The Ancient Monument of Stonehenge

The monument of upstanding stones is one of the world famous tourist sites situated in the parish of the town Amesbury. It is nearby the ancient complex of England, which go back to Neolithic and Bronze Age. According to archeologists, the construction of the monument went through several stages. Roughly estimated, the circular stones were built between 3000 BC and 2000 BC (a theory suggests that the first stone of the monument was put as early as 3000 BC). Meanwhile, a radiocarbon dating (a technique to determine the age of organic materials) supports the theory that they started to build the monument from 2400 BC. The site was listed in the UNESCO Heritage List in 1986.

On the spot where the ancient  circular monument, Stonehenge (England) is located,
was a sacred site long before its construction.  

The inhabitants of the place were the Britons, which are supposed to have built the monument for over one thousand years. There are different theories on the purpose of the Stonehenge, each of them mysterious till nowadays. The monument consists of big stones (sarsens) which have an average height of 9 meters (30 feet) and weigh over 20 and more tons. The smaller stones called bluestones, weigh over 4 tons and were brought from the west of Wales. One of the mysteries is that stones weighing twenty tons required a special system of tools to be moved. Most probably these stones were transferred from one place to another by means of water. According to the theory, scientists have determined that men of that time didn’t have to move those stones all the way from Wales. By the end of the ice age, the smaller stones were moved by glaciers to the current area of the Stonehenge.

More than 240 tombs find their place on this site. Most probably this had been a sacred place some 500 years before the initial circular monument was erected. Another theory for the purpose of the monuments is that it was a site for worshiping the sun. The study conducted also reveals that the Stonehenge was a site of prehistoric beliefs. Accordingly, different religious ceremonies were carried out at the place. To understand its religious significance through ceremonies, the archeologists reconstructed the possible way how the pre-historic men could carry out the ritual which took place annually at the site of the Stonehenge.

This investigation revealed not only the Stonehenge is a sacred place, but also indicated its ancient origins as compared with Cursus (it is considered to be much older, than the upstanding stones of the monument). According to an archeologist from Birmingham university, it is possible that Curcus is even an older construction than the circular stones nowadays.

In the 1960s, there was a theory, according to which the site had an astronomical significance. Later on critics come forward to argue this theory by admitting that, at that time, the inhabitants of the area would probably lack that depth of astrological knowledge, and, moreover, the weather in England could hardly allow them to carry out any astrological activities and studies. Another point of view is that, the site of Stonehenge was cured, and many people visited the place to get healed.

As one of the world famous pre-historic monuments, the Stonehenge attracts over one million visitors each year. Some of the stones have been moved from the area to save them from collapsing. During the years restoration and excavation have been carried out, the latter revealing more henge of stones. 

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 Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)

As a famous tourist destination in Europe, the Neuschwanstein Castle stands to be one of the most famous photographed castles in Germany. With the breathtaking combination of the Bavarian Alps, the castle and the hillside, take the visitors back to the glorious times of the Bavarian Kingdom. The picturesque hillside and the ‘kind’ castle remind us about fairy tales, which was the reason why at the back of Walt Disney’s fairy-tale castle, the Sleeping Beauty Castle, is standing as the Neuschwanstein Castle itself.

 

Walt Disney was inspired with the Neuschwannstein Castle which gave birth
to his fairy-tale Sleeping BeautyCastle.

The romance behind the plan of constructing the castle is one of the extraordinary ones in the world history. As a general perception, castles were built for defensive purposes. This is not the occasion, as one of the Bavarian Kings, Ludwig II, was believed to be living in his world of dreams, instead of the reality. This of his dreams gave birth to the idea of constructing a fancy castle, which would fulfill his goal of having a fairy-tale castle. The construction of the Neuschwanstein started in the eighteenth century. 

A great amount of financial resources was needed to complete the construction. The bankrupt king was denied by the banks to borrow money to complete the construction of the castle, as well as his property was under the threat of being privatized by the banks. The complicated situation made the king order the state to declare him as mad. Shortly after this, they found the body of Ludwig in a lake. Unhappily, the enthusiastic king of  dreams and fairy tales did not have the chance to see the completion of his lovely castle of Neuschwanstein.

The beautiful chandeliers are spread throughout the Neuschwannstein Castle
to accompany its visitors in the dazzling beauty of the interior.  

There was still a lot to accomplish in order to complete the entire construction of the castle. Until the death of Ludwig, there were built 14 rooms, among them the Singers Hall, the Throne Room and the king’s bedroom, all of them lavishly decorated. The third floor of the castle is devoted to scenes from the German legend Swan Knight, which was the inspiration and the dream life of the king. The comprehensive part of the paintings are from the opera of the composer Richard Wagner. The beautiful chandeliers are spread throughout the castle to accompany its visitors in the dazzling beauty of the interior.

To reach the Neuschwanstein Castle, you will need to take a train to the nearby town of Fussen, which is the highest Bavarian town. The town offers a range of services including high quality hotels, restaurants, pubs and souvenir shops. 

The Mysterious Country Of Romania

This country of picturesque landscapes and wild nature, medieval villages and modern cities has become one of the exotic destinations in the world. Being isolated by the “Iron Curtain” for many years, Romania has encountered to be still discovered. Situated on the western shore of the Black Sea, Romania is considered to be one of the largest European countries (perhaps, as large as the United Kingdom). The population is about twenty two million people with the majority of inhabitants as Romanians. Together with the Romans, there are also national minorities like Germans, Turks, Serbs and Hungarians inhabiting the country. The majority of the Romanian people belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church although there are also a  significant number of Catholics, Protestants and Muslims. 

 Romania is considered to be still off the beaten track destination. 

Romania is home to a rich and diverse cultural heritage for which it owes to its  geographical location, hence locating between Southeastern and Central Europe.

The Carpathian Mountain Range crosses the central part of the country. The peaks of the rocky mountain are panoramic for the mountain lovers. One may find groves of delicious trees, meadows and a splendid greenside on the slopes  of the Carpathians,. Europe’s second largest river Danube flows in the south of the country and empties into the Black Sea. 

As the birthplace of Dracula, Romania boosts in mysterious legends and tales. The medieval view of the current villages and castles are more likely to take you back to the fifteenth century Romania, when the Wallachian Prince, Vlad the Impaler (the same Dracula) ruled the country. The legendary Bran Castle described in the fiction of Bram Stocker is standing in its entire splendor till nowadays. As medieval castles are what you are looking for, you should also visit the Corvin Castle (14th century), the Peles Castle, all of them representing the magic of time.

A significant part of the Romanian history is covered with tales and heroic princes fighting against the Ottoman Empire. Besides the courage to protect themselves against invaders, those tales depict the peasant culture of the locals. The mountainous landscape of the country gave birth to thousands of self-sufficient villages, where pottery, tanning, bread making was taught at village schools. These  peasant occupations were so rooted in Romanian people that they came forward to represent the considerable part of the Romanian culture and art.

Regardless of the fact that Romania is one of the economically fast growing countries in Europe, it is considered to be still off the beaten track destination. People in Romania are friendly and sociable, willing to share their history with those interested in it. Even Romanians themselves admit the rudeness in their capital city, Bucharest, which is typical with any other modern city.

Another thing to enjoy in Romania is the local food, which is both affordable and ecologically free of artificial substances.  Restaurants offer their fair deals for you to enjoy large portions of meals, good wine and different drinks.

You should be prepared for more than that of your expectations…

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.

Safety Tips When You Travel Abroad

Travelling is fun itself when you are finished with reports on work and are hurrying to pack things to head your desired destination. There are many things to think about, from where to stay and which places to visit, how to communicate, while the most important of all is to take precautions to avoid undesirable and negative travel experience.

Regardless of the destination you take, abroad or within your country, here are several points, which will help you to keep your belongings safe, together with your personality.

It is always good to be on the save side by keeping safety some safety tips in mind while traveling abroad.

1. Check the possible tourist accidents, particular to the country, city you are heading to. Each place is different with its people, where you will find peculiar things that are common within them. For example, Barcelona is famous with its thieves.  In any guidebook or tourist info they will advise you to be careful with your personal belongings, especially when you are waiting in  a queue to buy your train ticket.

It's not recommended to ask a foreigner to take a photo of you when you are trying to sit on a camel.

2. Don't get distracted. Always make sure you are not going to become a victim while a foreigner is making a nice smile and approaching you with nice gestures. You will never know the exact purpose why he/she is behaving that nice towards you. Keep a distance when communicating with foreigners.

3. If your backpack is all you have with you and you take it with you when going out, make it sure you have the lock twisted on it. In a huge crowd, either in a train or a dense touristic site, you can hardly notice someone opening your backpack from behind.

4. For that reason, it's logical to keep your purse and wallet with you, in your front jacket pockets (it doesn't matter how deep they are). Do not keep your cash and credit cards altogether in one place. If the hand of the thief reaches the one place, it won't reach the other one.

5. Leave your valuable items at home. Laptops, jewelry, expensive cell phones and many more, are an additional headache to carry with you all the time. They may be stolen from a hotel room, or a cafe, and somewhere else. Reduce your stress and possible accident by leaving your so much loved items at home for some little time.

6. Insurance is a must to travel abroad. You never know what's coming next, so that having an insurance while traveling is a must (at least for medical expenses). If you had enough time to dig into medical service rates for a particular country and you know how much money to carry have with you if something happens, then you are a genius. However, there is hardly anyone who goes through it, so that the best way to avoid unnecessary expenditure is to have insurance when traveling abroad.

7. Ask for advice from people who have already visited the destination you are heading to. An advice from a person who has already visited the place is mostly a valuable one. If a friend tells you that  a certain neighborhood is dangerous to visit, just try to kill the inner interest arising within and follow the advice.

8. Always keep an eye on your escape route. To be on the safe side, you should be attentive to find and examine with careful eyes the possible escape route around you. Keep in mind or just mark on the paper the well-know buildings, landmarks especially when it's dark. In case something happens, you may find a safe place (cafe, shop) from where you may make a call for any help.

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.

The Glorious Temple of Kasthamandap

Until the year of 2006, the official religion of the country was Hinduism. Nowadays Nepal has no official religion established. The majority of the population is Hindu, with approximately ten percent of Buddhists inhabiting the country. There is also a small percentage of Muslims, Yumaists, and Christians living there.

It is believed that Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal in 623 BC. Now it’s a valuable archeological site, where numerous excavations carried out by the archeologists. Meanwhile, Hinduism has its roots in Nepal; it is believed that three major Hindu Gods came to Nepal in the form of deers (Lord Brahma, Visnu and Shiva – the gods of creation according to the Nepalese theology).

Religion has formed the considerable part of the Nepalese people. For thousands of years, they have built huge temples dedicated to their deities. The Temple of Kasthamandap is one of the huge pagoda temples in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The statue of the 11^th-12^th century yogi Gorakhanath is standing high above the temple pagoda.

The temple dates back to the 16^th century and belongs to the pagoda architectural style. It is believed that the temple was built out of a single wood of a tree. The current city of Kathmandu took its name from the Temple of Kasthamandap, which is one of the oldest and largest temples in the Valley of Kathmandu. The temple is situated in the west of the Basantapur Durbar Square. The Kasthamandap has served as a shelter from rains and the sun for thousands of years.

As an important Hindu site, the temple is home to more than 30 Hindu gods. Religiously, one circle around the temple means worshiping all of those gods. Inside the temple, there are staircases and balconies (there are four open entrances). Regardless of its sacred and religious functions, the temple is far from being traditional. It’s more of a friendly and welcoming bungalow.

The idol of the yogi Gorakhanath is standing in the middle of the temple. It is believed that the central pole of the Kasthamandap has a healing power. Thousands of people suffering rheumatism rub the part of the body suffering the illness against that pole. The architectural history of the temple is not limited to being made out of a single tree timber. There are two other structures to the eastern part of the temple, which, according to the legend, were built with the same tree timber; the tree was so large that out of its leftover they built the aforementioned structures.  

Regardless of its old history, the temple is still an important structure for the locals who conduct numerous ceremonies during the year. 

Thing Not to Do When Traveling (France, Russia, India)

Customs and etiquette differ from nation to nation, from country to country. Regardless of the destination you have chosen to travel, you should be careful enough not to insult the local customs of the people you are visiting across your trip. The attitude of a traveler should be the reflection of curiosity and respect to something new and extraordinary for him. Those who intend to travel to France, Russia and India, would find the tips below quite useful.

Visiting France: do not expect people to talk to you in English. Most of them are proud of their language and can hardly come into terms with the fact that  English has substituted the French language as the international language. Even at home, they avoid the usage of any other language except French. You shouldn’t be surprised that French people providing service will in any way avoid communicating in English.

As it is in many cultures, discussing financial issues are one of the disgraceful topics for the French people. Once you have started the conversation, you are putting them into an uncomfortable situation.

Do  not rush to eat your meal. French people are proud of their cuisine, and it’s like an important process to enjoy your food slowly and get the best taste out of it. You will be surprised to see the French having their lunch for three hours.

Visiting Russia: it’s a good thing to leave your credit card at home as there are not that many places where you can pay by credit. Keep cash with you.

Russian people are mostly passionate about political issues.  Instead of accepting your criticism as something against the government, they will think it is more of their fault and not the state.

If you find out there is something wrong in a particular situation, just do not hesitate to make the locals know about it. If you keep quiet, they will think that things are in their regular flow and will hardly offer a helpful hand.

Visiting India: you will find the Indian kitchen a kind of extraordinary; if you are not sure you want to eat a particular meal, then just refuse to eat it. Once you have somehow eaten the food, do not hurry to express our dislikes about it, as it would be offensive for those who host you. Did you know that it’s nearly forbidden to kiss publicly in India? From now on, you will keep this in mind to avoid appearing in jail. In the eating culture of the Indians, it’s an offense to interrupt people while they are eating. What you need to do is to eat your meal without socializing with others.

  

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.