beautiful scenery in the world

aberdeenshire city

In addition to the castle and whisky trails, Aberdeen and Grampian offer coastal, stone circle and victorian heritage trails.

Coastal Trail - The trail takes in over 165 miles of unspoilt coastline and will take the tourist on a stunning journey featuring some of the North East of Scotland’s most breathtaking sights. Starting at St Cyrus and following the coastline all the way to Findhorn, the trail visits some of the small coastal communities of the North East as well as craggy clifftops, secret coves, sandy beaches, secluded harbours and bays and a whole range of tourist attractions such as museums and visitor centres. For more information visit www.aberdeen-grampian.com

Stone Circle Trail - The North East of Scotland has an impressive history and heritage and this can be seen in the many stone circles, standing stones, Pictish ruins and centuries old cairns. Scotland’s colourful past is recorded in these amazing sites that have been linked to the Bronze age, Romans, Picts, Grampian’s early agriculture as well as showing ancient forts, burial grounds and religious buildings. Acting as a starting point for the Trail, the Archeolink is a multi-award winning visitor attraction that takes visitors on a journey from the Mesolithic age to the days of the Roman marches. Featuring indoor and outdoor activities, the Centre has something for everyone and is a great starting point for the Stone Circle Trail. For more information on the Archeolink visit www.archeolink.co.uk. For more information on the Stone Circle Trail visit www.aberdeen-grampian.com.

The Victorian Heritage Trail - The trail takes tourists on a grand tour of Queen Victoria’s favourite sights and locations and features a wide range of attractions that will leave the visitor with a lasting impression of the country and it’s rich history. Taking in two distilleries, the trail also offers impressive castles, ancient kirks, notable bridges and rivers, viewpoints, walks and numerous interesting towns and villages as well as the renowned Cairngorms National Park, where Scotland’s wildlife can be seen in their natural habitat. Whether visiting in the summer, winter or seasons in between, the trail will provide some of the most breathtaking sights and attractions Scotland has to offer.

THE GREEN TOURISM
The AECC is part Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). The scheme focuses on reducing the negative impact of business activities on the environment. The business areas covered are in compliance with legislation, management, communication to clients through website and staff through emails, energy efficiency and renewables, solid waste, improving public transport and promotion of walking and cycling, water efficiency and limiting pollution, purchasing of environmentally friendly and local goods and services and increasing biodiversity.

Why the AECC is a ‘Green Meeting’ Venue:
Events organised electronically as much as possible
Public transport easily accessible
Delegates given energy saving and recycling advice on arrival
Recycling facilities available
Most food and drink suppliers are local, cutting down on food miles
Eco-gifts are given to delegates
Low energy light bulbs with reflectors in all meeting rooms
Building Management System for effective heating throughout.



Wildlife @ the AECC

Birds such as oyster catchers, wood pigeons and pheasants have been spotted as well as animals like weasels and even roe deer. The grounds comprise of areas of landscaped planting as well as wild and overgrown areas towards the rear with species such as willow herb, buddleia and lavender (beneficial for pollen seeking invertebrates), thistles, foxgloves, clover, cow parsley and ivy. Ground covering plants are beneficial for foraging animalsNative trees planted include Alnus glutinosa (alder), Betula pendula (silver birch) and many more.

Local Biodiversity
Nearby Balmedie and Donmouth Nature Reserve are locations which demonstrate significant biodiversity. Balmedie is a beach and dune system north of the city of Aberdeen. The long and wide beach of clean golden sand is bordered by the 5th largest sand dune system in Britain which stretches 14 miles. The dunes are a substantial area of stable grassland where the principal vegetation is marram grass. They support a large array of wildlife and are regarded as a site of special scientific interest. The beach is sandy and over the years has won a number of awards including a seaside award in 2006 and 2007.
Donmouth Nature Reserve - Where the River Don meets the sea, beside the A92 a few kilometres north of the city centre, the estuary in the Donmouth LNR gives excellent scope for seeing waders, terns and seabirds. Sandwich, common and Arctic terns fish here in summer, with little and black tern also recorded. Skuas come by in late summer, which is also a good time to watch out for little stint and other passage waders.
Coastal Aberdeenshire has recorded more than 225 species of birds while the nearby Forvie nature reserve is home to the largest colony of eider ducks in the UK. Schools of dolphins and porpoises can often be spotted from the coast which is also home to seals.

CASTLE
Aberdeenshire is famous for it rich castle tradition and is known as Scotland’s castle capital with over 70 castles and castle sites in the region.

Scotland’s amazing history can be experienced through some of the world’s most unique castles and visitors are encouraged to take in some of the rugged ruins, colossal castles and haunted halls the North East has to offer.

Scotland’s only Castle Trail can also be found in Aberdeenshire and features over 12 of the most magical castles from the last millennium. The trail is approximately 150 miles long and reveals some of the country’s Norman and Renaissance heritage.

A number of the castles on the trail can be found just a short drive out of the city itself with Drum and Tolquhan Castles and Castles Fraser and Crathes all near Aberdeenshire.

The most expensive hotel in the world

Top 10 Most Expensive Hotels:

No 10. Hotel Meurice

Belle Etoile Suite
$7,300 per night.

The most expensive Parisian hotel room is the Belle Etoile Suite at the Hotel Meurice, located on the Rue de Rivoli. The penthouse suite is reached via private elevator, where it opens onto a marble entry hall. The entire suite is decorated in a Charles X style - heavy drapery, intricate wood paneling with gilt edges, chandeliers and murals.

No 9. The Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski

Sultan's Suite
$7,500 per night

The Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul, located along the Bosporus, was originally the home of the last Ottoman sultans, and different incarnations of the property have been built (and torn down) since the 16th century. The building was bought by the Kempinski hotel group in 1986 and underwent a renovation in 1991.
Today, the hotel comprises two structures (the actual palace and the new hotel), and the Sultan's Suite is the most expensive room there.

No 8. Regent Beverly Wilshire

Penthouse Suite
$7,500 per night

The Regent Beverly Wilshire is the grande dame of L.A. hotels and happens to be the same age as the Academy Awards. Located on the 14th floor of the Beverly Wing, the 5,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite features three bedrooms, a wraparound balcony, a formal dining room, living room, kitchen and den, and is decorated with contemporary furniture. The master bathroom has floor-to-ceiling windows, two glass-enclosed showers, remote control toilet/bidet with a heated seat ...

No 7. The Fairmont Hotel

Penthouse Suite
$10,000 per night

The 6,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite at the Fairmont Hotel on San Francisco's Nob Hill takes up the entire eighth floor of the hotel and has three bedrooms, a dining room that holds 50 people, an eat-in kitchen and a two-story, domed library with a ceiling painted with the constellations.
There is also a billiards room covered floor-to-ceiling in Persian tiles, and four fireplaces inlaid with lapis lazuli. The bathroom fixtures are made of 24 karat gold, and a secret passageway is concealed behind the bookshelves on the library's second floor.

No 6. Hotel Cala di Volpe

Presidential Suite
$13,879 per night

The Costa Smeralda ("Emerald Coast"), on the eastern coast of Sardinia, became famous during the 1960s when the Aga Khan bought it and convinced his jet-set friends to start building villas and a yacht club on the beautiful but previously undeveloped island. The coast also served as the backdrop to the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

The split-level Presidential Suite has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two sitting rooms. The highlight is the private, outdoor saltwater pool on the second floor. The style is rustic but luxurious, with whitewashed walls, exposed beams, thick down cushions and wooden accents. The bed frames are wrought iron, and the tiles are hand-painted ceramic. The suite also has its own gazebo and solarium, as well as a DVD library and Bang & Olufsen stereos.

No 5. Westin Excelsior

Villa La Cupola
$14,950 per night

Rome's "Villa La Cupola" suite within the Westin Excelsior has all things Roman and excessive - a cupola, a Pompeii-style Jacuzzi pool, frescoes and stained glass windows. Located on the fifth and sixth floor underneath the cupola of the hotel (which was made famous by Fellini's movies), the suite covers 6,099 square feet and has an additional 1,808 square feet of balconies and terraces. While it only has two bedrooms, five more can be joined to it.

The stained glass windows in the living room detail allegories of a mythological figure paired with a modern one, such as Atlas and Television, Hypnosis and Neurosis, Hermes and Marketing, and Hermaphrodite and Fashion. The downstairs also has a private kitchen, and the dining room features an antique Murano glass chandelier, a private wine cabinet and an antique mosaic-tile-covered dining room.

What really makes this suite over the top is a private cinema with Dolby surround sound. Such luxury makes even the private elevator that leads up to the fitness area and Jacuzzi - complete with mosaic floors, vaulted ceilings and frescoes - seem ordinary. The painted horizons on the frescoes were designed to match perfectly with the real Roman one.

No 4. The Plaza Hotel

Presidential Suite
$15,000 per night

The 7,802-square-foot suite covers nearly the entire 18th floor of the Plaza, with views overlooking Central Park. The walls are covered in silk, the reception area has a 10-foot-wide stained glass window and the hand-painted piano depicts scenes from the French countryside.

The suite has five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, powder room and sauna. There are also three marble fireplaces, a terrace and a 2,000-bottle wine cellar (guests are charged extra for indulging). The Presidential Suite also comes with the use of a secretary/butler and the Plaza's chefs are at your disposal.

No 3. The Martinez Hotel

Presidential Suite
$18,500 per night

The Martinez Hotel in Cannes likes superlatives and bills itself as having the biggest, most expensive and only terraced penthouse suite on the Cote d'Azur. Perhaps some of this is Gallic swagger, but the price of the suites certainly makes them one of the most expensive in Europe. Both penthouse suites are 8,000 square feet and are decorated in the hotel's signature Art Deco style, with streamlined furniture, silk curtains and teak parquet floors.

While many of the hotel's rooms are painted in bright colors (peach, lime green), the penthouse suites are decorated in muted, understated tones (brown, cream and tan). Each suite has two bedrooms, a Turkish bath, kitchen, personal sauna and views of the Lerins Islands as well as the entire Bay of Cannes. The wraparound terrace is 2,000 square feet and can comfortably hold 100 people. It also has a Jacuzzi. Technophiles will appreciate the Bose plasma screen televisions and telephones and the DVD library. A private butler is on call 24 hours a day, and other amenities include use of a limousine, open bar and the option to join both suites into one grand apartment.

No 2. President Wilson Hotel

The Imperial Suite
$23,300 per night

At the sleek, modern President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, security takes as much precedence as luxury. Faster than you can say "Frette linens," the hotel's staff reassures guests that the security in the Imperial Suite is among the best in the world, ideal for celebrities or traveling heads of states who visit the United Nations headquarters next door at the Palais Wilson.

The Imperial Suite, which takes up the entire top floor of the hotel, is reached via a private elevator and has four bedrooms, all of which overlook Lake Geneva. The suite is decorated in a contemporary style, with marble and hardwood floors, and the bay windows overlook Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Off of the master bedroom is a dressing room as well as a study, and the suite has five bathrooms, all with mosaic marble floor, and a Jacuzzi and steam bath in the main bath. The living room has a billiards table, a library and a cocktail lounge with a view of the water fountain, and can accommodate 40 people. The dining room seats 26 people around an oval mahogany table. For the security-conscious or merely the paranoid, the Imperial Suite is also equipped with bulletproof windows and doors.

No 1. The Atlantis

Atlantis Bridge Suite
$25,000 per night

The Atlantis Bridge Suite has the distinction of being the most expensive hotel suite in the world - a whopping $25,000 a night. Found on Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Bridge Suite is located on top of a bridge that connects the two Royal Towers buildings, so it overlooks the entire resort and marina.

The ten-room suite is decorated in red, black and gold (lots of gold) and comes with its own butler, bar lounge and entertainment center as well as 12-foot ceilings. The master bedroom has a sitting area, his-and-hers closets, and hand-painted linens. The bathrooms have chaise lounges, marble baths, and dolphin fixtures. For those who are picky about their personal space, there are two separate master bathrooms. The kitchen also has its own entrance so the butler or cook never bothers you.
So, do you feel like spending $25,000 for one night?

Favaorite cuisine in Uzbekistan

One particularly distinctive and well-developed aspect of Uzbek culture is its cuisine. Unlike their nomadic neighbors, the Uzbeks have had a settled civilization for centuries. Between the deserts and mountains, in the oases and fertile valleys, they have cultivated grain and domesticated livestock. The resulting abundance of products has allowed the Uzbeks to express their strong tradition of hospitality, which in turn has enriched their cuisine.

The seasons, specifically winter and summer, greatly influence the composition of the basic menu. In the summer, fruit, vegetables and nuts are ubiquitous. Fruit grows in abundance in Uzbekistan - grapes, melons, watermelons, apricots, pears, apples, cherries, pomegranates, lemons, persimmons, quinces and figs. Vegetables are no less plentiful, including some lesser known species such as green radishes, yellow carrots, and dozen of pumpkin and squash varieties, in addition to the usual eggplants, peppers, turnips, cucumbers and luscious tomatoes.

The winter diet traditionally consists of dried fruit and vegetables, and preserves. Hearty noodle or pasta-type dishes are also common chilly weather fare.

In general, mutton is the preferred source of protein in the Uzbek diet. Fatty tailed sheep are prized not only for their meat and fat as a source of cooking oil, but for their wool as well. Beef and horsemeat are also consumed in substantial quantities. Camel and goat meat are less common.

Uzbek dishes are not notably hot and fiery, though certainly flavorful. Some of their principle spices are black cumin, red and black peppers, barberries, coriander, and sesame seeds. The more common herbs are cilantro (fresh coriander), dill, parsley, celeriac, and basil. Other seasonings include wine vinegar, liberally applied to salads and marinades, and fermented milk products.

The wide array of breads, leavened and unleavened, is a staple for the majority of the population. Flat bread, or "non", "lepyoshka" is usually baked in tandoor ovens, and served with tea, not to mention at every meal. Some varieties are prepared with onions or meat in the dough, others topped with sesame seeds or kalonji.

Central Asia has a reputation for the richness and delicacy of its fermented dairy products. The most predominant are katyk, or yogurt made from sour milk, and suzma, strained clotted milk similar to cottage cheese, which are eaten plain, in salads, or added to soups and main dishes, resulting in a unique and delicious flavor.

Plov or Osh, the Uzbek version of "pilaff" ("pilav"), is the flagship of Uzbek cookery. It consists mainly of fried and boiled meat, onions, carrots and rice; with raisins, barberries, chickpeas, or fruit added for variation. Uzbek men pride themselves on their ability to prepare the most unique and sumptuous plov. The oshpaz, or master chef, often cooks plov over an open flame, sometimes serving up to 1000 people from a single cauldron on holidays or occasions such as weddings. It certainly takes years of practice with no room for failure to prepare a dish, at times, containing up to 100 kilograms of rice.

Tea is revered in the finest of oriental traditions. It is offered first to any guest and there exists a whole subset of mores surrounding the preparation, offering and consumption of tea. Green tea is the drink of hospitality and predominates. Black tea is preferred in Tashkent, though both teas are seldom taken with milk or sugar. An entire portion of their food culture is dedicated solely to tea drinking. Some of these include samsa, bread, halva, and various fried foods.

The "chaykhana" (teahouse) is a cornerstone of traditional Uzbek society. Always shaded, preferably situated near a cool stream, the chaykhana is a gathering place for social interaction and fraternity. Robed Uzbek men congregate around low tables centered on beds adorned with ancient carpets, enjoying delicious plov, kebab and endless cups of green tea.

UZBEKISTAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

Culture of Uzbekistan is one of the brightest and original cultures of East. It is inimitable national music, dances and painting, unique national kitchen and clothes. The Uzbek national music is characterized as variety of subjects and genres. The songs and tool plays according to their functions and forms of usage can be divided into two groups: performed in the certain time and under the certain circumstances and performed at any time. The songs connected with customs and traditions, labor processes, various ceremonies, dramatized entertainment representations and games belong to the first group.

The Uzbek people is well-known for its songs. Koshuk - household song with a small diapason melody, covering one or two rows of the poetic text. The dancing character of a melody of this genre provides their performance in support of comic dances. "Lapar" is a dialogue-song. In some areas the term - lapar is applied to wedding songs "Ulan" (which is performed as a dialogue of man and women). Genre "yalla" includes two kinds of songs: a melody of a narrow range, and solo simultaneously with dance. National and professional poems of the poets of East are used as the texts for the songs. The special place in the Uzbek musical heritage occupy "dastans" (epic legends with lyric-heroic content). Also "Makoms"- are the basic classical fund of professional music of oral tradition.

The dances of uzbeks distinguish softness, smoothness and expressiveness of movements, easy sliding step, original movements on a place and on a circle.

The development of national painting began many centuries ago. At 16-17 centuries art of the manuscript and binding in Bukhara and some other urban centers has achieved significant success. The decorating of manuscript included refined calligraphy, performance by water paints and thin ornaments on fields. In Samarkand and especially in Bukhara the Central Asian school of a miniature has achieved a great success and were developed many different style directions. One of them, for example is connected with traditions of Behzod, which characterized with its gentle style of writing the letter and architectural elements.


National clothes
The Uzbek national clothes of the end of XX centuries remain constant up these days. The men in that time carried a direct cover shirts, bottom and top dressing gowns. The dressing gowns were very light and made from cotton wool. There were cuts on each side of dressing gown for convenience at walking. The trousers were made wide, of direct breed lent from top to bottom. Female clothes: dressing gowns, dress, "parandja"- also of wide breed.


Handicrafts
Culture, handicrafts and tourism are rapidly becoming inseparable partners. Local crafts are important elements of culture, and people travel to see and experience other cultures, traditions and ways of living. Crafts products form an important element of the purchases made by tourists, providing an important economic input to the local economy.

Applied art of Uzbeks has a wealth of variety when it comes to style, materials and ornamentation. Silk, ceramics and cotton weaving, stone and wood carving, metal engraving, leather stamping, calligraphy and miniature painting are some genres passed down from ancient times. Back in the past, each region had its own cultural and ethnic traditions the unique features of which were established by local guilds that have strengthened these characteristics through their art.

Uzbek craftsmen nowadays still practice ancient jewellery making techniques for cutting gemstones, grain filigree, granular work, engraving and enamelling, also they are trying to take into account fashion demands and styles.

Embroidery is one of the most popular trends of applied arts in Uzbekistan. Every city of Uzbekistan has its own unique features such as ornamentation, composition, colour range and stitching. The finest kind of embroidery, gold embroidery is still practised in Bukhara.

The art of carpet weaving is also a very ancient form of art throughout Asia and the East, and nowadays it can be found in some of the cities of Uzbekistan today. The art of wood carving is used and adapted in modern interior design. Carved and painted tables, stools, caskets, pencil boxes and bookstands are popular pieces of furniture among local people and tourists. The art of Miniature painting and calligraphy has been revived again in its traditional form as well as some modern variants. For example miniatures stamped on leather, painted on paper miniatures, small lacquered boxes, framed pictures, pencil boxes and many other ideas skilfully painted by masters can be found in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan....

Uzbekistan is approximately the size of Morocco and has an area of 447,400 square kilometers (172,700 sq mi). It is the 56th largest country in the world by area and the 42nd by population.[11] Among the CIS countries, it is the 5th largest by area and the 3rd largest by population.[12]

Uzbekistan stretches 1,425 kilometers (885 mi) from west to east and 930 kilometers (578 mi) from north to south. Bordering Kazakhstan and the Aral Sea to the north and northwest, Turkmenistan to the southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast, and Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Uzbekistan is not only one of the larger Central Asian states but also the only Central Asian state to border all the other four. Uzbekistan also shares a short border (less than 150 km) with Afghanistan to the south.

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; it is one of two doubly landlocked countries in the world, i.e., a country completely surrounded by landlocked countries – the other being Liechtenstein. Less than 10% of its territory is intensively cultivated irrigated land in river valleys and oases. The rest is vast desert (Kyzyl Kum) and mountains. The highest point in Uzbekistan is the Khazret Sultan, located at 4,643 meters (15,233 ft) above sea level, located in the southern part of the Gissar Range in Surkhandarya Province, on the border with Tajikistan, just north-west of Dushanbe (formerly called Peak of the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party).[12]

The climate in the Republic of Uzbekistan is continental, with little precipitation expected annually (100–200 millimeters, or 3.9–7.9 inches). The average summer high temperature tends to be 40 °C (104 °F), while the average winter low temperature is around −23 °C (−9 °F).[13]

Major cities include Bukhara, Samarqand, Namangan and the capital Tashkent.

Travelling to Ireland

Ireland is a presently one of the important country in the map of tourism. Besides being a major center in European business, culture, arts, technology, and science, the also boasts of rich culture and heritage. Traveling to Ireland include its famous government buildings, national museums, galleries, memorials, heritage structures, parks and gardens, shopping and entertainment zones and fine dining hubs, which makes it a roaring tourist destination. With a wonderful array of tourist attractions in Dublin, it caters to the interests of all.

Heritage Dathfarnham
The date of the foundation of the castle is uncertain, but research would suggest 1583 as the most likely date. The castle was built by Adam Loftus, an ambitious Yorkshire clergyman, who came to Ireland as chaplain to the Lord Deputy and quickly rose to become Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Chancellor of Ireland and was closely involved in the establishment of Trinity College. The castle has a very colourful and interesting history and visitors can view fine 18th century interiors by Sir William Chambers and James 'Athenian' Stuart. The castle is presented as a castle undergoing conservation and visitors can see tantalizing glimpses of layers of the castle's earlier existence uncovered during research


The National Botanic Garden
The National Botanic Gardens is noted for its fine plant collections holding over 15,000 plant species and cultivars from a variety of habitats from all around the world. Famous for its exquisitely restored and planted glasshouses, notably the Turner Curvilinear Range and the Great Palm House, both recipients of the Europa Nostra award for excellence in conservation architecture. Visitors can enjoy such features as the Herbaceous borders, rose garden, the alpine yard, the pond area, rock garden and arboretum. Conservation plays an important role in the life of the botanic garden and Glasnevin is home to over 300 endangered plant species from around the world including 6 species, which are already extinct in the wild.

Landscape Park of Poland

Cisowsko-Orlowinski Landscape Park is situated in the south east part of Swietokrzyskie Mountains (the map). It occupies the fragment of Orlowinski, Ociesecki and Lisowski strips.
Biale Lugi Its greatest virtue is nature. In terms of biodiversity it surpasses Swietokrzyski National Park. The greatest park's nature wealth is flora. This biodiversity accompanies wealth of tree sets and peat bogs protected reserves. In the area of the park, there are 52 species of plants under protection and 15 species of rare plants. Woodland environment constitutes a mainstay for many animals, among which one can meet many deer, bucks, boars, badgers, elks and grouses. There is also the bird characteristic for taiga - a finch.
In the area of the park, near Lagowo there were two nature and landscape complexes created: "Lagowica Valley" and "Dule Ravine" with "Zbojecka Cave" - the unique station of liming with the cave which length is 200 meters.

The Complex of Jurassic Landscape Parks in Cracow was created in 1981 in order to protect the unique beauty of Jura Krakowska. The Complex of Jurassic Landscape ParksNowadays it is composed of 6 landscape parks. The area is varied in terms of morphology and landscape. The fauna of the parks is very rich as a result of varied natural conditions, such as surface features, substratum and microclimate.

Carpathian Landscape Parks are huge forested areas (65% of the park area are forests) varied by the meadows and pastures. The forest hides numerous meadows and peat bogs and low natural rock outcrops. As far as forest stand is concerned, the edaphic diversity and the community of beech wood predominate with the abundance of many other species. In dry ground forests located on lower areas there is broad leaved lime.

Kazimierski Landscape Park was created in 1979 as the eighth park in Poland and the first in Lubelskie Province. The area of the park is 11862ha, with the buffer zone of 28772ha. The park and its protection zone encompass partly or in the whole 10 gmins of Lubelskie Province. Within the borders of the park there are the fragments of Naleczowski Plateau, Belzecka Plain, Chodelska Basin, Małopolski Vistula and Radomska Gorge. Sub regions differ from each other in terms of characteristic features of the landscape.
Lagowo

Lagowski Landscape Park - The name of the Park derives from the town Lagy which is situated between the lakes. It had been known for ages for its fortified fortress with the gothic castle on the hill. Around it there are moraine hills (200 m above the sea level), overgrown with beautiful beech forests, cut across with deep ravines and long, narrow lakes, meandering as if they were a river. All of is makes the impression of a mountain area. There are many granite rocks, numerous springs and oval hollows filled with peat bog. This is the picture of geologic and climatic postglacial changes.

Nadgoplanski Millenium Park is the area of fields, meadows, pastures, forests, peat bogs, reedy areas, other wastelands, Goplo and Skulskie lakes. Goplo lake - the heart of the park used to be called Mare Polonorum. It is the breeding place of many water, mud and land bird species and the place of their rest during spring and autumn passages. The Millenium Park was created not only for bird protection, but also for protection of historical values of the region, connected with the beginnings of the Polish country.
aurochses

Witold Slawinskiego Landscape Park of Primeval Forest creates the specific climate and possesses the unique nature resources. Suprasl gained the status of lowland, climatic and therapeutic mud health resort. The lowland, sylvan microclimate is healing for treating the diseases of respiratory tracks, locomotive organs, rheumatism, blood circulations system, depressions and digestive system. The deposits of therapeutic mud of Podsokolda will suffice for 300 years of exploitation.

Landscape Park of Warta River Mouth - The neighborhood surrounding of Kostrzyn is quickly passed by in a way trough the country border. This region is, however, one of the most interesting of Lubuska Land. The treasures of the nature, such as reserve of Slonsk or thermophilous swards in Owczary, in the ruins of Stare Miasto and the remaining of the kostrzynska fortress, where one can feel the climate of the 1940s. There are quiet villages, situated next to each other, in which the farmers will invite you for the rest in agrotourist households.

Landscape Park of Lodzkie Heights is one of the youngest landscape parks in Poland. It was created in 1996 on the area of 138 km2, although the idea of its foundation dates back to 1970s. The aim of the park is to protect a unique upland landscapes on the area of the Central Poland .

Podlaski Water Gap of Bug River - The area of the Park, for the sake of its beautiful, It crunchvaried and quiet landscape, clean water and healthy air, is the ideal place for recreation and rest for the people who want the close contact with nature.
In the Landscape Park there are 765 species of vascular plants, including 18 species of cryptogam plants, 5 species of phanerogamic plants and 742 species of cryptogamic plants. There are also 34 species of trees, 50 species of shrub bushes and dwarf shrubs and 681 species of herbaceous plants.

permite tener una fiesta!

The 'Tomatina' Tomato Fight
La Tomatina tomato fight SpainSurely the worlds' biggest food-fight: every year around 30,00 people descend on the Spanish town of Bunol (in the Valencia region of Spain) to throw more than 240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other.

The festival is started with a ham-on-a-stick contest where competitors raced up a pole to retrieve a smoked leg of ham. When the ham is cut down, people put on eye protection and cry for tomatoes as trucks dump the squishy produce onto the village streets. They then proceed to pelt each other with them until all have been used up.

The festival on the last Wednesday of August is called 'the Tomatina' and is basically a town-wide tomato fight. It is thought the tradition began in 1945 when a fight erupted among two young members of a carnival crowd. A vegetable stall was nearby in the town square and every started throwing tomatoes at each other. Exactly one year later, young people met at the square, but this time with their own tomatoes. Another food-fight started but was broken up by police.

In the following years this practice was banned by the authorities, but due to popular demand was given official recognition in 1959. This was only to occur if participants would respect the start and the end of tomato-throwing being announced with a banger.

The San Sebastian Drum Festival
Drum roll, por favor! Take your ear plugs to San Sebastian in January, because its time once again for the infamous and deafening La Tamborrada. Prepare yourself to see and hear this sleepy resort town come alive with the sound of thousands of beating drums, all day and all night.

Spain is known for hosting some exceptionally wild fiestas, but nothing can prepare you for the high-decibel madness of La Tamborrada. It's a short but intense festival and it works like this: from midnight to midnight companies of perfectly uniformed marchers parade through the streets of San Sebastian playing drums and barrels in honor of their patron saint, the Donostia of San Sebastian. Talk about "loud as hell"!

The activity begins on the evening of January 19th at the Plaza de la Constitution and winds through all the barrios of the old city for the next 24 hours. (There is a brief break in the morning around dawn--just enough time to throw back a brandy and some churros). The different corps of marchers represent the many gastronomic societies in San Sebastian, and the competition is fierce.

As with many Spanish traditions, the origin of La Tamborrada is a bit twisted. It appears as though in 1720 a baker was filling water barrels from a fountain near the Iglesia de San Vicente. While filling the barrels he began to sing, and a group of young girls passing by started banging on the barrels as accompaniment. A crowd started to gather and this impromptu jam session evolved into the spectacle you see today.

Some years later the composer Raimundo Sarriegui scored the "March of San Sebastian," a series of drum compositions that are still played every year during La Tamborrada. At one point, the townspeople suggested adding words to the composition, but Sarriegui argued that there was no way to improve the sounds of the drums and barrels

La Endiablada (The Disguised devils)
A fiesta held since the 13th century only men born in the town may join the brotherhood and therefore take part in one of Spain's weirdest festivals.
The brotherhood has a Head Devil, a position which is held for life and his job as is the rest of the one hundred men who waddle about the town dressed up as devils, wearing a combination of pyjamas, a bishop's mitre and long bells over their backsides the size of cannon shells is to scare off Satan himself, distracting him with their exaggerated shows of emotion to keep him from attacking the purity of the Virgin Mary. They start at the entrance of the church, where they pretend to wash the statue of the town's patron saint, `San Blas'.
On each day there is a morning procession where the devils precede the statue in two lines on either side of the street carrying clubs which they continually shake. As the procession makes its ways around the church the devils in turn or in groups run straight toward the statue with his arms outstretched in an exaggerated gesture in supplication or offering.

All the time the there is the deafening and uninterrupted clanging of cowbells on the backs of the devils.

After the church mass the fiesta continues where the women of the village dance traditional dances.

THE BULL IS RUNNING!!!

Every year from July 7th-14th thousands pack into Pamplona to start Spain's most famous bull-running fiesta to honour Navarre capital's patron saint, San Fermin. Spain stages more than 3,000 fiestas (festivals) each year but the 7 days of bull-running are the favourite in terms of spectacle and excitement.

After the daybreak of July 7th, runners (mainly young men) gather at the bottom of Santo Domingo, which is the starting line. They crowd together and sing to the image of San Fermin which is placed in a niche on a wall. The song goes: "A San Fermín pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, nos guíe en el encierro dándonos su bendición" ("We ask San Fermín, as our Patron, to guide us through the Bull Run and give us his blessing.")

Then, as a rocket goes off, a number of fighting bulls are let out onto the streets. A second rocket is then let off to make sure everyone knows the bulls are loose in the street. The bulls run along the narrow street 825 metres (half a mile) to a bull ring. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to feel the breath of the bull on their backs, getting as close as possible - all whilst trying to avoid getting gored by their sharp horns.

The supposed way to do this is to start off slowly when the bulls are quite a distance behind. Then as they get nearer start running like hell! You can then go near them for a short time, as near as you are prepared to risk it, and then quickly get out of the way. Runners look for a gap in the fence to slip through or jump over, or a space against the wall of the street.

When the bulls finally reach the end of the street, they go into pens and are kept until later that day they are killed in a bullfight.

The tradition is said to have come from practicality when, in 1591 residents merely had to herd the bulls to the bull-fighting arena. At first only the drovers were used to lead the bulls. But it seems that at some date, the butchers guild, who had the responsibility of buying the bulls, began to join in with the drovers and began to chase behind the bulls and heifers up to the bull-ring from Santo Domingo street - the starting point of the run.

As time passed the event became more and more popular and some people began to run in front of the bulls and not behind them, as the drovers do. In 1852, a new bull-ring was built and a new route - becoming much shorter also, because as from 1899, it was decided to bring the bulls up to a small corral in Santo Domingo street the night before they fight in the ring.

Originally only a few daring souls ran with the bulls but the adrenaline rush of running in front of a 1500lb bull has since caught on. People now journey from all around the world to run with the bulls.

Other cities in Spain also have bull running festivals if you can´t make San Fermin or don´t like crowds. Aravaca-Pozuelo, a suburb of Madrid, for example, has a bull running festival in late summer.

Flamenco

Flamenco is a genuine Spanish art form, or, to be more exact, a genuine Southern Spanish art. It exists in three forms: el cante, the song, el baile, the dance, and la guitarra, the guitar playing. Gypsies are often credited with the "invention" of flamenco, and it is at least certain that they played an important part in its creation. But the popular songs and dances of Andalusia also had a major influence on early Flamenco.

First there were the legendary Tartessos, and later, nine centuries of Muslim occupation. Neither passed without leaving an imprint on Andalusian culture, and both influenced flamenco, directly and indirectly. The earliest mention of flamenco in literature is in Las Cartas Marreucas of Cadalso, in 1774.

During its Golden Age (1869-1910), flamenco developed into its definitive form in the epoch´s numerous music cafés (cafés cantantes). Flamenco´s most intense form, cante jondo, expressing deep feelings, dates from this period. And in the cafés cantantes, the art of flamenco dance rose to new heights as the dancers became the major attraction.

Cante Jondo
The role of the guitar reached its peak during the café cantante years, as well, with the guitar developing into an essential part of the flamenco art form. From 1910 to 1955 flamenco singing was marked by the ópera flamenca, with an easier kind of music such as fandangos and cantes de ida y vuelta-the latter clearly showing South American influences. From 1915 onwards flamenco shows were organized and performed all over the world. However, not everyone was happy with that development and in 1922 a group of intellectuals, among them Manuel de Falla, organized a contest in Granada to promote "authentic" cante jondo.

Modern day flamenco frequently shows influences of other kinds of music, such as jazz, salsa, bossa nova, etc. And flamenco dance has changed, with female dancers often showcasing their temperament more than their artistry.

Flamenco guitar, originally just a backdrop for the dancing and singing, is now recognized as an art form in its own right. The virtuoso Paca de Lucia is one of most influential pioneers of flamenco guitar. Although mass media has brought Flamenco to the world stage, at its heart it has always been and will always be an intimate form of music. You have not heard authentic flamenco if you have not been in a juerga, with a small group of friends, at midnight somewhere in the south of Spain, where there is nothing around but the voice, the guitar and the body of a dancer moving in the moonlight.

Korea 한국어 / 조선말

Korean (한국어 / 조선말), a language spoken by about 63 million people in South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. The relationship between Korean and other languages is not known for sure, though some linguists believe it to be a member of the Altaic family of languages. Grammatically Korean is very similar to Japanese and about 70% of its vocabulary comes from Chinese.

Origin of writing in Korea

Chinese writing has been known in Korea for over 2,000 years. It was used widely during the Chinese occupation of northern Korea from 108 BC to 313 AD. By the 5th century AD, the Koreans were starting to write in Classical Chinese - the earliest known example of this dates from 414 AD. They later devised three different systems for writing Korean with Chinese characters: Hyangchal (향찰/鄕札), Gukyeol (구결/口訣) and Idu (이두/吏讀). These systems were similar to those developed in Japan and were probably used as models by the Japanese.

The Idu system used a combination of Chinese characters together with special symbols to indicate Korean verb endings and other grammatical markers, and was used to in official and private documents for many centuries. The Hyangchal system used Chinese characters to represent all the sounds of Korean and was used mainly to write poetry.

The Koreans borrowed a huge number of Chinese words, gave Korean readings and/or meanings to some of the Chinese characters and also invented about 150 new characters, most of which are rare or used mainly for personal or place names.

The Korean alphabet was invented in 1444 and promulgated it in 1446 during the reign of King Sejong (r.1418-1450), the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. The alphabet was originally called Hunmin jeongeum, or "The correct sounds for the instruction of the people", but has also been known as Eonmeun (vulgar script) and Gukmeun (national writing). The modern name for the alphabet, Hangeul, was coined by a Korean linguist called Ju Si-gyeong (1876-1914). In North Korea the alphabet is known as 조선글 (josoen guel).

The shapes of the consonants are based on the shape the mouth made when the corresponding sound is made, and the traditional direction of writing (vertically from right to left) most likely came from Chinese, as did the practice of writing syllables in blocks.

Even after the invention of the Korean alphabet, most Koreans who could write continued to write either in Classical Chinese or in Korean using the Gukyeol or Idu systems. The Korean alphabet was associated with people of low status, i.e. women, children and the uneducated. During the 19th and 20th centuries a mixed writing system combining Chinese characters (Hanja) and Hangeul became increasingly popular. Since 1945 however, the importance of Chinese characters in Korean writing has diminished significantly.

Since 1949 hanja have not been used at all in any North Korean publications, with the exception of a few textbooks and specialized books. In the late 1960s the teaching of hanja was reintroduced in North Korean schools however and school children are expected to learn 2,000 characters by the end of high school.

In South Korea school children are expected to learn 1,800 hanja by the end of high school. The proportion of hanja used in Korean texts varies greatly from writer to writer and there is considerable public debate about the role of hanja in Korean writing.

Most modern Korean literature and informal writing is written entirely in hangeul, however academic papers and official documents tend to be written in a mixture of hangeul and hanja.

THE BENEFIT OF DOENJANG - 된장

Doenjang (soy bean paste), a traditional Korean food that is fermented from soybeans, has been a fixture of the Korean diet for centuries. Recently, it has received great attention from western medicine for its nutritional and medical value. Doenjang is effective in preventing cancer. Soybeans, the main ingredient of doenjang, contain high quality proteins in the form of amino acid which acids aid digestion. Abundant amounts of vitamin A and C can be supplemented by adding pumpkins when making doenjang. Doenjang is also effective in preventing and treating constipation and diarrhea by increasing the activities of the large intestines.



-Anti cancer properties
Of all fermented foods, doenjang is the most effective in treating cancer.The anti-cancer properties of doenjang do not disappear even when the paste is boiled or heated. According to one study performed on mice with cancer, mice that were fed doenjang jjigae (a traditional Korean soup made from soy bean paste), had 80% fewer cancer cells than those that were not.Daily consumption of doenjang is one of the 15 rules for cancer prevention set forth by the Korean Cancer Association. The cancer preventing properties of doenjang are being officially recognized by more and more health institutions and experts. Recent studies have revealed that doenjang is effective in not only treating cancer, but also preventing it.

-Lowers blood pressure
The histamine-leucine amino acid in doenjang is effective in enhancing the physiological activation of protein, which alleviates headaches, lowers blood pressure, and reduces blood cholesterol. As a result, blood vessels become much more elastic.

-Strengthens the liver
The liver is one of the most import!ant organs of our body, as it distributes nutrients to each part of the body.Traditional doenjang is effective in restoring liver functions and detoxifying the liver. It also reduces the activation of glycosyl transferase, a measurement of liver poison. Many studies showing the liver strengthening properties of doenjang have been released.

-Acid-fast properties
Dfaidzein, daidzin and other isojlavin substances that fall under the polyphenol class are found in soybeans. These are the substances in doenjang that prevent aging.Another antioxidant is melanoidin, which is created as the result of a reaction between amino acids and sugars.These substances prevent the oxidation of lipid, which is found within doenjang, and make doenjang a very safe product.

-Antidote effect
Doenjang is effective in detoxifying the poisons in fish, meat, vegetables, and mushrooms. They are also useful in detoxifying snake venom and bee poison.

-Prevents dementia
The lecithin in soybeans increases brain activity. Saponin, another substance found in soybeans, is a functional substance that lowers blood cholesterol levels and prevents aging and senile dementia by suppressing the formation of fatty peroxide. In addition, doenjang contains antioxidants substances that slow the aging process. The powers of these substances are strengthened in the fermenting and aging process. At the same time, it has also been shown that the unique browning phenomenon of doenjang plays a significant role in preventing aging.

-Aids digestion
Doenjang is a food that simultaneously increases appetite and is easily digestible. There is no need to worry about indigestion when having doenjang for lunch. According to traditional Korean remedies, indigestion can be cured by eating thin doenjang soup.

-Prevention of osteoporosis
Isoflavone derivatives, also known as vegetable estrogen, prevent the re-absorption of bones and help create new bone matter. Thus, it is effective in preventing female osteoporosis. VitaminD, which is abundant in mushrooms, aids the absorption of calcium and makes our bones stronger.

-Partial treatment of diabetes
Melanoidin enhances the secretion of insulin and treats diabetes. Prevention of constipation and fat Pumpkins, mushrooms, and barley are rich in fiber. Fiber prevents obesity, treats and prevents constipation, and aids digestion by accelerating intestine activity.

-Prevention of heart diseases and brain tumors
Protein found in mushrooms purifies our blood, controls coagulation, and reduces blood viscosity. Hence, it is effective in preventing brain tumors and heart diseases.

-Treatment of freckles and skin discoloration
Linolenic acid cures freckles and skin discoloration by preventing the compounding of melanin. Mushrooms and pumpkins make the skin look shiny and healthy, and also cure acne and allergic skin diseases.

culture and some famous landmarks inTurkey

Ottoman literature and court music were mostly religious, and both sound pompous and lugubrious to Western ears. Visual arts were curtailed by the Muslim dictum that forbids representation of any being 'with an immortal soul', so Islamic artists tended to the non-representative arts. Turkish museums are full of delicate coloured tiles, graceful glass vases, carved wooden mosque doors, glittering illuminated Korans, intricate jewellery and sumptuous costumes. Atatürk changed Turkey's cultural picture overnight, encouraging representative painting, sculpture, literature, western music (he loved opera), dance and drama. The introduction of a new Latin-based Turkish alphabet brought literacy within reach of many more citizens and Ottoman courtly prose gave way to use of the vernacular. Several Turkish writers, including Nazim Hikmet, Yashar Kemal and Orhan Pamuk have met with critical and popular acclaim in Turkey and further afield. Recently, Ottoman arts such as paper marbling and shadow-puppet plays have been enjoying a resurgence. Carpet-weaving is still a Turkish passion.

Folk music was (and still is) sprightly. Türkü music, of which you'll hear lots on the radio, is traditional folk music with a modern urban slant. The 1000-year-old tradition of Turkish troubadours has been wiped out by TV and cassettes, but the songs of the great troubadours are still popular and often performed and recorded. The Turkish film industry began early, was fiesty through the 1920s, expanded rapidly after WWII and delved into social and political issues through the 1960s and 70s. Turkish cinema is characterised by honesty, naturalism and dry humour. Directors to look out for include the fiery Yilmaz Güney, Tunç, Basaran, Zülfü and Ömer Kavur.

Although Turkish is an elegantly simple language, the rules of word order and verb formation are very different from Indo-European languages, making it somewhat difficult to learn. Verbs can be so complex that they constitute whole sentences in themselves - try this one on for size: Afyonkarahisarlilastiramadiklarimizdanmisiniz? ('Aren't you one of those people whom we tried - unsuccessfully - to make resemble the citizens of Afyonkarahisar?') It's a lot easier to ask where the toilets are!

Bring your belly to Turkey - it will thank you. Shish kebab (skewer-grilled lamb) is a Turkish invention and you'll find kebapçis everywhere. Lamb and fish (which can be expensive) dishes are the restaurant staples. If you're scrimping, the best cheap and tasty meal is Turkish pizza. Eggplant is the number one vegetable: look out for imam bayildi ('the priest fainted'), a delicious stuffed eggplant dish. Desserts are sweet (often honey-soaked) and tend to incorporate fruit, nuts and pastry in tempting combinations. Vegetarians aren't much catered for, but you'll never starve - making an entire meal from magnificent meze (hors d'oeuvres) is easy. The national drink is çay (tea). Beer is served almost everywhere and Turkish wines are cheap and surprisingly good. Raki, an aniseed-flavoured grape brandy, is the knockout tipple of choice.

Emm.....Turkey !

About Turkey
The lands of Turkey are located at a point where the three continents making up the old world. Asia, Africa and Europe are closest to each other, and Turkey straddle the point where Europe and Asia meet. Geographically, Turkey is located in the northern half of the hemisphere at a point that is about halfway between the equator and the north pole, at a longitude of 36 degrees N to 42 degrees N and a latitude of 26 degrees E to 45 degrees E. Turkey is roughly rectangular in shape and is 1,660 kilometers wide.

Because of Turkey's geographical location the mainland of Anatolia has always found favour throughout history, and is the birthplace of many great civilizations. Turkey has also been prominent as a centre of commerce because of its land connections to three continents and the sea surrounding it on three sides.

The Most Romantic City in the World - France

France Cities
France isn't just Paris. It is filled with wonderful cities, large and small, each with its own character. Find out details about France cities.
Sete France
Sete, France is a lovely fishing city which has much allure, from its beaches to its port lined with buildings painted rich ochres, rusts and azures. This is the spot to sample some of the world’s best seafood, usually prepared from the morning’s catches. Several canals wind their way through the city. Find out about travel to Sete, France.

Montsegur
Monstegur somehow has the power to cast a spell on its visitors. On paper, it is hardly remarkable. It’s a small town with a few streets, a couple cafés and a museum. In reality, though, there is some intangible allure here that draws people back again and again.
Argeles-Gazost
Argeles-Gazost, France might be a bit small, but it has a lot to offer. It has a cute and compact downtown lined with shops and cafés, a thermal spa and a casino. It is close to ski slopes, a medieval abbey, several lakes and numerous mountain peaks. Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains just a short drive south of Lourdes and close to skiing, this makes an excellent getaway spot for nature-lovers who also prefer to be based in a civilized and charming town.

Agen France
Agen, France, situated halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, is probably best known for its prunes. There is much more to this charming small city: gothic arches, a daily covered market, narrow medieval alleys, and a canal and river. The people of Agen are infinitely friendly, and avid rugby fans. Find out more about charming and unique Agen, France.

Narbonne Attractions
Narbonne attractions include a beach, a maze of Medieval streets, and the busy Hotel de Ville area with shops.

Albi, France
The pretty village of Albi France, with its old building facades and its quaint old town, is probably best known for an ugly chapter in its history. This was the first city to provide refuse to the Cathars, and is the origin of a later name that was bestowed on the religious sect, the Albigensians. On a lighter note, this is the birthplace of the famous artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. A visit to the cityÂ’s museum of the artistÂ’s work is time well-spent.

Avignon: Former Home of the Papacy
Few people realize that the pope's palace was relocated to France during the Middle Ages. In lovely Avignon, visitor's can still visit the former seat of the papacy in this lovely, thriving southern city.

Cahors
Tucked into a rounded nook of the Lot River, Cahors is a lovely medieval city almost entirely surrounded by water. At the heart of wine country, the city’s most memorable landmark is the Valentré bridge and the nearby ramparts.
Evian-les-Bains - Destination with a Spa Flair on the French-Swiss Border
A trip report on Evian-les-Bains, a lovely mountain city on the French-Swiss border. It is best known for its spring waters, establishing this as a prime spa resort destination. There is also a casino and a lovely downtown here.

Foix, France
Foix, France is a small city with a big personality. Surrounded by mountains and sliced with rivers, this is a true gateway to the Pyrenees. Situated about 30 miles from Toulouse or 40 miles from Andorra, it is also quite central.
Limoux: Home of Blanquette, the Real First Sparkling Wine
Most of the world credits the invention of sparkling wine to the Champagne region, and to Dom Perignon. The legend, and possible real story, is far more interesting. According to Limoux natives, it was really invented there when Blanquette was created. When the great dom passed through, he stole the idea, they allege. No matter who is right, Limoux is a lovely small town with a big heart in the Languedoc. It is home to one of Europe's most popular Carnavals.
Lourdes Travel Guide - Famous Virgin Mary Sightings Attract Millions of Pilgrims
Lourdes is the second most popular tourism city in all of France, attracting pilgrims from throughout the globe to the cave where a peasant girl had several visions of the Virgin Mary. Today, this is a bustling Pyrenees village that is central to several other great cities and attractions. Lourdes is second only to Paris in the number of hotel rooms available.

Mende, France and the Lozere
Mende, in the rural and mountainous Lozere, is a small city of about 12,000 people. This is a wonderful destination for anyone who wants to be in a town, but in the midst of nature at its finest, unique wildlife and outdoor activities like hang gliding, mountain climbing and canoeing.

Montpellier, France
Montpellier, France is a bustling and vibrant city in the South of France often overshadowed by neighboring cities in Provence,but it is well worthy of a visit. The city is beautiful, filled with architecture and rich in history. It's lined with boutiques and sidewalk cafes, and dotted with magnificent squares. Here is a guide to the city of Montpellier, France.

Narbonne, France
Narbonne, France is a charming small city in the Languedoc, featuring wonderful historic attractions as well as a relaxing beach along the Mediterranean.

Pau, France
What Pau, France lacks in personality it makes up for with location. While the city is a bit drab, its surroundings are not. Much like nearby Tarbes in the Midi-Pyrenees, the city itself doesn’t have too much to offer and is a little dreary in spots. Its best features are some of its historic attractions such as the history-rich and impressive Chateau de Pau. But it is a short hour drive to the sea and the Spanish border. It is right at the doorstep of the mountains.

Perigueux and the Dordogne
P�rigueux and the surrounding Dordogne is the place for anyone who loves historic attractions but hates the accompanying crowds. With the exception of Paris, there is nowhere else in all of France with so many historic monuments and attractions. P�rigueux is also an ideal place to sample regional flavors and food.

Rodez, France
Situated as it is in the middle of the mountains, it can be surprising to come upon Rodez. Unexpectedly urban, this tiny city features wonderful shopping and dining. The city’s striking cathedral features a Virgin Mary that is about 250 feet tall. Find out more about the wonderful discovery that is Rodez.

St-Jean-de-Luz, France
Easily the most attractive city in the Basque Country, from its cozy beach to its alluring downtown, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a jewel in the Basque Country. Find out about the pretty and charming beach city of St. Jean de Luz.

St. Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is a charming hilltop fortified village in Provence, filled with art galleries, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. It's hard to find something ugly about this quaint village. A walk through its winding streets reveals elegant fountains, vine-covered stone walls and statues tucked into nooks in the walls.

Toulouse Travel Guide & City Guide: Visit a Historic, Lively, Centrally-Located French City
Steeped in history, yet hip and lively, the enchanting Toulouse is one of France's most beautiful cities. The food here and in the rest of the Midi Pyrenees region could be among France's most memorable. The shopping options are vast. Some of France's best cities and attractions are mere minutes or a couple hours from Toulouse, blessed with a wonderful central location. Here is a travel guide and city guide to splendid Toulouse

slovakia

The development of Slovak culture reflects the country's rich folk tradition, in addition to the influence of broader European trends. The impact of centuries of cultural repression and control by foreign governments is also evident in much of Slovakia's art, literature, and music.

There are 12 state scientific libraries in Slovakia, 473 libraries affiliated with universities and institutions of higher learning, and 2600 public libraries. The University Library in Bratislava, founded in 1919, contains more than 2 million volumes and is the country's most important library. The Slovak National Library (1863), located in Martin, includes a collection of materials relating to Slovak culture.

Slovakia is also home to more than 50 museums. The Slovak National Museum (founded in 1893), located in Bratislava, contains exhibits on Slovak history, archaeology, and musicology, and is probably the country's best-known museum. Other museums include the Slovak National Gallery (1948), also in Bratislava; the Slovak National Uprising Museum (1955), located in Bansk Bystrica; and the Museum of Eastern Slovakia (1872), in Kosice.

Historical Cultural Synopsis
Elements of the Slovakian spoken language appeared in literary texts during the centuries preceding the 18th century, but Anton Bernolk (1762-1813) was the first who attempted to create a literary language. Bernolk's language was used by two talented writers, Jozef Ignc Bajza (1755-1836), the author of the first Slovakian novel, and the famous classical poet Jn Holl (1785-1849), who wrote his epic poems in alexandrine verse in order to prove the Slovakian language malleable enough to be equal to complicated forms of ancient poetry.

The two main representatives of Slovakian literary classicism are the poet Jan Kollar (1795-1852) and the historian Pavel Jozef Safarik (1795-1861), even though both continued to write in Czech, their work belongs equally to Czech and Slovakian literary heritage.

Both writers adopted J.G. Herder's philosophical conception about the glorious future reserved to Slavs, and they became the most important promoters of Pan-Slavism. Holly, Kollar and Safarik greatly helped to awaken national conscience and showed the way to the creation of native literature.

Folk Art
Folk arts and crafts, which include wood carving, fabric weaving, and glass painting, have a long and popular tradition in Slovakia, especially in rural areas. Examples of folk architecture, such as wooden churches and brightly painted houses, are found throughout the country, particularly in the Ukrainian communities of Eastern Slovakia.

The development of folk art and crafts developed throughout Slovak history which is documented by the abundant archaeological findings on its' national territory. These findings were composed of tools and artefacts - over time, these useful objects became more and more refined and thus became what we call today's folk art. The tradition of folk art and crafts has been handed down through the generations and is supported by ULUV, The Centre for Folk Art Production. Since 1954 ULUV's expositions have shown throughout 28 countries. Music

Music has long occupied an important and distinguished place in Slovak cultural life. In the first half of the 19th century, a national musical tradition began to develop around Slovakia's impressive folk heritage. Modern Slovak music has drawn from both classical and folk styles. Well-known works from the 20th century include the compositions of Alexander Moyzes and the operas of Jan Cikker.

Traditional Slovakian music is one of the most original of Slavic and European folklore. Its oldest form is liturgical (in Slavon) from the time of Great Moravia (9th century) which is the origin of the sacred music of the 15th and 16th centuries. National Slovakian music was heavily influenced by liturgical and chamber music.

Today, music is one of the most significant aspects of Slovakian culture. Some of the most renown orchestras are: The Philharmonic Orchestra of Bratislava and Kosice, The Symphonic Orchestra of Bratislava Radio and The Slovak Chamber Orchestra.

Crotia

Despite the hype, Croatia’s pleasures are more timeless than trendy. Along its 1778km coastline, a glistening sea winds around rocky coves, lapping at pine-fringed beaches. Istrian ports bustle with fishermen while children dive into the sparkling water. In Dalmatia, cities throb with nightlife amid ancient Roman ruins.

Yachts glide up the coast, movie stars discreetly arrange to buy one of Croatia’s 1185 islands and no Mediterranean cruise is complete without a stop in Dubrovnik. The interior landscape is as beguiling, even though less visited. Soak in a thermal spa at Istarske Toplice in Istria. Hike through pristine forests watered by mountain streams in the west. Let the waterfalls of Plitvice moisten your face. And then there's the culture. The country that endured Roman, Venetian, Italian and Austro-Hungarian rule has a unique and slightly schizoid identity. You’ll find a strong central European flavour in the baroque architecture of Zagreb, and Italian devotion to the good life percolates up from the coast, permeating Croatian food and style. During holidays and festivals the country’s Slavic soul emerges, as colourfully costumed dancers whirl about to traditional folk melodies.

THE MASKED BANDIT

Black – eyes mask,
Strong and sharp claws.
Bushy tail,
Flat, soft paws

Prowls at night,
Sleeps by day.
Lives in a tree,
Likes to play

Brave hunter,
Clever snoop.
Hear him holler,
Screech, and whoop

Neat and clean,
Washes food.
Swims in a pond,
Sometimes rude

UNESCO

UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:
•encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage;
•encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List;
•encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites;
•help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training;
•provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;
•support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation;
•encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage;
•encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The Great Wall of China is the biggest structure that man has ever built. It is 15m thick and as tall as a house. It stretches for about 1500 miles across the mountains and valleys of northern china. Every 200 or 300 yards there is a tall watch over. The entire wall was made by stones and earth. Different parts of the wall were built at different times, but all of it was built many, many hundreds years ago.

Thousand of men worked patiently with their hands to builds this long wall.

Why did they build it?

The wall was built by order of the Chinese emperors to keep out the barbarians in the north – the Han people. The Hans has been riding their horses to china, killing people and stealing things. After the Great Wall was built, the people of China feel safer. If an enemy approached the wall, smokes signals would be passed from watch over to another watch over. A signal fire would be lighted if an attack came at night.