Europe Euphoria

Venice, the city of canals and palaces attracts thousands of tourists everyday. The tourists leave behind quite a lot of litter making the place unsightly. The officials have decided to take steps to maintain the cleanliness and the decorum of ‘drawing room of Europe’.

They have deployed a group of multi-linguistic women nicknamed ‘guardians of the square” who patrol through the Saint Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal and the Doge’s Palace to keep a check on tourists with unacceptable behavior. Discarding leftover food, roaming around bare-chested and having picnics in non-designated places fall into the unacceptable behavior category.

A thought-provoking museum that explores the slave trade and Liverpool’s involvement in issues such as freedom, identity, human rights, racial discrimination and cultural change has been opened in Liverpool. Named International Slavery Museum, it is the first national museum in the world to deal with transatlantic slavery and its legacies.

If Europe is your next holiday destination, then don’t forget to check out the fabulous new spa in Berlin. It’s called Yi-Spa. The spa has eye-opening architecture and interior design. The hot pink, red and brown colors take over the usual authentic white for the spa’s interior which is surely a refreshing change from the interiors that characterize most spas around the globe.

Wooden floors, white walls which are in contrast with hot pink screens and the dome shaped lighting add to the splendor of the spa. Leaving your stress addictions behind, the spa promises to rejuvenate your mind and body in no time.

Yi-Spa’s treatments include the Royal Thai Massage, Exotic Body Scrub and the Asian Body Wrap which are complimented by all-natural beauty products and deep-space techno beats. Add Yi Spa visit to your must-do list while on trip to Europe and pamper your body in a soothing atmosphere.

Location:

Yi Spa
Unweit Hackescher Markt
Monbijouplatz 3a
Berlin.

Source: The Cool Hunter

The world’s biggest Viking ship - Stallion of the Sea - ended its six-week voyage in Dublin. The endeavor took the crew of 65 men from Scandinavia around Scotland and into the Irish Sea retracing the path of Vikings who invaded Ireland.

The 100-foot Stallion is a replica of a Viking ship believed to have been built in 1042 in Glendalough, Ireland. Viking-era tools were used to craft this 30m long and 4m-wide Viking vessel which took four years to complete.

The passage was being undertaken as part of a living archaeology project with an aim to understand the seamanship of early Norsemen in a much better way. The crew members had to face many hardships during the voyage. The crew had been blogging from the boat and the data was gathered during the voyage. The researchers now plan to analyze the film and the computer data whereas, the vessel will be kept on display at Dublin’s National Museum until next year.

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Source: BBC

A magnificent landmark which dominates long and colorful history of Scotland is Edinburgh Castle. Set on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, it is second most visited place in Britain after the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

The castle is a powerful national symbol and part of Edinburgh’s World Heritage site. It is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and is the most popular tourist attraction. The castle has served both as fortress and royal residence. It has a rich and colorful history and presently houses the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and a permanent exhibition which depicts the history of Scotland.

Every day except Sundays and bank holidays, at one o’clock a gun is fired from the castle and the annual Military Tattoo takes place in the Castle Esplanade for three weeks in August.

Location:

Edinburgh Castle, Castle Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK.

Getting There:

By Air: Edinburgh Airport.
By Rail: Waverley Station.

The Chapel and Stone of Destiny.

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Scottish Crown Jewels.

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The Stone of Destiny.

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The Berlin Wall split East from West Berlin for many years. There was a time when it was considered the most detested symbol and Berliners were eager to tear it down but now the city officials and the artists are arguing about how to do the exact opposite. How to save the crumbling wall rich in history of troubled times.

The Wall is rotten inside which is eroding it away steadily and fiercely. Not only the East Side Gallery of the wall is crumbling but the remains of the166-kilometer wall are also dying out.

A long 1.3-kilometer stretch of gaily-colored Berlin Wall situated alongside the river Spree and near the Ostbahnhof railway station is one of the major tourist attraction. The famous images such as the fraternal communist kiss between East German leader Erich Honecker and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev or the East German Trabant car that appears to be bursting through the wall are fading and appear as a sad sight.

The total cost of renovating the wall is estimated to be more than euro 1.3 million (US$1.8 million). The start of restoration work was planned for September but would most likely have to be postponed due to funding woes and paperwork.

The delay in the wall’s renovation project is further deteriorating it and we hope the city officials soon take steps forward to keep the wall’s largest remaining section from eroding away and falling apart.

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Source: globeandmail

Giant statue of Roman emperor Hadrian has been unearthed in the archaeological site in south-central Turkey. Estimated to be the 4m-5m in height originally, the statue dates to the beginning of Hadrian’s reign in the 2nd century AD. The discovery was made by archaeologists from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

Who was Hardin?

Hadrian was a Roman Emperor who was born in 76 AD in a well-to-do family in Italica, near modern Seville, Spain. He ruled Rome from 117AD to AD138. He was known as a great military administrator and one of the so-called five good emperors. His achievements include the massive wall built across the width of northern Britain which bears his name.

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So, far a sandaled foot, a part of leg and the almost intact head of the emperor’s statue have been unearthed. The marble toes with dowel holes to fix it to a long dress belonging to another huge statue which may be of Hadrian’s wife Sabina have also been discovered. Archaeologists have also found part of a gilded bronze statue of the emperor. The discovery of other parts of the statue is likely to be made in coming weeks.

Source: BBC

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Trieste is a wonderful place that has an idyllic setting backed by the green and white cliffs of a limestone plateau. Apart from spell-bounding natural beauty, it has fascinating history.

Trieste was an inspiration for the Irish genius, James Joyce who lived here for many years and penned down his numerous famous works. It’s the place that certainly fueled his creative juices and fired his spirit. There is a famous bronze statue of Joyce that occupies a special place in this charming historic place.

There are many historical sites churches and museums. Arco di Riccardo, 14th-century Cathedral of San Giusto, a medieval Castle of San Giusto and Roman basilica Museum of History and Art are the sites which no one can miss if on trip to this breathtaking place. It is Italy’s leading center of scientific research and a hotbed of theoretical physics, genetic engineering, biotechnology and astrophysics.

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There are innumerable museums and historical sites to visit, but one can feel the real pulse of the city on its streets. One can get all the luxuries and trappings of modern wealth in Trieste but the walk at twilight has its own ambience that gives relaxed, timeless and priceless pleasures. Trieste satisfies the criteria of a remarkable destination. Make sure you put the Pearl of the Adriatic on your next Italian tour.

Getting There:

Trieste is well connected to other cities in Italy. Ronchi dei Legionari is the nearest airport. The A4 is a main motorway that connects Trieste to Venice and beyond. Koper and Ljubljana in Slovenia are the other road connections. Buses run from Udine, Venice, Padova and Grado in Italy and from Pula and Rijeka in Croatia.

Source: Stuff

Valencia is known for its history, culture and fun-loving atmosphere. Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, a Spanish village of Bunol, hosts the world’s largest tomato fight - La Tomatina. It’s one of the world’s strangest events and biggest food fights in which around 30,000 foodies come face-to-face with truckloads of over-ripened tomatoes.

La Tomatina is a weeklong festival of music, parades, dancing, cooking and fireworks. Local bands provide music for dancing and singing and plenty of drinking. Portable showers are installed for the participants.

Rules to be observed:

• Tomatoes should be squashed before they are thrown.

• Bottles or any type of objects, which could cause serious injury are not allowed.

• Tearing of other’s shirt is not allowed (this rule is oft broken)

• Food fight gets over when water cannons are fired.

This year, the La Tomatina will be celebrated on the 29 of August 2007, starting from 11 am.

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Source: Wandalust