Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Top 20 most beautiful cities in the world (Part I )

This top is my own opinion about the most beautiful cities in the world. My choice was based on beauty, history and architecture of the buildings, the daily life of these cities as well as the beautiful landscape that gives each city included in this top.

Let's start with number 20:


20. Athens, Greece


Athens, capital of Greece, known as the city of gods and heroes, has greatly expanded cultural and economical since the time of Ancient Greece. The city takes its name from the Greek goddess Athena, who symbolized wisdom. The capital city is crossed by the River Kifissos which then flows into the Gulf of Thessaloniki and Faliro.


Today Athens is Greece's economic and cultural center, with many historical monuments included in the UNESCO heritage among which are found: the famous Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus, Agora, Piraeus Port and many other attractions that we recommend you visit .


19.Bern, Switzerland


Berne, capital of Switzerland, is one of the most visited swiss cities, considered the most beautiful medieval town in Switzerland. Located in an area full of hills and large forests, this city has a charm besides dream landscapes that offers, is also a very quiet town.The old town, full of narrow cobbled streets with old houses, has a special glow, give it by the landscape provided by the beauty of the Alps.

Among the major tourist attractions in Bern include: 

-Federal Palace, which houses the parliament and federal council; 
-Fountains from Bern that are known by their statues from the sixteenth century; 
-Clock tower in Bern, which is the symbol of the city,built in 1530, working as astronomical clock; 
-Cathedral of St. Vincent; 
-Boulevard Marktgasse-this street was built in the thirteenth century beeing very old and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage; 

-History Museum is the second largest museum in Switzerland, built in 1894 by architect Andre Lambert Neuchatel;


18.Jerusalem, Israel


Jerusalem the capital of Israel, is one of the oldest and most popular cities in the world. It is part of Palestine region and is considered a holy city for muslims, christian and jewish believers.

Among the most important tourist attractions in Jerusalem are included: 

-Western Wall has existed for about 2,000 years and was built by King Herod in order to extend the temple; 
-Dome of the Rock is a temple that protects under its dome the sacred rock of the hebrew, muslims and christians; 
-Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was built on the spot where it was believed that Jesus would be buried; 

-The Citadel of Jerusalem, known as the Tower of David, was built by the kinh Herod in order to protect his palace ;


17.Dresden, Germany


Dresden, Germany, capital of the federal state of Saxony, situated on the shores of the river Elbe is considered the fourth largest city in Germany and more than half of its surface is represented by forests and green spaces, including four nature reserves . 

Among the most important tourist attractions in Dresden, are: 

-Albertinum museum, whose name comes from the Saxon King Albert, mainly hosting art museum in Dresden; 
-Church of Our Lady is one of the masterpieces of Baroque religious and huge dome set on a smaller square base known as Bell Rock, was the inspiration of George Bhar who designed the church as like a single piece from top to bottom; 

-Zwinger Palace in Dresden, is a baroque building, that houses an art collection;


16.Vienna, Austria



Vienna, Austria's capital , is located in the eastern extremity of this country and is crossed by the Danube. Viena is a typical European city,very compact that's why is very easy to visit all the major sights, that are located in the city center .

Some of the most important are:

- The Museum of Art is housed in a building that resembles a palace, is one of the most important museums of decorative art in the world ;
- House of Mozart-Mozart lived in this house most years, here composing The Marriage of Figaro and Impresario ;
- Rathaus , Vienna City Hall, is one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in Vienna , built in Gothic style ;
- Aquarium, Ocean House has over 3,500 aquatic species and is open daily living, in a kind of air defense bunker from World War II ;

- Vienna State Opera is one of the most important works in the world, here are presented a variety of opera and ballet of the highest artistic level;


15.Rio de Janeiro, Brasil


Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, and its location on the Atlantic coast of South transform everything surrounding the spectacular attractions. 

Among these are: 

-statue of Christ the Redeemer, located on the Corcovado Mountain at a height of 2300 meters, is popular among tourists as a symbol of the city; 
-Mount Sugarloaf, which reach up to 1,300 meters above Guanabara Bay waters; 

-Copacabana Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, because the beach is bordered by the crystal clear waters of the ocean on one side, and the Copacabana boardwalk and all the modern facilities of the city on the other side:

-Maracana stadium is the largest football stadium in Brazil and the continent, with more than 82,000 seats. It was built in 1950 and was used primarily for soccer tournaments, major cultural events, concerts and other games;

14.Hong Kong 


Hong Kong is a special region of the Republic of China, which has autonomy. In the world, Hong Kong is known for its skyscrapers and his very deep harbour.  It is one of the most populated places in the world, the Hong Kong's population beeing represented in the large majority by the chinese. 

Some of the major tourist attractions are: 


-Buddha Temple of 10 000, is one of the most beautiful temples in Hong Kong. There are 12,000 statues of Buddha and monkeys and a pagoda that you can climb and in the end of these stairs beeing located a restaurant;

-Flagstaff House, the oldest colonial building in the city, houses a museum dedicated to tea culture in China, and its collections include about 600 pieces of earthenware and porcelain, from the seventh century to the present;
-Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Center is one of the most ambitious projects of the city and consists in Museum and Planetarium Space and a concert hall of 3,000 seats, a theater with 1,500 seats, exhibition halls and lectures, the Art Museum and the cultural department of municipal administration;

13.Istanbul, Turkey


Istanbul, called in ancient Byzantium, the former capital of the Roman Empire two short periods, is a city at the confluence of several cultures. After the mixture of civilizations, that have left their mark on the city, remained a number of tourist attractions and historical monuments that attract annually thousands of worldwide tourists.

City on two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul has a multitude of objectives and tourist attractions from witch I've decided to present you the two most important objectives:

-Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet between 1609 and 1616, is one of the most beautiful attractions in Istanbul with six minarets (towers) unlike other mosques that have four minarets, three or even one minaret;
-Topkapi Palace, built by Sultan Muhammad II after the conquest of Constantinople, housed all the Ottoman sultans. The palace has an area of ​​700 000 square meters on which was added a wall of 1400 meters. After Muhammad II, palace has developed gradually, becoming a complex of buildings and annexes. 

12.Cairo, Egypt


Cairo, called Umm al-Dunya, translated meaning mother of the world, is the largest city of Egypt and the largest city speaking arabic language, is inhabited by about 20 million people.

The city is located near the Nile River delta. Over time, the city has received several nicknames, the most interesting being the "City of 1,000 Minarets" because of Islamic architecture known for its towers.


 The most two popular tourist attractions in Cairo are:

-Cheops Pyramid meets three special qualities who multiply its value: it is the oldest, is the only one that has survived until today, and his name appears in various legends and controversies that have surrounded the entire construction in mystery;
-Sphinx was named by the Greeks, because of the amazing similarity with a mythical creature with a lion's body and a woman's head that engulf bystanders who not responding properly on his riddle. Carved from limestone outcrop in front of the Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx measures 50 meters in length and 22 tall. Some archaeologists attribute this monument to IV Dynasty of the pharaoh Cheops, but others suggest that the Sphinx dates back long before this dynasty.

11.Singapore


Singapore, the island city-state, is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit, Singapore has become the most expensive city in the world, displacing Tokyo. 
Some of the major tourist attraction are: 
-Singapore Flyer, the highest observation deck in the world for lovers of adrenaline; 
-Botanical garden, with exotic vegetation which covers 52 acres, is the most beautiful oasis in the world with thousands of orchids and other tropical plants and birds; 
-Zoo where animals and birds are well cared for, many of them being in freedom; 
-Temple and Museum "Tooth of the Buddha" - a collection of rare asian artifacts;

-National Museum of Singapore - the country's history from the 14th century to the present;



Tomorrow i will present the second part of the list that includes the top ten cities of the world, in my opinion. In future I will present in detail what each city can offer, to be able to give you an idea about what tourist destination to choose for your next vacations.








Friday, February 28, 2014

Paris-the city of love

Paris, the capital of France, called the city of love, is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world and one of the largest cities. With the famous symbol Eiffel Tower, this city has an indescribable charm and can be a dream destination for your vacation.



It is ideal to go to Paris together with your loved one because, besides major cultural sites such as Cathedral Notre Damme du Paris, Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Basilica Sacre-Coer, here you can find many places full of romance such as walks along the river Senna, enjoying coffee at a cafe in Paris, all these making you to appreciate the most beautiful and simple things in life.



Lawrence Durell said about Paris : "The national characteristics... the restless metaphysical curiosity, the tenderness of good living and the passionate individualism.This is the invisible constant in a place with which the ordinary tourist can get in touch just by sitting quietly over a glass of wine in Paris bistro." In other words, Paris itself is a way to leave your life.

The sights of Paris are very different from the great monuments like the Palace of Versailles, Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the majestic cathedrals such as Notre-Damme, Sacred Coer, Sainte Chapelle to world class museums like the Louvre Museum, Centre Pampidou, Orsay Museum, art exhibitions, extraordinary gardens that parisians love them very much, such as Luxembourg gardens (on the left bank of the Senne), Tuileries gardens (route from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe), park Royal Versailles and large forests such as the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes.

Free attractions in Paris are:
-Notre Dame de Paris is one of the main symbols of the city and can be accessed at any time free by the  tourists; 
-Montmartre, the most beautiful district of Paris, is where you can visit free the Sacre-Coeur Basilica;
-Le Champ de Mars is the market were is the Eiffel Tower. Here you can enjoy free all landscapes; 
-Jardin des Tuileries is an historical garden where Queen Marie Antoinette walks and you can follow the Napoleon  path up to the Arc de Triomphe;
-Pere Lachaise Cemetery is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of culture and art, here being the tombs of Honore de Balzac, Marcel Proust and Oscar Wilde;
 -Modern Art Museum is a free alternative for    those who want to see a part of French art          before you go to visit Louvre Museum. 

       

   In conclusion, Paris must occupy first place in    the list of your future vacations. Here is a         photo gallery that definitely will make  you        dream of this city, paradise of art, culture      and last but not the least , the city of love.












Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Bali-exotic destination for a dream vacation

Bali is an exotic island paradise, known for its green rice terraces, for its volcanoes height that can exceed 3000 meters, for  its people that although poor, are very hospitable and not least for its temples where you can view  incredible sunsets.


Bali island belongs to Indonesia which is famous for beautiful tropical beaches with palms and flowers that grow up huge, for  diversity of art represented by sculpture, painting, dance and ceremonies dedicated to the gods. In Bali are organized numerous ceremonies and festivals. 

The representative temples of Bali tourism are Tanah Lot temple, the temple Pura Jagatnatha,  dedicated to god temple Sang Hyang Widi Wasa, Pura Besakih that is  situated on mountainside Agung.



Those who want to spend their holiday in Bali will not think twice because it is a paradise destination. When you arrive on the island you can make various trips and tours with buses, cars, boats and even airplanes. 
The featured sights for a dream vacation are: 
- Kintamani, a mountain village located at 1500 m altitude, where you can admire Lake Batur and Batur Volcano, still active. You can visit the village Trunyan; 
- Tampaksiring were we can visit  the Tirta Empul temple and Elephant Cave; 
-The Mother Temple is the most sacred of Bali and the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia; 
-many museums such as Puri Lukisan in Ubud, Neka in Campuhan Gallery in Ubud Neka, Agung Rai Gallery in Peliatan and Agung Rai Museum  in Pengosekan.

In Bali, besides visiting the beauty of nature, we can make  many other activities such as: 

- Water sports: swimming, snorkelling, water skiing, parasailing, wind surfing; 
- Scuba Diving, the best places are along the east coast near Candi Dasa, Amed and Tulamben and near Nusa Penida;
- Fishing: there are companies that rent yachts and fishing boats; 
- Cruises: Daily organized near islands Nusa Penida  and Nusa Lembongan  on the south-east were you can also practice water sports;
- Submarine Safari: submarine tours of 36 seats in the Gulf Amuk Bay, Padangbai; 
- Other activities: golf, tennis and squash, white water rafting, karting, bungee jumping, horseback riding, paintball, traditional dance classes ,cooking classes;

If you want to buy souvenirs recommend natural teas, spices, frames decorated with banana leaves, wood carvings and of course the famous Indonesian coffee.


In conclusion, Bali offers many exotic places that can turn your vacation into a true paradis. In completing the thought, here is a photo gallery of the most representative locations.

















Thailand - the fairyland, a great travel destination

Thailand, also known as the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country located in the center of the Indochina peninsula in South East Asia. 
Thailand is called the land of pagodas, the  country of the smile and the fairyland of Asia. 
In this country you can plan your dream vacations and exotic honeymoons. Thailand, through the two cities Bangkok and Tron, has a lot to offer to cultural  lovers  and through the beaches and landscapes that it has, it  can satisfy the tastes of all  nature lovers.

Thailand can enchant with various activities such as: 
-here you can delight sun and beaches all throughout the hole year but one of the best months to visit Thailand is november;
 -thai traditional food will impress even the best chefs;
-the Buddhism will impress you with its  beautiful temples and cultural diversity specific to this religion;
-night-life, which was one of the reasons that attracts many young tourists throughout the hole  year,  is varies from night clubs to many great beach bars;
- for lovers of shopping, Thailand offers a variety of markets where you can find the most  interesting and the funniest  holiday souvenirs;

If i couldn`t convince you with the arguments that i  have brought till now, i hope that in  the next gallery of photo  you will discover  the beauty of this exotic country that is worth to see it at least once in lifetime.




















Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Transfagarasan, Romania

The Transfagarasan is one of the most famous roads in Romania, and even in Europe, due to the height at which it was built, beautiful landscapes and many switchbacks. The road is spectacular because it crosses the Fagaras Mountains, the highest mountains in Romania so Transfagarasanul reaches an altitude of 2042 meters, is the second road in Romania as altitude, after Transalpina Road.

The spectacular road was built between 1970-1974, with huge efforts from the soldiers and workers who have managed to create a road in the mountains. Lives lost were many. Official number of dead was 40, but people who worked on this road tell that the number of the dead is the number of hundreds.

Sights include Balea Lake and Balea waterfalls, Vidraru Lake and Vidraru Dam, waterfall Goat, Goat Lake and Goat Massive, Poenari Castle. Add to this the Ice Hotel at Balea Lake, only open during the winter, and hiking trails surrounding massifs Transfagarasan.

Balea Lake is the maximum height of the Transfagarasan and is a glacial lake that is formed in a depression surrounded by high mountain ranges.
In winter, when the Transfagarasan is closed, access to Balea Lake is by cable car from Balea Waterfall Cottage. All winter, for three months, works Ice Hotel at Balea Lake, one of the few ice hotel in Eastern Europe. The first hotel was conducted in 2006 and since then the tradition is repeated every year. The hotel is built in the form of an igloo, has about 16 rooms, and there is a bar built in ice. The experience of spending a night here is unique, being the only inconvienent cold and warm clothes,  but considering the uniqueness of the hotel, is worth paying.




The  Vidraru Dam  was opened in 1966, after 5 years it took to build and which involved many human sacrifices. It is the highest dam in Romania, with a height of 166 meters but the largest arch dam in the country. The inauguration was the 5th arch dam in Euope and ninth in the world. The engineers pride who built the dam  is the power plant Vidraru, that is being placed underground in massive fortress at a depth of 104 meters. From the dam can practice bungee-jumping site.

The Vidraru Lake was created in 1965 to produce electricity, has a length of 14 km, maximum width is 2.2 km, a total area of ​​870 hectares and a depth of 155 meters. Over the lake and dam dominate Prometheus statue, erected on Mount Pleasant depicts the mythological hero Prometheus with a lightning bolt in hand, a symbol of electricity.




The Goat Lake is located in the Fagaras Mountains 45 minutes from cottage Balea, at an altitude of 2230 meters, at the foot of massive Goat, and has a depth of 11 meters and a beautiful blue color. In the southern part of the lake there is a plateau suitable for camping, which offers a wonderful view of the mountains.








The Poienari Castle is the latest tourist attraction on Transfagarasan. The Castle was the residence of Vlad Tepes (also called Vlad Dracul or as it is known as Dracula) and was built as a fortress against the turks. There is a staircase with 1,500 steps leading up to the fortress. Unfortunately all you can see are thick walls and landscapes with Fagaras mountains To climb nearly 1,500 steps takes time and patience.



In conclusion, the Transfagarasan offers many natural attractions and is perfect for mountain lovers. I hope you enjoyed our ride on Transfagarasan and if you are interested in other things about this destination please tell me.






Wildlife in Himalayan Mountains

The wild life of Himalaya is very diverse.The region is a paradise for nature lovers. The different wild life sanctuaries and national parks are the home for rare species. The types of flora, which are common in the Himlayan region, are pine, fir, oak, rhododendron, deodar and juniper. Regarding wildlife, snow leopard, blue sheep, elephants, tigers, wild boar, crocodiles and musk deer are seen mostly in the different parts of the Himalayan Mountains.

In the north of the Himalayan Mountains the temperature falls below freezing point and its extremely cold. That`s way during the cold winter, most of the animals migrate to the lower regions of the Himalayas while others like marmots and brown bear choose to hibernate. The iak is living mostley in the cold desert.
In conclusion, the Himalayas is a very harsh environment and that`s way some  animals have to be well equipped to survive.

One of the most beautiful animals in the Himalayas is snow leopard. He is a member of cat family and is a predator of other creatures that lives in this region.

Snow leopards show several adaptations for living in a cold, mountainous environment. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimize heat loss. Their paws are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, and have fur on their undersides to increase their grip on steep and unstable surfaces; it also helps to minimize heat loss. Snow leopards' tails are long and flexible, helping them to maintain their balance, which is very important in the rocky terrain they inhabit.

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The Himalayan Yak  is a long-haired bovid characterised by long shaggy hair and living in areas in which there is much grass and lichen. People living in the Himalayas depend considerably on the yak for both food and transportation.  For this reason, the Yak is usually farmed in  herds. 




The herds consist primarily of females and their young, with a smaller number of adult males. The remaining males are either solitary, or found in much smaller groups, averaging around six individuals. Although they can become aggressive when defending young, or during the rut, wild yaks generally avoid humans, and may rapidly flee for great distances if any approach.



The bharal or Himalayan blue sheep is a caprid found in the high Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, India, Pakistan and Bhutan.

Bharals move in herds of 10 or more, with males forming separate herds outside of mating season.Bharal are active throughout the day, alternating between feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes. Due to their excellent camouflage and the absence of cover in their environment, bharal remain motionless when approached. Once they have been noticed, however, they scamper up to the precipitous cliffs, where they once again freeze, using camouflage to blend into the rock .

The Himalayan forests are not so lush and green but they have a different charm. In the Terai region variety of wildlife can be seen .Different kinds of birds like the Monal Pheasant are also seen in areas of eastern, central, and the western region of the Himalayas. Even rare species are also found here.

In conclusion, not many places in the world can charm you like the Himalayas.  Not every place gives you the reason to visit there every season. Spring and summer is the best time to visit as the flowers are in full bloom during this time to welcome the visitors with a burst of colors. 




References
 Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Bora Bora


Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts.The island is served by Bora Bora Airport on Motu Mete in the north, with Air Tahiti providing daily flights to and from Papeete on Tahiti.
Bora Bora is the fantasy of an island vacation. The over-the-water bungalows are engraved in our minds as the best in luxury and exotic accommodations. Whether deciding to island hop or stay your entire vacation in Bora Bora, it will be a dream come true. Bora Bora honeymoons evoke romance and tranquility      
                                                                                  









Matira Beach is Bora Bora's nicest stretch of sand and is the only public beach. It runs from the Hotel Bora Bora to the Club Med, offering lush vegetation and awesome views.
Experience the rare opportunity to swim with sharks in Bora Bora's lagoon. Snorkeling and diving are exceptional in Bora Bora, with hundreds of species of fish and colorful coral surrounding the island , Bora Bora island is possibly the single most famous island in all the world.


Here we have some foto with this great place  that is Bora Bora.