagin how interesting it is! I've never heard about such invention in other touristic places.

There is one of the largest and most important in the world Buddhist temples there, Lama Temple of Geluk School, where there are many treasures very important for every Buddhist; and there is a Chinese Muslims' Mosque (Niujie Mosque). I was surprized to read about it, I did not think there are even Chinese Muslims! And the building is interesting too, it comes from 996.

It's possible to visit Yuanming Yuan, ruins of the Old Summer Palace (ah, all royalities had summer and winter palaces!).

Do you like works of Franch architect Paul Andreu? Very beautiful airy buildings all over the world. There, in Beijing, you can see his Center for the Performing Arts.

«Ладья» на Яндекс.Фотках

And there are Beihai Park, a royal garden, Happy Valley, an amusement park, Beijing Zoo, where there are pandas and other rare Chinese animals, 798 Space Gallery a place for contemporary arts. You can visit Beijing Planning Exhibition and walk over the relief models of the city, the world's largest steel structure -the National Stadium, and surely the Great Wall.

Wow, but will it be enough a shore visit to see all these interesting places?

I was very curious: where is this city? And from the next site I learn it's... Peking!
By the way, did you know that Peking is one of the 4 historical capitals of China? Every dinasty had own capital: Beijing, Nanjing, Chang'an and Luoyang.

And to make this more inviting for you: if you look for cruise discounts and want to embark on October 25 , it will cost you only... you will not believe... a third part from the normal price of the cabin... And Ocean view? Have you seen the oceanview cabin price???

To Go or Not To Go? News About Touristic Destinations

2010-08-13T11:54:00.002+02:00

I continue the round of the "special" news that can affect tourists prepearing their luggeges and just flying in their thoughts in the dream-place. Someone dreams about a beach, other thinks the best is a tour in Antarctica -we are different and it's good. Imagine if all the residents of the Earth go in vacation on the same beach.

Well, news.

Spain. It seems there is invasion of jellyfishes near the beaches there. Bad notice not only for those who went or want to go there. The fenomenon repeats every year in Mediterranean. It means that the oceans are ill and can't support the activities of the humans more.

Malaysia. The sales began and will last till September 16. Not so much time, but if we think about sales in Italy that begin at the end of June and "last" till September, we can understand that the long period is a lie. If you want to find something in the middle of July here, you will find Fall models and zero sale offers.

Oman. They build a luxury hotel with shariat laws in it. No alcohol and men-women division not only in WC. The owner says, he is sure the hotel will be always complete because there are many persons that do not like those drunk faces everywhere.

Ucraina. Many tourists go there in May to enjoy the flowering of chestnut trees. The capital, Kijew, has so many of them that they become world-known brand of the city. Now, if you had to wait till spring, you can buy your ticket: the chestnut trees are flowering second time this year.

How To Become The Best Amateur Photographer of British Weather

2010-08-05T16:10:00.001+02:00

The dream of every amateur photographer is to see his photos published in the most important magazines and to win photography competitions. The problem is that they rarely accept amateurs. Lloyds TSB decided to give us the possibility to participate in the photographer's competition. We can not only become the best amateur photographer and win a great price -we can send our favorite photos of the weather and nature to an important site and have it published there. If you have already tried this, you know that many sites for photographers do not accept photos of this subject. They have too many of them.

To become British weather photographer of the year you need only your best photo of the British weather. To enter, go to the site, click "Submit your photo now", write a short story about your photo -and win £10,000. In any case, if you are not British, it's worth to visit the site and to look at the submitted photos. You can vote those you like and help the best of them to win. I have voted for many photos - let the best one win! If they are better than mine, why not?

The competition will run until September 30^th 2010. So there is time to submit your photos, my friends. The only condition is you must be a UK resident in order to take part in this campaign. We claim the weather most parts of the year, but here it is the weather that donates to us the best impressions.

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Control News Before you Live your House

2010-07-28T11:35:00.002+02:00

Travel news are sometimes very important for those who wants to visit dangerous places of our world. Here are some last updates you have to know before you live your house.

Israele
Pilgrims to the Holy River Jordan where Jesus Christ was baptized could find the place of their pilgrimage closed from the Israelian part. The reason is the high pollution of the river with pesticides and industrial wastes and the possibility to meet swimming bombs and other explosive objects.

The river Jordan is on the 3 place among the most visiting Christian Holy places after the temple of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and Nativity church in Bethlehem and is visited by 100 ooo persons for christening every year.

Israele invested great sums to improve it's part of the river.

Discounted directions this summer
Different touristic paradises offer hard discounts this summer (reported in the news). All those who had strikes and disturbances: Greece, Thailand, Spain, Italy and Hainan

Catalonia
If you dreamed to visit corrida, you have to be in a hurry to book your trip. The Parlament of Catalonia decided to forbid it from 2012.

Because it was the great -if not the main- tourist attraction and the great industry for the region, they have to adopt something similar but without killing the animals, I think.

Hot Days Tourists' Sufferings

2010-07-13T18:25:00.005+02:00

Do you like to travel when the temperature is so high? I really don't. The news in TV show every day crowds of tourists in the streets of Rome and other big touristic centers of Italy. They walk, covered with umbrellas, drink water from the bottles and bath themselves in different kinds of pools and fountains. I do not understand these mad persons. I would never go out under the sun when it's rays are so terrible.

Well, it depends from the time when they can take their vacation. And maybe they have not other possibility to visit these places in an other period. But it's suicide.

I remember, we had to accompany my mother-in-law in Rome in August. It was terribly hot but we decided to rest there for one day and to visit Vatican. I had shorts and a vest top on and did not know it's forbidden to enter the S. Peter's basilica if not completely covered. But I do not stand hot and felt really bad that day. I had giddiness and very law blood pressure. But I wanted to visit basilica so much! Who knows, when I'll have this possibility next time, I thought... In fact, I was not there more.

«castel Sant'Angelo» на Яндекс.Фотках

(If you have to visit basilica, you have to cross this bridge and turn left, as I did. The basilica is about 500 meters from here)

So, as said, I went to the basilica alown: my husband remained to wait near the car because we did not know the city and did not know where to park it, the car, for a moment. No, if you think to visit a big city, it's better to take pubblic transport. You save not only money but many troubles too.

I felt too bad near one of the shops not far from basilica and fall down on it's stairs. The girls in the shop have seen me and gave me water with sugar. It happens very often here, they said. Imagine, they had that water just ready in the shop for those mad like me. I thought about those completely covered persons intended to visit the basilica and about Swiss guards weared with lounge suits. My husband laughs till today when we remember how those bad guards did not allow me to enter in basilica but I just told you that story.

From that time I think twice if I have to visit something in hot summer months. It's better to choose an other direction for the vacation, I think.

Non-Gulf Beaches in America

2010-06-30T21:33:00.003+02:00

The article “America’s 10 Most Beautiful Beaches Not on the Gulf Coast” offers an interesting list of America's not on the Gulf Coast beaches. Here is the quater from the article and their list:

...there are numerous other seashores to visit that offer the same scenic beauty – the only difference is that the non-Gulf waters may be a bit cooler.

Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
The death place of legendary pirate Blackbeard contains more than three centuries of history and culture left behind by traders and sailors from all over the world. The village of Ocracoke – home to the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouses and the century-old David Williams house – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking beach is protected by 20-foot high sand dunes, which cover miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
Widely considered home to Florida’s most beautiful beaches, Bahia Honda State Park possesses soft sand and crystal clear water. It’s a snorkeler’s paradise because of the deep waters near shore, and kayaking and fishing opportunities are aplenty. The island boasts the highest quantity of colorful subtropical flowers in the Keys, including bay cedar, tiger lily and sea lavender. Silver and thatch palms ensure the beaches are authentically tropical.

Hamoa Beach, Hawaii
Towering sea cliffs surround this less populated section of Maui, where the currents are strong and the surf is dangerous. Swimmers are encouraged to test the waters in the summer and early fall when conditions are safest. Those who prefer to stay dry can enjoy a picnic on the shore while observing the lush greenery.

Kailua Beach, Hawaii
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii
Kiawah Beachwalker Park, South Carolina
East Hampton Main Beach, New York
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Florida
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Coronado Beach, California

Will I Win The Greatest Holiday In The World?

2010-06-22T11:05:00.002+02:00

Radisson Blu Hotels, which are made up of more than 200 locations situated in all parts of the world, will offer their hospitality for 365 nights to one fortunate person who wins the competition they are holding. The only thing the contender has to do is to answer a question “Why do you deserve to win the competition?”

The task is very simple. You have to write the essence of your answer on the competition homepage for all visitors to see. It’s similar to many popular programs today. After that, you can add the complete explanation of your idea, photos, You Tube videos and choose 4 dream hotel locations that you would stay at if you won. Be sure to write a real e-mail address because you have confirm it to be accepted. That’s all. Now, if you collect more votes than the other competitors do, you win. Don’t worry, you personally can call all the world to vote your answer! You can even vote yourself once a day!

Your Greatest Holiday becomes nearer if you make a video about your dream and post it in You Tube. Every week a Creativity Award is given out, and allows it’s winner to pass a weekend in a Paris Radisson Blue hotel. Your video has only to be funny, romantic or creative to participate on the Award’s voting. And it will help promote your main entry. Don’t forget to add the address of your page to the video to allow all visitors to vote for your work!

I added my dream only some hours ago and have not had time to promote it elsewhere. I was absolutely sure nobody will vote my answer. To control what was my situation, I opened “All Candidates” page and wrote my name. So great was my surprise when I saw 3242 votes with only 4071 of the maximum! I am not so far from the greatest holiday in the world , my friends! Vote for me!

Details:

The winner gets 365 hotel nights to spend at over 200+ Radisson Blu hotels over a 5 year period. Visitors to the Radisson site vote for entries, and the most entries by the July 24^th win the grand prize, it is that simple! Note: You must be either an EU citizen, or a citizen of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland to participate to enter this competition. But anyone can vote!

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Vacation With Your Love? You Are Warned!

2010-06-16T15:30:00.003+02:00

Do you love your partner and plan to pass a splendid wacation with him/ her? Choose your aim with great attention! Some cultures are not so tollerant to the lovers as in Europe, for example. There are countries where you will not only pay a fine for a kiss in public place but in some cases they will throw you in a prison for it. Here you will read advices about the laws and behaviour for lovers.

«*» на Яндекс.Фотках

Indonesia. Kisses in public places -from $33 till 10 years in prison.
Dubai. One couple payed $570 and 6 months of detention for a public kiss in 2009. An other couple in a car -$3000 man (drunk), $545 woman
India. A "Scandinavian" woman swam naked in a holy lake.
Indo-China. Russian tourists decided to take photos of the sightseeings ...being naked.
Rumania. Don't take sun topless if you have more than 60 years.
Different countries (among them some towns of Italy) men have to wear bathing suit when women can remain topless (but you have to control the local laws before you go on the beach!).

Do you know other cases?
Help me to make the complete list!

Toad Safari in Australia

2010-06-11T11:13:00.002+02:00

As you know, Australia isliving an other terrible oppression: there are millions and millions of toads there. There are 420 toads of the weight of 160 g for every resident of this continent. (non the species n the photo)

Посмотреть на Яндекс.Фотках

If you like safaris and want to help the Australians, you can take a tour to visit this country and ask the touroperator to help in the national park to gather them.

They organize these "safaris" in the night. The persons walk in the fields and pick up the toads in the sacks. After that they are frized and transformed in fertilizers.

Curious News About Tourists

2010-05-31T19:25:00.004+02:00

Reading news abut tourism I found some of them very curious.

UK. A 29 years old woman took sun on the beach in Brighton. She was with her baby and left him all the day under the rays of the sun. Other persons told her to cover the boy but she did not understand them. Her neighbours called police when they saw vesicles on the skin of the baby. They say, it's probably the baby will not survive.

Ibiza. A group of young British tourists came in their hotel after they drunk somewhere. One of them decided to jump in the pool of the hotel situating under the windows of their room directly from the window. He missed the pool landing on the grass 3 meters far from it. The meditians try to save his life.

India. The government of India declared that many tourists do not want to turn home when thier visa expire. India does not extend visas. But they do not have the "black list" of the transgressors, they say. Probably, India has irresistible attractions to prefer it to other countries. -Mmmm... Do you believe in it?

Swiss. Tourists from Germany (specially) like to walk through the valleys of the Swiss (canton Appelzell Innerrhoden) wearing only backpacks and shoes. The residents that are very religious and conservative do not understand this behaviour. But the court of law acquited one of the tourists.

Italy. The "tourist tax" of euro 41 for those Italians who wants to visit non European countries was not enough to save the economy. So, the government seems to introduce a new touristic tax for those who decide to visit Rome. They will pay about euro 10 for every night in the capital.

Have The Main Tourist Destinations To Be Closed?

2010-05-17T19:35:00.003+02:00

This article attracted my attention because I think about it often when I watch documentaries about the nature:

Some of the world's most famous tourist attractions, such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Italy's Amalfi coast, could be closed to visitors within a few years because of worries about environmental damage and climate change, a report warns today.

Some destinations could be permanently closed to tourists by 2020 or face restrictions on numbers and a sharp increase in admission prices, the study, carried out for the insurance company Churchill, predicts.

It warns that in 20-40 years' time the Great Barrier Reef could be "severely damaged", forcing its closure, while other parts of Australia would be off-limits because of a rise in bushfires and insect-borne diseases. Other affected destinations include the Taj coral reef in the Maldives, Goa in India, Florida's Everglades and Croatia's Dalmatian coastline.
Source

I don't think it's real for the Amalfitan coast -I wrote here about it. The villages are really difficult to reach. The only road is eng and dangerous. THIS is their problem. From other side, if they would close the coast for tourists, the population will die from starvation. As for me, they could solve it if there were more and easy possibilities to make this trip by sea. There are ships from Salerno and Naples but most visitors prefer cars.

(Amalfi)
For very fragile destinations like Great Barrier Reef etc they need more controls, as for me. So many times we not only ruin such places but we "teach" wild animals they have to see humans as friends. And it's not good, I think. Not all humans are good. And animals surely will learn it paying high price for their faith. And it's possible, this price will be their lives.

I would create "aquariums" for people in such places. Do you want to see whales or underwater life? Simple! Do not disturb it diving there but pass an hour or two in that "aquarium" watching that life as you do in the most modern zoos.

Is it not the right way to avoid human impact and to allow to the visitors to see what they want?

Good Video of the Eruption

2010-05-15T11:01:00.002+02:00

Here is a video of the eruption of the volcanoe. I liked it because it's very "real". The other videos I've seen before were interesting, yes, but they were not so impressive. Watching this one seemed to me to stay near it.

Sun City, South Africa

2010-05-14T17:48:00.002+02:00

Situated in the most affluent area of all South Africa, Sun City is a fantastic place to go for a long weekend break or full vacation, Sun City is a purpose built casino resort, offering the very best in the world of gambling and live entertainment. Located in the heart of the North West Province of South Africa, it is a short drive of a couple of hours from Johannesburg, the worlds largest city which is not on a coastline, lake or river, and its international airport. Pretoria is also within comfortable travelling distance.

Sun City was originally built during the apartheid years in the early nineteen seventies and opened in 1979. At that time (borders have since changed) it was outside of the South African formal area of control, and during that period gambling and topless dancing were not allowed within South Africa. So it quickly became a popular place to visit, and has remained so ever since.

Sun City offers a good choice of quality hotels, and the resort also provides regular transfer transport to and from Jo’burg airport. There are four hotels, each offering its own style and ambience. They are the Palace of the Lost City hotel, Cascades hotel, the Cabanas hotel, and (not surprisingly) the Sun City hotel. They range from the sheer luxury and opulence of the Palace of the Lost City to the laid-back family style of the Cabanas. Something to suit everyone’s taste and budget.

In addition to its inbuilt attractions, Sun City is also on the doorstep of one of South Africa’s best known National Parks, the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

The place is also very attractive to golfers, as it boasts not one, but two international standard golf courses. Both were designed by Gary Player, one of which (the Gary Player Country Club) hosts the annual ‘Million Dollar’ golf challenge which attracts many of the world’s top players.

Although a long way from the ocean, Sun City offers a beach to relax on and top up your tan, along with a myriad of water sports and activities. Package holiday deals are available which also take in some of South Africa’s other tourist destinations such as Victoria Falls, Capetown, and stunning Swaziland.

There is also a six thousand seater auditorium called the Sun City Super Bowl, at which world famous acts perform. Over the years since the resort was first built, the Super Bowl has played host to concerts from music legends such as Elton John, Queen, ray Charles, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and Dionne Warwick, along with many more contemporary bands and solo artists.

The resort offers a very wide range of activities for holiday-makers, including ballooning, flying in a Tiger Moth bi-plane, archery, clay shooting, elephant rides, adventure quad biking, and of course the water sports. Of special interest to many are the malaria free safaris to the superb Pilanseberg Game Reserve.

Sun City is also a significant venue for conferences, and many claim it to be the very best conference centre in the whole of South Africa. And then of course, there are the casinos …

Wow! This is quite a place.

Heraldry Helps Me to Date the Restoration in Salerno

2010-05-14T17:03:00.003+02:00

There are news in volunteer's activity in Salerno. The municipality opened the "throne room" of our site for some days. I took my photo-camera to snapped photos but the girls wanted to play with it and changed the settings. I noticed the bad quality of the photos when I came home but that room was closed the same day and I can't take better photos, unfortunatelly. So, with my excuses I offer you what I have with the hope, they will open that room once.

This is the S.Anna's chapel in the open part of the site. There are 2 frescos made by Filippo Pennino. We said, the chapel was build about 1720.

The next photo is of the picture in the actually closed upper room. There are arms in the corners of this picture. They belong to the Pignatelli family. They managed this room together with an other noble family of Salerno.

This is the photo of the arms that are picted on the canvas over here and carved on the marble altars. It tells, the "owner" was a cardinal/ archbishop devoted to the cause of the church and he was from Pignatelli family. The only archbishop of Salerno from Pignatelli served the church from 1783 till 1794 there.

From other side, Filippo Pennino worked in other places in 1720 and 1750. So, as for me, we can attribute precise date to both picture and frescos.

What do you think I'm interested in now? I snap photos of every arms I found in Salerno and everywhere I happen. :0))) Maybe I'll have enough dates to write an interesting report about it one day.

Forget or Not Forget?

2010-05-10T14:06:00.002+02:00

I've watched the Victory parad on the Red Square. I had very special feeling. But only a day before I could not agree with some persons that said we have not to forget that war. Today I found these photos and, sincerely, think, I was not right yesterday.

I've seen incredibly quantity of the photos of happy German soldiers near their hanged victims. (the last one -exist different photos of smiling soldiers near that girl, she was a partisan)
More photos here: http://zakkusufair.livejournal.com/847510.html?view=4118166#t4118166

Hotel Booking in Thailand

2010-05-06T17:07:00.003+02:00

Every vacation beginns with the thoughts about how to reach and where to sleep. I told about How To Find Good Flight And Hotel Solutions in different posts in my new travel blog The Marvelous World Of Travel where I described my odeal because I was very worried this booking willnot be valid when we arrive or the hotel will be so bad that it will be not possible to stay there.

The hotel was excellent at the end, nobody drove us out, everything was in the best conditions. The full reports in the mentioned blog.

Now I read an other intersting opinion of a family that dreamed to pass the vacation in Thailand. To book their hotel they decided to contact the hotel directly. Because they do not understand English (and the other side was not better probably) they decided first to call the hotel but it was unpossible. Than, they wrote e-mail and received very fast answer. As a result, they had a special price (12 nights for 9), than 10% discount because the hotel decided they bargain the price. There are some countries, where persons that bargain the price are more respected, you know. Maybe it's valid for Thailand too?

At the end, when this family came in the hotel they received a room of the higher category than they paid.

This story learns -and I just understood it before-, it's necessary to try all the possible ways when you plan your vacation. To see what they offer to you. There are sites that offer very good prices -as it happend to us in Milan, sometimes you have to write to the owners -as in this last case, sometimes it's useful to speak in the hotel -it works here, in our zone, for example. I went personally to speak with the owners of the hotel for my friends and they offered me a special prise.

So, be patient when you want to book your hotel -and you will have what is good for YOU.

Come to Florida All Together

2010-04-28T20:47:00.000+02:00

Florida is one of the best places to consider when you plan a vacation this year. There are many reasons to choose it: mild climate, sandy beaches and infinite entertainment possibilities for every age make so that every member of your family or group of friends can find something special and unforgettable coming here. Events studied to satisfy curiosity, desire for relax or, contrary, for adventure allow visitors to experiment every day of their stay here new sides of this incredibly multifaceted region in any season. Whether you wish romantic retirement or happy days with your grandchildren, you will find right solution here. Those who like golf, fishing and different outdoor activities find the best conditions to develop their passions. They can benefit from the advises and help of the champions of this or that pastime or sport having their courses in the dedicated clubs. Special praise excite nightlife possibilities that are fabulous fun and give you great services.

Florida vacation rentals homes and condos offer to the guests all the necessary to their comfortable stay amenities. There are properties meeting every request and desire. Sales and low season's prices make affordable even luxury packages you have dreamed all your life. You even have not to leave your pets home because there are pet friendly solutions here.

Don't hesitate to book and your vacation in Florida. Enjoy this adventure!

My Vacation in Milan

2010-04-27T17:23:00.004+02:00

The first days of April I passed in Milan and Lugano. I continue to describe these days in my new travel blog, and the first post about it was written on April, 14, Great People of Milan. I would like to see you in this blog and to give me maybe some advices because the paid hosting is something completely new for me. Maybe you know interesting plug-ins to add or you know why some of plug-ins do not work there (Feedjit).

Well, general impression? It was GREAT both: infinite busy emperor style city (I was only there, the sessions of the ritrit finished too late to make tourist trips) and the wonderful places round Lugano. Because I lived till 35 in the cities, their frenetic life is my nature. But the Nature and much-much water attracts me irresistible and I feel in Paradise when I visit that place.

So, I invite you to visit my new blog and enjoy photos I made there.

The Roman Ship Museum

2010-04-20T19:18:00.004+02:00

The ship museum in Oslo is not the only museum of the ships. One of them you can visit if you have to pass some hours in the airport of Rome, Fiumicino, where you can see the Roman ships. At the beginning it was built for the ships of the Emperor Caligola, found there in 1929. Those were the palaces on the water because the Emperor liked to organize feasts on the water. The 2 ships were burned in 1944 but actually the museum is open and there are many interesting pieces to see there.

This museum (Via Diana, 15, Nemi, Tel/Fax 06 9398040) is open from 9:00 till 18:00

Naval archeology had different successes in the last time in Italy. They found very rare ships not far from Venice, I know. I'll write about it, if I find more information about it.

«Арго и золотое руно» на Яндекс.Фотках

The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo

2010-04-20T18:21:00.003+02:00

We have many fantasies about the life in the previous centuries. One of them is the beautiful idea about their homes and trips. Our interpretation of it you can see in the show of "the Celtic Tiger", my new discovery in YouTube. I adore this group and maybe have watched all their shows presented there. This one has a near to me interpretation of the waves (specially at the beginning)

This show remembered me an interesting museum that I would like to visit once: The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Why I think it has to be so interesting? I was in the historical museums in Finland where there are not only things (original or not) that are signs of the life in the past. What I liked much, there were entire scenes presented in that museums. Such presentations are very useful to make the history something "alive" for us.

In Oslo you can see the real ships of the vikings that were brave sailors, traiders, raiders and colonists. You surely know that they had techniques that are not clear for modern scientists.

By the way, in the BBC's Ancient history in-depth/Vikings there is very interesting collection of the articles about Vikings and everything about them.

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Earn Money With Travelling

2010-04-07T12:52:00.004+02:00

Many of us think about an interesting and creative job. The today technology allows us to create this kind of working-place when we can work from home, have many clients from all the countries of the world and, probably, not only pay our bread but travel too. The problem is that may of us do not know how to create this working place. It's clear, we have to learn how this buiseness works. One of the possibilities to find interesting explanations are the article directories with their "eCommerce" categories where you can find interesting information about the sector and the "how-to-s" very easy to understand. Open the article The Internet grows and you can attract more customers that touches one of the most important sides of the internet commerce. If you confront the statistics how many persons use internet every year, you will see that the numbers grow impressively.

Article directorie's exploration allows you to find other possibilities to create your working place if the way of the eCommerce is not for you. Authors of the articles generally come from the sectors of the business they write about. So, if you prefere medicine, you can find expert opinion or suggestions too, like in the article The legislation of Medicare and health providers. Do not underestimate this valid help you can use competely free. Scroll the categories of your interest and articles in them and you will surely find help and stories about personal experiences of those who works in this or that business for many years and knows it from inside.

Some thoughts about things every traveller has to know before he/she leaves the house

2010-04-07T12:44:00.004+02:00

This morning I found an interesting article about the 28 things a journalist says would be very happy to know before he began to travel. If they are good for a journalist, I said, they can be good for me too. Here I want to write some words to confirm his observations.

When I go in an other place I normally take real money with me and try to organize everything possible in advance, in internet. In the way that I have to pay only the absolutely neccessary things at the place.

This story began for me with easy-jet flight, when they did not explain the rules to me, and when they did not allow me to enter the airplane because I had not respect those rules. I remained in the street without money because I had only my credit card. And forgot the access number of that card. It was sad. I, customary, cryed, tryed to explain the situation to the stuff, but nobody wanted to listen to me. So, now I know, I have to have enough money to reach my home, if it's necessary.

The other thought I read today was about the police. The author says, you have not think they are your friends because there are many cases when the policemen sell their services to the best bidders.

I never had such situations. At contrary, I always received help from police when I needed it. But I know it is not "normal" situation. It happend to me because I had not serious problems. The persons that had them told me, the policemen were really very bad with them. They did not want to help and created much more obstacles as you had before.

And the last is the thought about the taxies. I know different stories about girls that took the first car they could find -and you know there are many drivers in any airport that meet crowds of the passengers. The same story they tell about the airport in Buenos Aires, for example. Such trips are not health even for the men.

So, I think, going in an other country and in an other place has to learn us responsability. All over the world there are persns that look for "stupids". And think, all the tourists ARE stupid.

Argentinian Tortafritas

2010-04-07T12:18:00.005+02:00

The posts about Argetina could not be complete without some Argentinian recipes. Fortunately, a friend of my husband, Jose Luis, sent us some photos how they cook using a special pot. You can read about it in my post Argentinian Recipe. Now he sent us an other use of the same pot. Here you can see the photos. Those are Tortafritas. Sincerely I did not understand is it cheese or bread. In any case it has to be very good, I think. Mmmm... Specially if those are pieces of friesd cheese... I like fried cheeeeeeeesssssss...

Misiones Argentina: mines of precious stones

2010-04-06T21:19:00.002+02:00

This trip would be probably the most breathtaking for the women. To stay between big big "mountains" of precious and semiprecious stones... My God, is it possible? Oh yess, it's perfectly possible if you visit this province of Argentine, Misiones. It's a kind of corner between 3 countries: Argentina, Brasil and Paraguai. There are so many interesting places there, I just wrote about the waterfalls Iguazu. There are interesting ruins of the "town" of Jesuites and -these incredible places. I found this video in YouTube and think it's more clear then all the words.

The Panama Dream Vacation

2010-04-06T17:13:00.003+02:00

One of my friends dreamed to visit Panama all her life. Nobody could find a reason for this strange desire but it was the only destination of a travel for her. One day she told us, she spoke with an American about tourism once, and he said her, Panama is the best country of the continent, beautiful and fantastic. There is all you can imagine for an unforgettable vacation.

«.........» на Яндекс.Фотках

Chose one of the best Panama hotels for her stay there, my friend began to explore this paradise for tourists. Since there are different landscapes -high mountains and deep valleys, it's possible to meet great variety of exotic birds and animals
there. Special tours allow everybody who likes the nature to enjoy bird watching and wild life. You surely can understand the delight of my friend, when she visited than a little archipelago where known pirates of the XVII century had their base. She did not find the treasures of tose pirates but was in ecstasies to touch the soil related to their history (as for me, to the well known movies).

The most interesting shopping, she said, was near the Panama Canal. It's because there is all the world got together. There were museums and historical buildings to visit too, but she preferred to make tours in the national parks and to enjoy sun and water on the beaches. It could sound strange but there are different national parks in Panama and in one of them the tourists can participate at the life of the Indians. There is even a dormant volcano in one of the parks and it is Panamas highest peak.

Oh, those white sandy beaches, a sweet dream of every citizen of the Europe! Imagine that the water is 24°C all the year round there! Unfortunately my friend had not so many days of vacation, wanted to visit everything possible and could enjoy beaches only some times. At the end of her vacation she was so fortunate to participate on one of the folk festivals that take place some times a year. The vacation in Panama was fantastic.

More Iguazu Waterfalls Photos

2010-04-06T17:05:00.003+02:00

Some time ago I just wrote posts where I added photos of the waterfalls of Iguazu seen from the side of Argentina. Those photos were taken by the friend of my husband when he visited the waterfalls with his family. He sent us other photos. They are so beautiful that every heart attracted by Great Water will begin to pump quicker. By the way, do you have this problem too? I like every Great Water: lakes, seas etc etc. I just began to write posts about the greatest lakes of the Earth.

Iguazu Seen From Brasile

2010-04-06T16:59:00.005+02:00

I just wrote sonme posts about the waterfalls that are situated between Argentine and Brazile, Iguazu. Here are some photos from the zoo of the birds that you can visit if you have a walk in the Brasilian side of the National Park. Notice an interesting peculiarity: all the birds are near the persaons. I've never seen something like this. Here, in Italy, we have similar birds in the zoos but they are close in their cages -big or little, it's no matter. They are separated from the persons. There you can see the persons that can even touch these birds. I would like to do it too. :0)))

Photos taken by the friend of my husband, Jose Luis

Argentinian Recipe

2010-04-06T16:52:00.002+02:00

In our supermarkets it's possible to buy pieces of meat from Argentina now. They cost much more than Italian meats but they are really different. I need about 2 hours to cook a piece of meat from Italy and only 40 minutes if I have equal piece from Argentina. My husband when he comes from Argentina can't think about other than meat he ate there. He says, the taste is completely different.

This time I show you one of the possibilities to cook it. The photos took a friend of my husband. I think it's very clear what they used to cook. I do it more or less the same way. What is interesting for me -I've never seen such a pan for fire.

Outdoors As Essential Part Of Any Weight Loss Plan

2010-04-03T10:23:00.006+02:00

Article Directories are valid resources to find interesting advises and stories about the personal experiences of the persons that had just tested them. We often underestimate different outdoor activities in our life. I liked the article Norwegians go to forest as usual as us go to Square on weekends describing enviable love of the citizens of the North Europe's countries to their nature. I personally could notice it when I was in Finland, where the persons go in the forests to run or to walk (they have special paths with huts etc there). For those who passes the life near computer or in an office, for all us stressed from the life in the cities nature is the best way to forget our depressions observing birds and flowers, fishing or picking mushrooms.

An other article continues the theme with observation that Exercise are essential ingredient in any weight loss plan. We do not want understand this simple thing -we need to have harmonious relationships with nature to have good health and as consequence normal weight. The good God did not create computers and cities when He gave birth to this world. And this is the main reason why we need nature. It's our home, and we have to stay in touch with it. Sometimes our "stay in touch" means "destroy". It's enough to see the places where we had picnics. I think, we have to do everything possible to change our habits to live this world alive to our children and that our children do not destroy it too.

Wine Tourism In Italy

2010-03-31T19:08:00.004+02:00

I wrote different posts about the wines of Campania, Italy in my other travel blog (listed in the bottom) and plan to describe some of the wines in next posts. That is why I was attracted by the news notice about strange use of the wine in Nord of Italy. One of the enterprises decided to attract persons offering them baths of wine (not wine-wine but extract from the must), massages with creams made with wine/must, rooms made inside the "barrels" (not natural). They say, there are queues months and months long to enjoy this invention. Yes, it's interesting.

I wonder if the wine-makers from Sud Italy, those that love their wines so much, those that make everything possible to occupy their good place among the world known leading figures would create something similar if they could. Speaking with some of them in the testing I understood, they are very proud of their wines because they are born there, because they continue the millenary tradition, because their vines are so special while growing in the National Park of Vesuvius... I think, this, from North Itlay, attraction, devalue the high level of appreciation that wine-makers wanted (at least I understood it so) to create.

What do you think about it?

These are my articles:

Strange Museen

2010-03-31T18:50:00.005+02:00

The videos here are not for sensible persons.

There are different strange museen all over the world. One of them is situating in Holland, Oegstgeest. It's a look inside the human body interesting for adults and children too. I found one video where you can see some interesting moments of the visit. There is a slide show in the official site Corpus -very impressive.

Unfortunatelly I could not insert the video, so you have to pass to YouTube

I just wanted to make a roundup of scientific museen. Some of them I vesited. For example, the museum of the medicine in Riga, Latvia. I walked through the rooms with the mouth open, I remember. It was many years ago. The other from the historical scientific meseen is Kunstkamera, S. Petersburg, Russia, collected by Zar Peter I. The video here shows the most shoking and old part of the collection, so, if you are too sensible is better if you pass DO NOT WATCH these video.

The other similar museum is "Dupuytren" in Paris. The museum of the patologic anatomy.

We are afraid of these sides of the life. But it's reality. And it's good maybe to see all this to appreciate the life we have and the body the good God gave us.