The Best Places to Visit in Your 20s

There are certain places where we all ache to be: NYC, Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Stockholm, etc. Do you think these are the best places to visit? Then, probably, you have not explored the world map quite well.

There are so any magical places with a lot of things to see and do. We have separated a number of unpredictable places where you will enjoy your 20s.

Isle of Skye (Scotland)

Famous fish and chips and delicious Scottish whiskey are there to meet you. Situated on the west coast of Scotland, Isle of Skye is  an excellent place to visit and explore. It is one of the top places to visit in the world.

Isle of Skye is one of the top places to visit in the world.

Montreal (Canada)

Montreal is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Canada. Life goes there in  European style, and you may feel the atmosphere of Europe without spending much money and just visiting Montreal. It is one of the most unusual places to visit in USA.

Montreal is one of the best places to visit in USA.

Galle (Sri Lanka)

Galle is a city with rich colonial history, art, beaches and architecture. In the 17th century, the Dutch built a fortress there that you can still visit. Thus, Galle is among the best places to visit.

Galle is one of the best places to visit in the world.

Beirut (Lebanon)

The Paris of the Middle East, i.e., Beirut is a fascinating historic city with delicious food,  places to explore and party. It is an excellent mixture of ancient and modern architecture that makes it one of the most visited places in the world.

Beirut is one of the most visited places in Lebanon.

Corsica (France)

This Mediterranean island is a place with hilariously diverse geography. Not surprisingly, it is one of the best places to visit in France.

Corsica, is, definitely, one of the best places to visit in France.

Brussels (Belgium)

Belgium is famous for its delicious food, splendid architecture, and people who know how to have fun. That is why we consider Brussels a city that is among the best places to visit.

There is no better place to spend vacations than Brussels.

Thus, you already have a ready list of the best places to visit in your 20s. Enjoy your time and never forget to take your swimwear with you. 

Traveling to Puerto Rico

History

Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492.The first name of the island was San Juan, which is the same with the nowadays capital city of San Juan. After the discovery of the island by Christopher Columbus, it was settled by explorer Ponce Leon (the island was a Spanish possession for four centuries). The Spanish-American War ended in the Treaty of Paris, due to which the island became the possession of the USA. According to the passed law Puerto Rico is authorized by the USA to have its own constitution.

Climate

If you think about the best time to visit Puerto Rico, you should take into consideration that Puerto Rico enjoys round summer temperature of average 26C, and it has a maritime exotic climate (there are little seasonal changes throughout the year). The climate has a lot with the climate in the USA. The high season is between December and April. The second peak season is July and August. If you want to avoid crowds of tourists then you should plan your trip from May to November. It is important to know that during the low season from May to December, it’s the hurricane season from June 1 to November 30. Puerto Rico has become a famous Spring Break Destination.

Getting to and around Puerto Rico

There are many flights and cruises to Puerto Rico year round. As far as Puerto Rico is a US territory, for the US citizens there are no passport controls to the island, and vice versa. Accordingly, the flights between Puerto Rico and the USA domestic and state issued driver’s license and identification card are sufficient for boarding a flight from or to Puerto Rico. The requirements are the same with flights to Hawaii.

What Places to Visit in Puerto Rico?

There is a variety of activities and opportunities for the tourists visiting Puerto Rico, starting from the picturesque landscape, spectacular surfing sights to challenging golf course and the perfect sunbathing beach. What to visit the best sights in Puerto Rico?

Bioluminescent bays. There are microscopic organisms living in the waters of Bioluminescent bays that dart away from the movement. A kayak tour is what you need to do during the new moon as it is this time when these microscopic organisms can be noticed in the water.

Blue Flag in Puerto Rico.The Blue Flag is a voluntary program that has proven to provide a high quality serviced for bathers in Puerto Rico, as well as throughout the world.

Casino. Most of the luxurious hotels and casinos are situated in the capital city of San Juan. San Juan is the perfect place to stop for the lovers of gambling and to travel through the island.

El Yunque. One of the must-sees in Puerto Rico is the El Yunque rain forest that spreads over the mountain. Walking uphill you will appear in an amazing rain forest. Flora and fauna are rich in varieties.

Golf. Driving a short distance away from the San Juan Metropolitan area, you will find over 15 championship golf courses.

Outdoor activities. The adventures are not limited with the San Juan, as many small tour companies provide guided tours of the Central Mountains in Utuado, Repelling in Arecibo, kayak tours of Lake Guajataka, and horseback riding on the beach in Aguadilla. Some tour operators also offer low cost or free lodging.

When Is The Perfect Time To Visit Corsica?

The island of Corsica is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the south of France, to the south west of Italy. From the Italian island of Sardinia, it is possible to see the Corsican town of Bonifaccio which is in the extreme southeastern part of the island.

The island of Corsica is one of the twenty seventh regions of France. Before the French conquest of 1769, the island maintained freedom with its independent Republic of Corsica starting from 1755. Prior to the Corsica Republic, the island belonged to the Republic of Genoa -Italian Republic that had numerous lands in the Mediterranean from the early 11^th century to 1797.

Nowadays the island is divided into two administrative parts – Haute Corse, that is Upper Corsica, and Corse-du-Sud, that is Southern Corsica. The island is a mountainous heaven with its preserved green forests. The Corsican capital Ajaccio is situated in the Southern Corsica, which has the biggest number of inhabitants. The second largest city after the capital is Bastia, located in the Upper Corsica. Most of the cities have preserved their medieval architecture and represent to their visitor the architectural wonder of their glorious times.

Although the island of Corsica is closer to Italy than France, and the Ligurian Sea separates it from the mainland, Corsica is officially one of the regions of France. One you visit Corsica you will find more of the Italian culture and habits than that of the French one.

People in Corsica have their own Corsican language, though, in everyday life, only the elderly speak it. They teach Corsican language at schools; young people can read and understand, but the common language used is French with a strong Corsican accent and dialect. The accent is much more of an Italian coloring than of a French one. People in Corsica are shy, yet very welcoming and helpful.

The best time to visit Corsica is the middle of May and September, when the island gets relieved from thousands of tourists. One thing you should keep in mind is that, during the off-season, which is from October to May, there is no regular public transportation. The best option for you is to take your car with you, or rent one for heading your desired destinations.

In case you need to use the public transportation as from the main city of Ajaccio, you should go to the Maritime of Ajaccio, where you will find the schedules and the buses just nearby the port.

Three Days of Peace and Music: Woodstock

'Three Days of Peace and Music' is the alternative name of the Woodstock Festival, a three-day's concert, accompanied by a huge crowd of music lovers and rock'n roll. It was organized  by four youngsters; Joel Roseman — John Roberts, Artie Kornfeld, and Mike Lang in 1969 (from August 15-18) at Max Yasgur's dairy farm, New York, USA.

Roberts came forward to be a young investor who wanted to initiate something that would double his fortune. Roseman joined this idea of Roberts' after which an ad followed in The New York Times about investing opportunities for 'young men.'

Woodstock Festival was a three days concert accompanied with
a huge crowd of lovers of music and rock'n roll.

Afterwards, the two young investors met Kornfeld and Lang. The original proposal by Kornfeld and Lang was to build a studio for rock musicians. To raise enough money  for covering studios expenses, they offered to organize a two-day rock concert. They found a location for the music festival in a park, not far from Wallkill, New York.

It was a wrong choice of location for the festival, as the Wallkill inhabitants wouldn't afford dozens of drugged-out young hippies flowing nearby Wallkill. Moreover, in 1969, 2nd July the inhabitants of the Wallkill town succeeded to have the municipality to pass a law banning the organization of the event in their city.

The situation was despairing for the Woodstock festival attendees, who had purchased their tickets in advance. It was only a month before, that a new location was found for the festival. That time Max Yasgur offered his dairy farm to host the Woodstock Festival (Bethel New York).

Many things went wrong with the organization of food, more water, toilets, building playgrounds for children, gates and camping. The reason for it is that the initial estimate of fifty thousand people was low, so that they raised the number to two hundred thousand people. It seemed like everything was arranged at the last moment.

Three days before the festival over fifty thousand people came to Woodstock to put up tents near the stage. For the organizers it was difficult to make so many people to move their location, for it was possible for them to buy entrance-tickets. The situation was challenging for the organizers, which declared the Woodstock Festival to be free of charge. This had both good and bad consequences; on the one hand the organizers were going to lose a great deal of money, on the other hand, a lot of people got to know about the free festival and over 500,000 people made their way to Bethel, New York.

Despite all the organization troubles, the festival started on time and was a great success. Musicians like Santana, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, warmed up the huge crowds of people. A lot of sex, drugs and nudity found their place in the festival by the 'flower generation.'

The Romantic City of Venice

The Italian city of Venice is celebrated in the world for being one of the top romantic destinations for couples. This city of dreams has a stunning architecture and original system of a city plan: the main transportation is through water streets. The city lies on more than one hundred islands which are separated by canals with streets linked by more than four hundred bridges. It’s an artistic city with its roots going back to the medieval times.

Venice is compared with Paris, as one of the most
popular romantic destinations in the world. 

To explore the city in its entire splendor, people take a unique kind of a boat called gondola, to pass through numerous canals and enjoy art at each step. Located in the north east of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, Venice is compared with Paris, as one of the romantic cities and destinations in the world.  This wonderful city on water is an open museum under the sky, attracting thousands of couples to spend their honeymoon there and thousands of artists to admire its amazing art at each corner of the street. The article goes further to illustrate a number of activities one should do to feel all the romance of the city.

Gondola Ride

The list starts with a gondola ride for you and your beloved one in the many canals of the city, during which you will admire the baroque and Renaissance buildings of the past. The boater will be someone out of a fairy tale, with his hat taking you to the traces of the medieval city.

Explore the Nearby Islands

Take a boat to the nearby islands, where you can enjoy shopping and bargain with the locals to get some of the nice souvenirs which will remind you of your wonderful city of romance for the rest of your life.

Feel the Spirit of Casanova

Casanova is one of the famous Venice lovers. It is said that he met his beloved ones at the place where now Do Spade bar is situated. There are other places associated with the life of Casanova. You may visit the prison called the Dog’s Palace; he spent some period of his life before his escape.

Enjoy the Art Gallery at Frari Church

The road to the Church of Frari is a piece of romance itself with the calm corners and the mild breeze passing through it. Numerous passionate works of the Venetian painter Titian decorate the gallery housed in the old Gothic church of Frari. The masterpieces of art will pass you the glow of the medieval Renaissance.

Romantic Evening

What is more romantic than going for an evening ballet or opera performance at the Fenice Theatre? It’s a good opportunity or both of you to admire the local music art from the golden balconies of the opera house. To reach the theatre you can take the waterbus which will take you through the Grand Canal to the nearest stop of the theatre – Santa Maria del Giglio.

The Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, well-known as Blue Mosque, it was built during 1609-1616. It is named after Sultan Ahmed I, with his tomb inside the mosque. The mosque is a classic example of Islamic art and architecture. It is considered to be one of the famous religious buildings in the world. The blue color was attributed to the name of the mosque for the blue tiles on the inside walls. It is one of the popular tourist attractions of the capital city. It is situated near another architectural wonder - the Hagia Sophia church. 

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or the Blue Mosque is a classic example of Islamic art and architecture.

In the place where the mosque is located now, there used to be other buildings of social importance; Turkish baths, a bazaar, schools and a hospital, a caravanserai, etc. These buildings were to complete a whole complex, though only the Blue Mosque survived to our days.

The design of the mosque was given by the young architect Mehmet Aga, who died one year before the completion of the mosque. He is buried outside the mosque. The plan of the mosque was given by his master Sinan previously, but he fulfilled it in  larger measures.

The mosque is unique originally built with six minarets. It has three entrances, leading to the interior. The splendid design of the interior is guaranteed with colorful paintings, tiles and glass. The broad arches are followed with huge columns, which, in their turn support the side domes rising up. The upper part of the tiles is decorated with paint works, as well as the inner parts of the domes.

The interior of the Blue Mosque is lightened up with 260 windows.

To mention it, the blue color of the interior paint works is not the original one. During the later restoration works the mosque acquired its blue color, and the ‘blue’ modern name, as a result. In 1990, during the last restoration the mosque was repainted with light blue.

The whole inside hall of the mosque is covered with carpets. The interior is lightened up with 260 windows. The main entrance leads to a unique marble work (just opposite to the entrance). There is the box (loge) of the sultan, which has the form of a balcony.

Besides the mosque, there is a market building, which was repaired recently. The mausoleum of the founder of the mosque, Sultan Ahmet and the religious school are next to Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque is among the most visited monuments in Istambul. In the nearby park, numerous shows are organized.

Religious people reach the balconies of the mosque by spiral stairs. From these balconies, those believers say their prayers with loudspeakers five times a day.

This way the believers learn about the praying time, get washed themselves and start praying. On holidays, these prayers are held collectively in the mosque. 

The World’s Longest Wall (The Great Wall of China)

The World’s Longest Wall, or the Great Wall of China is considered to be one of the world’s greatest landmarks. It is the longest structure ever that was made by the hands of men. It took 2,000 years to build the war, the length of which is over 8,851 kilometers (5,500 miles). In some parts, the wall is 25 ft tall and 20ft thick. Unfortunately, some sections of the wall have disappeared, though the ones that still survive are under UNESCO protection since 1987.

To protect the borders from foreign invaders, three states – Yan, Zhao and Qin started the construction of the wall. With the changing of upcoming dynasties, different extensions and modifications were applied to the wall. Most of the wall we see today derives from the times of Ming Dynasty (14-17^th centuries). During 200 years the Ming Dynasty constructed the wall, bringing it to today’s majesty.

The Great Wall of China is one of the symbols of China.

The construction of the wall is quite mysterious. The human resources were comprised of local people, soldiers and prisoners. They say that overall 1 million people died during its construction. The wall is made out of stone, wood, as well as grass and earth. During the Ming Dynasty bricks were added to the construction. They carried bricks with the help of donkeys, mules, and even goats. It is said that the result of the constructing the wall represents the wisdom of the Chinese people.

The great wall is signified as one of the symbols of China. It covers a considerable part of Chinese culture and mythology. According to a well-known legend, some part of the wall collapsed because of a woman who lost her husband during the construction. This legend is illustrated in various Chinese textbooks, songs and traditional operas. The modern myth or misconception is that the Wall is viable from the Moon. The evidence states that none of those 12 men landing on the Moon stated something like that.

Nowadays the Great Wall has over four million visitors every year. The most visited area is considered to be Juyongguan pass section (nearly 100 million people). Once you are in China, the Great Wall is a must to be visited.

In 2002, the China Great Wall Academy survey of 101 sections revealed that both the natural and man factors cause a gradual reduction of the extent the Wall. As a result, only thirty percent of the wall stands in good condition. The China Great Wall Academy calls for higher protection activities to preserve the historic landmark.

Maldives: World Famous Romantic Gateway

The Maldives, listed in the world’s top romantic gateways, is located in waters of the Indian Ocean. In the sequence of its history, the Republic of the Maldives enjoyed independence, except its three historical turns when the Maldives ruled foreign countries. It is significant for being the lowest country in the world, and the smallest Asian country with its population and the area.

As being in the trade route of India, the Maldive cultures is a mix of the South, Southeastern Asian, African and Arabic traditions and cultures. The main language is Dhivehi, which is spoken with its numerous dialects in the different regions of the country.  In the sequence of its history the inhabitants of the Maldives practiced different beliefs and superstitions, though nowadays the majority of the population are Muslims.  This fact didn't lessen in the locals the belief in the supernatural, which can be credited to the Buddhist and folklore traditions spread throughout the islands.

Besides the various beliefs, Maldivian art has its uniqueness for being influenced by the aforementioned cultures. One may find a musical instrument called bodu-beru, which is a big drum resembling African drumming. The unique kind of a Maldivian boat called dhoni resembles the Arabian dows. The cultural influences in the Maldives are not limited to those mentioned above, as the islands are home to many undefined cultures that are practiced by the locals in a daily base.

To spend your holiday as a loving couple and to make your stay mystic, intimate and, most important of all, romantic, the Maldives is the perfect destination for you. The beautiful settings and picturesque landscape will make your honeymoon the most amazing celebration of love. The romance is followed by the evening dinners under the open sky with the stars glowing high above. The days spent in the unknown when you take a boat to an inhabited island on your own will make your trip one of those unforgettable ones. Another thing to enjoy, is to stay in your private bungalow, enjoy the evening breeze while getting a spa treatment in your room.

It’s a good opportunity for both of you to get know each other better by diving and diving in the nearby waters, going for a midnight fishing to compare who catches most. This is done before beautiful sunset, when you anchor at a proper fishing spot. The changing colors of the rays of the sun will mark everything around you, by making those of your meeting sunset days unforgettable for the rest of your life. 

Honeymoon is not a one time experience to celebrate the love of your life;each time you go back to the Maldives it will arose all of those amazing feeling  you had once in the same wonderland.

The City of Kathmandu (Nepal)

Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha, is an independent country located between Tibet and China. For hundreds of years Nepal had been a monarchy. In 2008, it was declared as the Federal Republic of Nepal. The tallest mountain in the world – Everest, also called Chomolungma, is located there. The mountain range of the Himalayas is crossing the country having eight of the highest peaks in the world. 

For thousands of years, the country was closed for foreigners, for which the explorations of the area started to be carried out from the 19th century. As the birthplace of Buddhism, Nepal is home to thousands of temples. Because of its diverse geography and picturesque landscape, Nepal attracts thousands of tourists and mountaineers. 

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The name of the city derives from the Kasthamandap temple, one of the popular tourist attractions in Nepal. According to a manuscript the city was called Kasthamandap meaning ‘wooden shelter.’ Till nowadays Buddhist priests refer the city with its old name. Kathmandu was a trade route between India and Tibet. This made the architecture of the city as a fusion of different cultures, hence adopted to the local one.
It is the largest urban area in the territory of Nepal and one of the least expensive cities in the world. The population of the city is more than 970,000 inhabitants (according the recent consensus of 2011), and it covers an area of 50 square kilometers. The city is located in the Kathmandu valley, in the middle of Nepal. 

Kathmandu is the economic center of the country, representing the tourism gateway of Nepal. After the end of the political unrest in the country, tourism became one of the main industries in the country. With the flourishing of the tourism, Nepal became a member of a number of international tourism associations. Starting from 1950, a developed system of five and four star hotels emerged in Kathmandu. Accordingly, the considerable part of the Nepal industry is the tourism; it is listed in the 10 most visited countries in the world, and the first most visited in Asia. 

An inscription found in the valley of Kathmandu indicates that  the city has a history of two thousand years. Religion is the considerable part of the everyday life of the residents. The majority of them follows Buddhism and Hinduism, though other religions find their place, shaping the cultural and religious diversity of  Kathmandu. The residents speak Nepali, and the educated population speaks English.

The so called sister cities of Kathmandu – Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, together with Kathmandu (including tourist attractions in the three cities) are included in the Unesco Heritage List. 

The Terracotta Army Museum

The Terracotta Army Museum  is located in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. It’s a mausoleum dedicated to the first Chinese Emperor Qinshihuang. The thirteen year old Emperor was the founder of the united Chinese Empire back in the third century BC. The area covers over 56 square kilometers where thousands of terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots alongside with other bronze tools find their place within a rectangular enclosure.

The construction of the mausoleum started over 246 BC and till now the grave mound has a height of fifty one meter. The life-size figures were supposed to protect the young Emperor in his afterlife. According to historical records, thousands of workers came to construct a gigantic underground city until the death of the Emperor. The tomb is the largest one in the territory of China. As the tomb to the first Emperor, it houses a great number of funeral objects. 

The mausoleum was discovered in 1974 by the locals, who were digging the ground to make a well. This was an archeological treasure so that many archeologists hurried to the area to enhance excavations. The excavations revealed that the artifacts belonged to the Qin Dynasty, which reigned from 211 BC to 206 BC. Already in 1975 the state initiated the construction of a museum on the spot. After the construction was finished, the museum has become one of the ‘musts’ to be visited by everyone who cross China. 

The terra cotta figures, standing in range like army warriors, represent the royal army by giving a complete imagination of how the imperial army  looked like. The way they are range gives one the image of a standing army going to fight. The life-size figures are sculpted with a careful hand, and it seems like no details was missed to depict the imperial soldier uniform and accessories. The whole site of the museum was well preserved with mausoleum constructions, burial sites, which gives us a full idea about the burial ritual system of the time.    

The mausoleum is protected by the state by being listed on sites protected by the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics. In the year of 2009 from the Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, it emerged to be the Qinshihuang Mausoleum Museum by the Cultural Heritage Bureau, Shaanxi Province. By this, the bureau took the responsibility of the daily maintenance, as well as the management, expeditions and scientific studies of the site. By the law of 2010, the Shaanxi government launched a preservation plan of the museum, to keep it safe from the urban infringements of  Lintong.   

The Wonderful City of Fez (Morocco)

As one of the amazing Islamic cities in the world, Fez shares a history dating back to the 8th century AD. From the time of its foundation, the city became a great trading center and already in the 11th century AD it was famous throughout Europe for its intellectual and cultural heritage. Regardless of the Europeanization of the city, Fez still bears its features of the medieval Islamic architecture in its entire splendor.

The city has many significant historic places and monuments listed in the UNESCO Heritage list. Among them is the great medina called Fes el Bali where the oldest madras (educational center, school) in the world is situated. This oldest distinct part of the city called medina is walled  and includes many narrow and old streets inside. This old city walled part of Fez is considered the world’s largest car free urban area.

It is easy to discover the numerous landmarks on your own.  You should skip the option of hiring a guide from the street; instead, ask the hotel reception employees to arrange a local guide service for you. The  reason why you should avoid hiring a guide from a street is that you will end up with entering from shop to shop where you will be obliged to buy items. Moreover, most of the time the information provided by ‘shopping’ guides is incomplete.

To get orientated in the maze-like walled city, you should pay attention to the signs having eight point shapes which lead to the main places of the medina. Walking downhill will take you to one of the main gates (there are many gates to the walled city). A simple map of the city at hand will be of great help to you. It is recommended to have a compass at hand to get the track of the known monuments; the narrow streets mostly make it difficult for you to orientate in the city.

What to see in the medina? One of the must things to see in Fez are the pits where the locals dye leather. You will find young boys offering you a tour to the tannery (the tour is free). Sometimes it is hard to go and see the tanneries on your own, as the local ‘guides’ may even abuse you physically for an attempt. Instead, from the nearby leather shop balcony you can see it in all its splendor. Be prepared to be forced to buy some goods from the leather shop.

Other sights worthy to be visited are the religious collage of Bou Inania (14^th century), the Merenid Tombs (from where a panoramic view of the medina opens in front of you), the Moulay Idriss II shrine (the entrance is open only for the Muslims, though, from the outside, you may admire the view to the tomb), the library and mosque of Qaraouyine (it has a splendid interior design that is worthy to be visited regardless of the fact that you would not be allowed to enter t in case you are a foreign non-Muslim.    

The Holy Mount Athos (Ogion Oros)

Regardless of the fact that my blog is more about tourism and famous tourist attractions, I am willing to share with you a brief introduction of one of the Holy Spiritual centers in the Orthodox world. The article has derived from the soul and belief in the Almighty God, the Son and the Holy Mother.

Located on the same name peninsula, the Mount Athos is one of the oldest monastic communities in the world. The community of 20 Orthodox monasteries, established during the Byzantine times, functions in its complete freedom till nowadays. According to its sacred traditions, only men are allowed to enter this monastic republic. Mount Athos is a self-governed state in the territory of Greece, having its local administration.

The monastic community of the Athos has been leading an isolated life of its own. The Mount Athos is considered to be one of the virgin parts in Greece, where the wild nature appears in its entire beauty. Green valleys and gorges, crystal clear waters, wooded peaks and coastline ravines complete the magic of this holy area.  The peaceful scenery over the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, alongside with the picturesque landscape of the mountain, appealed the hermits to establish their holy community on the peninsula.

The only woman who has walked on the holy land of the Athos is the Mother of God, Holy Virgin Mary. The Mount Athos is also referred as the Garden of the Holy Mother Mary. According to a legend, on her way to the island of Cyprus, the Holy Mother, accompanied by the Evangelist John, had to anchor at the nearby peninsula (Athos) because of the storm. When she walked in the wild and splendid nature of the peninsula, she couldn’t help admiring its beauty. It was this time when She asked her Son to make this land her garden. Hence, as the legend indicates, She has been the only woman to have stepped on the virgin land of the Athos.

The first records about the official establishment of the Athos Mount as a monastic autonomous community go back to the 9th century. Since then only religious men have been allowed to live there.

Nowadays, the main and the leading monastery of the Athos Mount is the Great Lavra, founded by Athanasios. Built in the mid of the 10th century and at the time the monastery was inhabited by eight monks. Great Lavra monastery set forth to the construction of other monastic buildings, due to which the hermit system gradually changed into a monastic one. The secular traditions of the old hermits accused Athanasios of breaking the isolated essence of the Mount Athos. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannis Tsimiskis came forward to encourage the rights of big monasteries, at the same time confirming the daily rules and discipline of the Athos monastic life (the charter of Typikon), initiated by Athanasios himself.

As mentioned above, the Mount Athos is home to twenty Orthodox monasteries with 17 belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church, the other three belonging to Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian Orthodox Church. Besides the great monasteries, there are also smaller monasteries, farmhouses, small houses for monks prevailing on the peninsula.

In order to visit the Mount, it is recommended to have your trip booked in advance. The entrance to the Holy Mountain is limited to 110 male visitors a day, with the 100 out of them belonging to the Orthodox Church and the other 10 male visitors belonging to any other church. The bureaucracy starts with the permission you need to have gained prior to your visit to the Mount. It is worth to mention that men under 18 are not allowed to have an overnight there. Once you are there, you should follow the humble behavior of the locals by expressing your respect in return.

Before Climbing The Mount Everest

The Mount Everest, as the highest peak on the Earth (8,848 meters/29,029 ft), has attracted thousands of explorers and mountaineers to try the adventure of climbing its top. Regardless of the professional level of mountaineers, professional guide is a must to accompany them to the summit. By taking into consideration the huge challenge of climbing the highest peak in the Himalaya Range, there should be encountered the following dangers; winds and the weather, oxygen lack, sickness because of the altitude and the icefall.

There are two main routes to access the peak (besides, several less famous paths); the comparably easy one starts from the southeast of Nepal, also called the standard route. The second one starts from Tibet in the north. As mentioned above, the southeastern route is an easy one and most climbings are realized from that route. In 1953, Edmund Hillary from New Zeland and Tenzing Norgay climbed the summit from this route, officially recognized in 1996 as the first climbers to the top of the Mount Everest.

The seasonal monsoon winds make it difficult to climb the mountain. The best season for climbing is May; strong summer monsoons are dangerous for climbing. The dangerous season ends with the coming of September and October.

The hikes from the southeastern route start from Nepal, the Base Camp at an altitude of 5,380. To get acclimatized to the density of the air and the cold around, the hikers spend two weeks in the Base Camp. The first challenge that hikers have to overcome is the passing of the famous hazardous part of Khumbu Icefall. They realize the pass of the Icefall part early in the dawn when the ice is firm enough because of the night cold.

The second camp or the ABC (the Advanced Base Camp) is located at an altitude of 6,500 meters. This camp is located in the glacial valley of Cwm, which is the hottest section of the southern route to the Everest.  Overcoming the ABC by ropes, the fourth Camp comes forward with its challenges for the hikers to pass black and marble rocks covered with snow  with the help of ropes.

 The checkpoint determining whether hikers can go on with climbing to the summit is the so-called dead zone (on the South Col). In this fourth Base hikers stay for two or three days to make sure if their body is capable of enduring the altitude. In case the weather is not good enough for completing the climbing to the top, climbers have to descend back to first Base Camp.

As mentioned above, it is more difficult to climb the summit of Everest from the northern route. The evidence for it is that this route consists of more than four camp bases (as it is in the case of the southern route). 

Giza: The Mysterious Pyramid of the Ancient World

The three Pyramids of the Ancient world are located in the Giza Necropolis, Egypt. These three pyramids were built at the time when the Kingdom of Egypt was in the top of its power and richness and are considered to be architectural wonders in the world. Though 6,000 years have passed since the pyramids were erected, they still stand with all their glory on the outskirts of the modern city of Cairo. 

The oldest, also the largest of the three Pyramids of Giza is the one also Called the Pyramid of Khufu. It was named after the same name pharaoh, who built it as home to his tomb. It took over 20 years to complete the construction of the pyramid which was over 2560 BC. As the largest pyramid in the world, it is 147 meters long. Each side of the pyramid is 230 meters long. The blocks composing the pyramid, weigh over 1,5-2 tons. It has been the highest structure in the world for 3,800 years. At the age of 4,500 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands to be the only surviving wonder in the ancient list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

We find records on the history of the pyramid in the works of the Greek historian and traveler Herodotus, who visited the place in 450 BC. He wrote in his history book that over 1,000 slaves worked on the pyramid with enormous machines to pull those 1,5-2 tons stones. Herodotus, coming from  democratic Athens, anticipated this kind of egoism from the pharaoh towards his people; so much effort and harsh work to construct an enormous building just for a single person. In is later records the historian mentions that even one thousand years passed since the reign of Khufu, people still hated his cruelty and cold hardly say his name aloud. But for the Egyptians during the Khufu’s reign, this act could be something honorable to do for the sake of Gods. It is well-known that pharaohs were not only the head of the Kingdom, but also those sacred creatures who were a link between numerous Egyptian Gods.

However, contemporary historians find that Herodotus is not that accurate in his records. According to calculations, fewer years and men resources were needed to construct the pyramid. The fact of huge machines used during the construction appears to be false, as well. Though, it isn’t  surprising that the historian mentioned false information in his book, as something like 20 centuries had passed since the time of the construction.

The pyramid was exposed to both modern and ancient robber’s atrocities. Most of the funeral goods and bodies have been removed and the white limestone covering the inner walls, are stripped off. Even in this condition the Great Pyramid of Giza continues to attract thousands of tourists annually. If you haven’t visited it yet, do not make any plans to die.