Karlštejn Castle is a large Gothic castle located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village named Karlštejn.The castle was founded in 1348. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. The first stay of Charles IV in the castle is documented in 1355 when he came to supervise the building works as well as the decoration of interiors, especially the castle chapels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated. At the outbreak of the Hussite wars the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels, which were kept here, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. The castle was reconstructed... → More
The 36th Annual New York's Village Halloween Parade October 31, 2009 at 7 p.m. Billed as the most outrageous Halloween event in the world, the Village Halloween Parade is one of New York's most colourful parties. Towering papier-mâché puppets are a regular feature, as are stilt-walkers, jugglers, breakdancers and around two million onlookers. With more than 50,000 scarily-clad participants, the celebration of spooks and ghouls takes place in Greenwich Village along 6th Ave from Spring Street to 22nd Street. Every year it conjures up an obscure theme which dictates the style of dress and participants go to town on creating the most outrageous and eccentric costumes that they can possibly dream up. This is a time to let your imagination run wild through the streets of New York. http://www.halloween-nyc.com/ → More
21 - 24 October 2009 Circleville, USA cost: FreeWhat started as a modest vegetable exhibition in 1903 now has more than 300,000 people gawping at 'punkins' grown to monstrous proportions at the Circleville Pumpkin Show in Ohio. There is a competitive weigh-in, a pie-eating contest and several parades. In 2007 the winning pumpkin weighed in at 1524.5lb! Surf a sugar high of cookies, ice cream, fudge, cake and doughnuts all made from pumpkin and don't miss the parades for pets, babies and finally the Pumpkin Show Queen on the last evening. Parade Schedule Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:30 P.M. - Little Miss Pumpkin Show 8:00 P.M. - Miss Pumpkin Show Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:30 P.M. - Baby Parade 8:00 P.M. - Band & Youth Organizations Friday, October 23, 2009 3:30 P.M. - Pet Parade 8:00 P.M. - Lodges, Civic, & Fraternal Organizations Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:00... → More
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits.The city's motto is "München mag Dich" ("Munich Loves You"). Its native name, München, is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. The reason for naming the city in such a manner is to honour the fact that monks of the Benedictine order founded the city. This is also the reason for the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold—the colours of... → More
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe approximately twenty kilometres from the border with the Czech Republic. It is one of the largest centres of the industry, transport and culture of Germany.In the German literature Dresden has received the name Florence on Elba, but also abroad the city is widely known for the monuments of architecture in a Baroque style, magnificent collections of paintings and other works of art.Dresden firstly was mentioned as the city in 1216. Since 1485 Dresden is the capital of Saxony. As a result of Napoleonic wars Saxony incurred huge territorial losses, value of Dresden in political life of Europe decreased, but it was still considered as one of the largest cultural centres.At the end of the Second World War Dresden underwent a large bombardment. The restoration of the centre lasted... → More
The Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat. At 321 m (1,050 ft), it is the second tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. The Rose Tower, opened in April, 2008, also in Dubai, topped Burj Al Arab's height at 333 m (1,090 ft), becoming the world's tallest hotel. The hotel was under construction 5 years and was opened in December, 1st, 1999. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. The hotel hall consists of two floors. On the ground floor the registration of visitors is made, on the second floor shops and cafe, and also a corridor... → More
Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. The State Castle and Chateau of Český Krumlov ranks among the most important European sights. The Český Krumlov State Castle is a complex of forty buildings situated around five courtyards and seven-hectare grounds of the castle park. The complex grew up by degrees within each... → More
Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Nuremberg is a lively city of about half a million inhabitants, with a visible history of almost one thousand years. Nuremberg is a city "of wit", where inventiveness and the researchers' curiosity have found a home. Nuremberg is a high performance economic location. Nuremberg is an open, tolerant city with a very high quality of life. And Nuremberg is the centre of a European metropolitan region with 2.5 million citizens. Nuremberg is one of Europe's fastest growing trade fair locations. Every year, over 1,2 million people visit about 100 events and... → More
Are you planning a New Zealand vacation and still not sure what you are going to do there? In this case spend a couple of minutes and check the following list of activities.The strong point about New Zealand is that this country is suitable for all kinds of rest. However, sticking to idea of leisure travel is not something I'd recommend. This country has so much to offer that tourists usually want to get the most from their trips to this wonderful place.The strong point about New Zealand is that this country is suitable for all kinds of rest. However, sticking to idea of leisure travel is not something I'd recommend. This country has so much to offer that tourists usually want to get the most from their trips to this wonderful place.Family travelers will find at least a dozen of places where they can spend wonderful time. Both North and South Islands have national parks. You can always... → More
- Well, what? Where do we go to the weekend?- May be to Leipzig? - No, better to Berlin. So, at Friday evening it was decided to go to Berlin next morning. The way was coming remote, it was necessary to rise 3 hours earlier than usually. We had a quick breakfast and gathered. 4 hours of roads, and we were on the spot. It had been decided to park the car at a shopping centre parking in the centre on the Potsdam Square. Not wasting time we bought a city map in a book shop, had dinner in a cafe "A hungry wolf" and went into the street. So, it was the Potsdam Square. The square was very modern, with high glass office buildings and shopping centres. We could not believe that recently it had been divided by the Berlin Wall and when the Wall has been taken down in 1989, there was a huge dusty waste ground on this place. I saw a strip on an asphalt where earlier the Wall was, with the tablet... → More
Potsdamer Platz (Potsdam Square) is an important public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany. It lies about one kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag (German Parliament Building), and close to the southeast corner of the Tiergarten park. It is named after the city of Potsdam, some 25 km to the south west, and marks the point where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. The square was totally laid waste during World War II and then left desolate during the Cold War era when the Berlin Wall bisected its former location. Since the fall of the Wall it has risen again as a glittering new heart for the city and the most visible symbol of the new Berlin.With the construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961, along the intracity frontier, Potsdamer Platz now found itself physically divided in two.... → More
Tribes of aboriginals of Central America occupied the territory of the modern Mexican United States to the 16th century - the conquest time by the Spanish conquistadors. The Maya, the Toltec and the Aztec had a highly developed civilisation and culture not yielding to the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Greece.Almost all of Mexico lies in the North American Plate, with small parts of the Baja California peninsula on the Pacific and Cocos Plates. Mexico is crossed from north to south by two mountain ranges known as Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental. From east to west at the center, the country is crossed by the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt also known as the Sierra Nevada. A fourth mountain range, the Sierra Madre del Sur, runs from Michoacán to Oaxaca. The most well-known volcanoes are Popocatépetl (5 462 m) and Orizaba (5700 m).The Tropic of Cancer effectively... → More
Fortunately, Brussels is yet not among heavily touristed destinations in Europe. Paris, Rome or Berlin are definitely gorgeous cities, but the number of tourists breaks local color easily, making it unable to feel the atmosphere.Brussels is a piece of that «Old Europe» you’ve always heard of. Not very fast and full of traditions this city offers amazing experience for all new comers. By the way, if you’d like to know more about Belgian history in general, visit the Place Royale and its new Magritte Collection. The museum is new (it has opened just several months ago) and definitely worth visiting.Gastronomy tourists may know Brussels as a perfect destination. If you look at Michelin, you'll see that 2 cheapest 2 star restaurants in the world are located here. Excellent food at excellent price sounds truly appealing.The first restaurant, the Sea Grill, is a great... → More
On Saturday, September 19th, the Schottenhamel tent is the place to be, if you want to catch the official opening ceremonies. At noontime, 12pm, the lord mayor of Munich will have the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. Once the barrel has been tapped, all visitors will then be allowed to quench their thirst. It pays to arrive early in order to experience the festivities up close and personal and it's quite common for visitors to come around 9am to secure good seats. The festival will last until October 4th, 2009. Beer Serving HoursWeekdays: 10:00am - 10:30pm.Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 9:00am - 10:30pm. Daily Tent Closing Time: 11:30pm.The "Käfer Wiesn-Schänke" and the "Weinzelt" are open until 1am. Last call for alcohol: 12:15am. Sales Booths (souveniors, cigarettes, etc.)Monday - Thursday: 10:00am - 11:30pm.Friday: 10:00am - 12:00am (midnight).Saturday:... → More
Loket is a town of some 3,000 inhabitants in the Sokolov district in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic.Loket means "elbow" in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The stone Loket Castle is over 800 years old. It was probably founded as a border fortress. It dominates the town on a granite solid rock.Documents firts mention Loket in 1234. The building of the stone castle used to be dated to the reign of the Czech king Přemysl Otakar I (1197-1230) but with the finding of a Romanesque chapel which experts consider one of the oldest buildings of the Czech type, it is possible to date it to the 1170s or earlier. The Castle served kings, the Šlik family and the nobility from Plauen, the Loket aristocracy and in the 19th and 20th centuries also as a... → More
My friend with two children was going to mountains Krkonoshe in the east of Czechia for a week. They invited us to visit them during the weekend. We have drived out on Saturday morning. We went by car along the highway without adventures. The adventures began on the country roads. The fact was that couple days before our trip a heavy gale had passed across Czechia. Perhaps, it was stronger in the east mountains than in Prague. At first we met a degraded bridge. All cars passed it along a very narrow extreme strip, therefore there were long rows of cars in both directions. Than we met a lot of trees broken by the wind or pulled up by the roots. And some of them - real giants - were laid near the road roots upwards with a piece of road asphalt! We arrived to Jasenske Lazne at noon. It was a small town with some hotels, cafes and skiing schools. In general Jasenske Lazne was the skiing... → More + 1 Comment
Prague is the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic. The city has an area of 496 square km (192 square miles). Prague is situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia. In this city live more than 1.2 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Prague's short history. Prague's story goes back to the distant days of the Celtic tribes, as early as 400BC. The Arab-Jewish merchant Ibrahim Jakub Ibn, who visited Prague in 965 or 966, was the first to leave a written record of the existence of a busy commercial center and settlement below Prague Castle, he described it as a town "built of stone and mortar". During the first half of the 11th century another castle called Vysehrad was founded on the opposite... → More
