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.