Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

It is surely the most famous castle in the world — and, like its builder, one of the most misunderstood. Neuschwanstein castle is a structure of contrast, irony, and mystery — and beauty. When it was built, the castle was not known as Neuschwanstein. Ludwig II wrote his friend Richard Wagner in May 1868: “I intend to rebuild the old castle ruins of Hohenschwangau by the Pöllat gorge (Pöllatschlucht) in the genuine style of the old German knightly fortresses…”
Just as his father had done before him, Ludwig wanted to build a splendid new castle upon the ruins of another. His new project was known as the “Neue Burg Hohenschwangau” (“New Castle Hohenschwangau”). Only later, when the castle was opened to the public on August 1, 1886, just weeks after Ludwig’s death, did the edifice come to be known as “Neuschwanstein” (“new swan stone”).

One of biggest ironies of this castle is that a structure built to be a private refuge, “sacred and out of reach” (“heilig und unnahbar”), should now be host to thousands of tourists each year. Another irony: although it was built largely as a stage for Wagnerian productions (“a worthy temple for the divine friend [Wagner]”), the composer never set foot in Neuschwanstein. Nor was the castle’s throne room was ever completed in time to contain a throne.

To execute his dream project, the king commissioned a stage designer as architect. The castle that Christian Jank designed for Ludwig inspires awe and surprise in visitors to this day. But in part because the Disneyesque image of Neuschwanstein has become such a cliché, it is easy to dismiss it as an ostentatious example of poor taste, an anachronistic piece of foolishness. Nevertheless, ever since it was opened to the public, Neuschwanstein has acted as a powerful magnet. The castle’s unique location combined with Ludwig’s “fantasy in stone” creates a special magic. But like any work of art, the more one knows about Neuschwanstein, the more one can appreciate it.

The engineering architect was Eduard Riedel (after 1874, Georg Dollmann; from 1886 to 1892 Julius Hofmann), and Neuschwanstein is an engineering marvel. The castle’s construction lasted 23 years, until long after Ludwig’s death. Although built in the Germanic late Romanesque style of the 13th century, the castle was equipped with the best technology available in the late 1860s. Quite unlike any real medieval castle, Neuschwanstein has a forced-air central heating system. Its rarely-used kitchen was of the most advanced design. The winter garden features a large sliding glass door.

Out of all of Ludwig’s amazing “fantasies in stone,” Neuschwanstein seems to be the most fantastic.

With some of the structure still not totally complete, Ludwig moved into Neuschwanstein’s finished rooms for the first time in 1884. The king spent eleven nights in his dream castle from 27 May to 8 June.

Contrary to popular legend, Ludwig’s building projects did not bankrupt the Bavarian treasury. Neuschwanstein, like Ludwig’s other castles, was financed entirely from the king’s own funds.

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Devil’s Town – Serbia

Devil’s Town(serbian-Djavolja Varoš) is a natural phenomenon in the south of Serbia, about 90 kilometers to the southwest of Niš. It is a rock formation consisting of 202 rocks of different forms and sizes ranging between 2 and 15 meters in height and 0,5 and 3 meters in width, with stone caps on tops.

The stone columns were created by the effect of erosion on the land composed of solid material with large stones. Million of years ago, the area was in the center of strong volcanic activities, the traces of which can be seen in the rocks behind the columns. However, human factor had the most to do with this. By destroying forests, people made way for destructive water activity. During this first stage of the process, larger chunks of rocks shielded the deeper and softer land layers from rain and water. The land began to slide and collapse except beneath the rocks which prevented further dissipation of land with their own weight. This created pyramids and / or towers. The stone blocks on column tops served as umbrellas but water still continues to flow between the figures, wash down the land, and makes them taller over time. This process is the second stage and it means „final processing“. Namely, the forces of nature cause the thinning of the pyramids and towers so, eventually, they turn into regular columns with stone caps.

Djavolja Varoš is also known for its 2 springs of very acid water. One of them is Djavolja Voda (Devil’s Water), a cold and extremely acid spring (pH 1.5) with strong mineralization (15 g/l water). This spring is at Djavolja Jaruga (Devil’s Ravine). Crveno Vrelo (Red Spring) is the other (pH 3.5), with weaker mineralization (4.372 mg/l water). Waters like these are rarely found in the world and are used in spa treatments because of their remedial properties. However, our scientists warn people against using the water from Djavolja Voda spring since it has not been tested enough.

„Djavolja Varoš“ has been under the state protection since 1959. In 1995, the Government of the Republic of Serbia proclaimed it a natural region of extreme significance and put it in the first category of protection – NATURAL MONUMENT. In total, 67 hectares are under this protection.

Voting for the finalists of the 7 wonders ends on 31st December 2008. A panel of experts will announce the list of 21 candidates in January 2007. Voting for the list of finalists will take place during 2009 and 2010. The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be officially proclaimed in the summer of 2010.

Vote at http://www.djavoljavaros.com/ or http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/

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Tuscany, Italy

From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces.

Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine. Walkers enjoy the mountain paths, cyclists the rolling hills, summer vacationers the sea coast and islands. Students come to learn the beautiful Italian language and culture.

There is a lot to see and do in Tuscany, the difficulty is really where to start. Certainly most should start with Florence, then continue on to Siena and Pisa. The roll call of città di arte, cities of art, is daunting: Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano and Lucca are all striking. The more you come to know the region, the more extraordinary Tuscany appears.

Tuscany is arguably the prettiest region in Italy. Like the backdrop of a Renaissance painting, it’s emblazoned with seemingly infinite colours and textures. We’re talking scarlet poppy meadows and emerald green pastures. Ochre hillsides and orange-roofed villages. Every corner is worthy of a photograph. But away from this rustic scene you’ll find some of Europe’s most engaging cities, too. Take a trip out to Florence and stare transfixed at Michelangelo’s David. Crane your neck sideways to gaze at the angle-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or head to Siena and lose yourself in the rabbit’s warren of Medieval lanes and alleys. Tuscany really is special. And what’s really great about it is that you shift gear to suit your mood. One day you’re strolling through fields with tall grasses tickling your legs and the next you’re sipping a cappuccino in a bustling square. Wonderful.

Verbier, Switzerland

There are scores of ski resorts and resort areas in Europe marketing themselves as the biggest, the highest, or the mightiest. However, there are indeed very few that can actually live up to some, if not all, of these superlatives. One you might take a closer look at is the Swiss resort of Verbier.

Give it a good look while you are at it! Something, isn’t it? You get not only the very impressive ski domain tied to the Verbier ski pass, but, if you buy an all-area pass you get the whole Swiss Four Valleys region thrown in as well. This entitles you to hurtle your ski-clad frame down some very challenging mountainsides in some six or so resorts. Heck, there is so much to explore here that in this writer’s estimation it would take one the better part of a season to do it all thoroughly.

And the good news is, if you think through the lift pass possibilities, compute them with your skiing ability, energy storage and late night rock ‘and roll tendencies, and buy one as close to tailor made to your results as possible, you might find you have computed your way to some very good ski value. So dear reader, to my knowledge, Verbier makes no claims to being the biggest or the best of anything. Perhaps it should.

As a resort for skiers, Verbier is, really, second to none. My goodness, how could it be? It is enough on its own, for goodness sake, but combined with Haute Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon on the same lift pass, it is absolutely awesome.

Awesome in skiable terrain, with 410 total kms. of prepared slopes. Awesome in lift capacity with 96 different means of uphill transportation. Awesome in downright challenge. There are a huge number of really challenging runs in and around Verbier. Expert skiers know it far and wide, as one of the most difficult skiing resorts anywhere. That’s a given.

But what about the vast majority of readers of this magazine? Should they give Verbier a miss? Should they be put off by Verbier’s “daunting” reputation? We don’t think so.

The skiing features good areas where beginners can find out which way to point the skis, improve their talents, and go on to higher levels of achievement and elevation.

There is adequate space for beginners, either at the village level, or higher up the mountain. Almost immediately, first time skiers can get the feel of some high altitude skiing in a safe and sound environment. The area around La Ruinettes and Attelas is a good area on which to improve, and it has the added advantage of a couple of on-slope restaurants where you can meet up with more experienced friends. The new Tortin cable car will solve any queue problems on the way back from the 4 valleys.

However, it is for better skiers that Verbier really comes into its own. Highlighted by Mont Fort (summer skiing on the glacier here as well) at just over 3,000m, Verbier offers challenge and variety in just about every nook and cranny. Bumps, powder, unpisted and untested, it’s all within the borders of this big ski country. If, by the way, you fancy tracking some unmarked slopes, please don’t do it without a guide.

This is high-mountain skiing at its best, and, we might add, at its most treacherous. If you are a top-flight skier, you should find all the action you want on Verbier’s prepared slopes. If it appeals, and if you are good enough, you can ski over to, as well as on, the slopes of Nendaz, on the other side of the Valley. What’s more, you can come back on the same day, on skis.

First, though explore the tremendous selection and challenge in the immediate Verbier vicinity. This place is a good skiers dream. Again, we stress that those who are not yet up to all the testing stuff on tap here should have no problem enjoying this resort. The lift system is big and expansive, and laid out in such a manner that decent intermediate skiers should be able to find some adequate runs at the end of most lifts.

Considering the extent of skiable terrain and number of lifts offered in Verbier, this resort represents fine value for money. Even with this impressive selection, lift-pass prices are in line with most of the other top-flight European resorts. Families can reap special savings by buying a family pass, which gives discounts to members of the family after the first two family members pay full price. It’s best to check with the lift company before buying any ski passes here. There are lots of varieties and combinations available.

Verbier is also world class when it comes to après ski and night time offerings. Heck, the village takes on a completely new life after dark. All one needs is enough Swiss Francs in your pocket and you can probably find almost any action you want. There are pubs for the young, clubs for the mids, discos for everyone, and food of almost any style for every taste and budget. This resort is no shrinking violet.

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Courchevel , France

Overview: Courchevel is made up of five separate resorts, all within the Trois Vallées ski area, which also incorporates Meribel and Val Thorens. The main resorts are named after their heights – Courchevel 1850, 1650, 1550 and Le Praz 1300. La Tania is another, small purpose-built resort situated on a ridge between Courchevel and Meribel. Courchevel 1850 is the smartest and most expensive of the resorts; it has the best restaurants, nightlife and access to the slopes. Courchevel 1650 and 1550 are quieter, more suited to families, and Le Praz is a pretty village with narrow streets, but due to its altitude has less reliable snow.

Skiing: The Trois Vallées ski area is one of the best and most extensive in the world (10 times larger than Vail, the largest ski resort in the States), and Courchevel offers the best skiing within the area. There are lots of easy slopes for beginners beneath the Saulire cable car base station and there’s lots of choice for intermediates in both Courchevel and neighbouring Meribel. Advanced skiers will enjoy the reds and blacks above La Saulire; there are also some challenging north-facing slopes above Val Thorens, which can be reached within a day’s skiing. Snowboarders will find some great slopes for cruising and some exciting couloirs for experts. When the snow’s good there’s some good off-piste – but it’s advised to only go with a guide.

Shopping: Courchevel 1850 offers the best shopping, ranging from ski shops to expensive designer boutiques. The lower resorts all have ski shops and mini-supermarkets as well as a fine selection of bakeries and delicatessens.

Restaurants: Courchevel 1850 has the best and most expensive restaurants. Chabichou and Le Bateau Ivre offer some of the best food in the Alps, however all resorts have a good choice of reasonably priced, good quality restaurants.

Nightlife: All the villages offer their own nightlife, although most visitors make the trip to Courchevel 1850 for the liveliest clubs and bars.

Activities: Parasailing and tobogganing can be arranged and for whiteout days there is a cinema, bowling, ice skating and a swimming pool. Some of the smarter hotels offer spa treatments.

Negatives: Courchevel 1850 is very expensive, although it’s still possible to find 2 and 3-star hotels. As a rule, it is cheaper the lower you go. During school holidays some slopes can get very crowded.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal sits at the point where the River Tagus feeds into the Atlantic, just about as far west as you can go without getting your feet wet. Being built on seven hills, it has plenty of vantage points from which to contemplate the distant horizons that called the Portuguese explorers in the country’s golden age during the 16th century, when it was the hub of commerce with the far east and gold poured into Lisbon’s coffers from the new west. Devastating earthquakes and loss of empire left the city a little threadbare, but 21st-century commerce took a hand, sprucing the place up for Euro 2004. Portugal may have been the runners-up, but Lisbon emerged a winner.

The grid-like Baixa, or downtown, was laid out after the devastating 1755 earthquake, and is a candidate for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is flanked by two squares: the riverside Praça do Comércio, framed by arcades and dominated by a triumphal arch and, at the northern end, Praça Dom Perdo IV (Rossio). The Elevador de Santa Justa, an outdoor cast-iron lift that first opened in 1901, offers a panoramic view of the streets in between.

The Alfama district east of Baixa, where black-clad widows potter in tiny squares, retains the layout and atmosphere of Moorish times. The Romanesque cathedral, or Sé , was founded on the site of a mosque, after the 1147 Christian Reconquest. Further uphill there are fine views from the Castelo de São Jorge. The castle was built by the Moors on the site of a Roman fort, but what you see today is almost all 20th-century mock-up. West of Baixa, the shops and cafés of Chiado district give way to the more raffish Bairro Alto, a nightlife haven.

The city’s main axis is Avenida da Liberdade. Lined with cafés and fashion chains, it leads from Rossio to the formal Parque Eduardo VII. Beyond that is the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian , with fine Western and Oriental art.

Tourists also flock to Belém, a half-hour tram ride west. The 15th-century explorers sailed from here into what was then still very much the unknown, as the Monument to the Discoveries reminds you. The Tower of Belém and Jerónimos monastery showcase the exuberant Manueline (late Gothic) style of the time. Nearby, the delicious custard tarts at Antiga Confeitaria are almost as big a draw for visitors.

Lisbon’s eastern waterfront was of little touristic interest until 1998. Staged on reclaimed industrial wasteland, Expo 98 gave Lisbon its biggest facelift in two centuries and a slew of new attractions. Now renamed Parque das Nações , the site has an Oceanarium ; the Pavilhão do Conhecimento , with science exhibits; and – the district’s architectural highlight – Alvaro Siza Vieira’s Portugal pavilion, with its remarkable concrete canopy.

REGIONAL GASTRONOMY

This region is a fish heaven where you can find fresh bass and cockle, and the mussels from Ericeira and Cabo do Roca; the red mullets, clams and oysters from Setúbal; the swordfish from Sesimbra and the crustaceans from Cascais.
Other specialities typical of this area include the goat and sheep cheeses from Sobral de Monte Agraço and from Azeitão, the pastries from Malveira and the “pão de ló” from Loures, the nuts and egg dainties from Cascais, the “zimbros” (gin cakes) from Sesimbra, the “queijadas” (little cheese cakes) from
Sintra; the wines from Colares, Bucelas, Setúbal, Carcavelos and the famous “muscatel” wine from Setúbal. In Lisbon itself, you can try all the specialities of Portuguese cuisine. In this city, you will mainly find typical country dishes like grilled sardines, clams “à Bulhão Pato” style, fish soups “à fragateira” style … and varied and tasty dishes cooked with codfish. Apart from all the desserts available to you, do not forget to try the local Belém custard pies.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel) is an iron tower built on the Champ de Mars beside the Seine River in Paris. The tower has become a global icon of France and is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris. More than 200,000,000 have visited the tower since its construction in 1889, including 6,719,200 in 2006, making it the most visited paid monument in the world. Including the 24 m (79 ft) antenna, the structure is 325 m (1,063 ft) high (since 2000), which is equivalent to about 81 levels in a conventional building.

When the tower was completed in 1889 it was the world’s tallest tower — a title it retained until 1930 when New York City’s Chrysler Building (319 m — 1,047 ft tall) was completed. The tower is now the fifth-tallest structure in France and the tallest structure in Paris, with the second-tallest being the Tour Montparnasse (210 m — 689 ft), although that will soon be surpassed by Tour AXA (225.11 m — 738.36 ft).

The metal structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure including non-metal components is approximately 10,000 tonnes. Depending on the ambient temperature, the top of the tower may shift away from the sun by up to 18 cm (7 in) because of thermal expansion of the metal on the side facing the sun. The tower also sways 6–7 cm (2–3 in) in the wind.As demonstration of the economy of design, if the 7300 tonnes of the metal structure were melted down it would fill the 125 meter square base to a depth of only 6 cm (2.36 in), assuming a density of the metal to be 7.8 tonnes per cubic meter. The tower has a mass less than the mass of the air contained in a cylinder of the same dimensions,[7] that is 324 meters high and 88.3 meters in radius. The weight of the tower is 10,100 tonnes compared to 10,265 tonnes of air.

The first and second levels are accessible by stairways and lifts. A ticket booth at the south tower base sells tickets to access the stairs which begin at that location. At the first platform the stairs continue up from the east tower and the third level summit is only accessible by lift. From the first or second platform the stairs are open for anyone to ascend or descend regardless of whether they have purchased a lift ticket or stair ticket. The actual count of stairs includes 9 steps to the ticket booth at the base, 328 steps to the first level, 340 steps to the second level and 18 steps to the lift platform on the second level. When exiting the lift at the third level there are 15 more steps to ascend to the upper observation platform. The step count is printed periodically on the side of the stairs to give an indication of progress of ascent. The majority of the ascent allows for an unhindered view of the area directly beneath and around the tower although some short stretches of the stairway are enclosed.

Maintenance of the tower includes applying 50 to 60 tonnes of paint every seven years to protect it from rust. In order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, three separate colors of paint are used on the tower, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. On occasion the colour of the paint is changed; the tower is currently painted a shade of brownish-grey. On the first floor there are interactive consoles hosting a poll for the colour to use for a future session of painting. The co-architects of the Eiffel Tower are Emile Nouguier, Maurice Koechlin and Stephen Sauvestre.

Atomium – Brussels

At first glance, the Atomium looks like a candidate for the World’s Largest Roadside Attractions. And why not? It puts the World’s Largest Baseball Bat and the World’s Largest Bicycles to shame. Yet the city fathers of Brussels would hasten to tell you that, far from being an example of kitsch, the Atomium is a lasting symbol of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and Belgium’s answer to the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty. Tastes obviously differ regarding the aesthetic appeal of a giant molecule. Still, the Atomium is an impressive structure when viewed from close up. It stands 332 feet (102 meters) high and consists of nine spheres of 59 feet (18 m) diameter connected by tubes measuring 94 feet (29 m) in length and 10 feet (3 m) thick. Escalators connect the spheres, most of which contain science exhibits. An elevator (said to be Europe’s fastest) leads to an observation gallery and restaurant in the topmost atom.

Nightlife on Ibiza

The ‘super clubs’ of Ibiza are renowned the world over as the global HQ of dance music, and deservedly so. Not only for their size and splendour, but mainly for the unique atmosphere created by thousands of people, fresh off the beach, letting their hair down with a holiday vengeance.

It has to be borne in mind though that these clubs pre-date the ‘dance music’ phenomenon by many years. Most have been around for three decades, during which time they have put on top ranking the artists of the moment down through the years and therefore every musical genre that has come and gone over this period – from the hippies onwards.

This is still the case today and will be tomorrow and more than likely forever Witness the fact that the Global room at Pacha is devoting six nights a week to perfecting the blend of Hip Hop and R&B with House music in a very effective crossover, whilst on the other side of the island Es Paradis have had ‘Twice as Nice’ dispensing R&B, Garage and 2-Step sounds for years. This year check out their Drum and Bass night on Sundays vs. the Old Skool spectacular ‘Helter Skelter meets Innovation’.

Clubs:

Amnesia
Eden
Es Paradis
El Divino
Privilege
Pacha
Space
Love
Heaven
Xeuno

text taken from ibizaholidays

Ibiza Beaches

One of the greatest benefits of living on a tiny island like Ibiza, with over 80 beaches to choose from, is that you can select the perfect beach for the moment. Be that a special occasion, putting yourself around, or simply attaining that serene tranquility that you seek…

Then to change your mind, seek an alternative, and discover that wherever you are on Ibiza it is no more than half an hour to your chosen alternative vibe, even if it’s on the other side of the island.

Wherever you are on Ibiza there will be some days when the prevailing wind will offer waves – when you planned a day of snorkelling, or a flat calm – the day after you polished your surf board.

Occasionally you wake up and look out to sea to find clouds spoiling your plans for the day on the beach, but linger a while longer and you will suss the direction of the prevailing wind, which creates the clouds by forcing the colder air upwards as it reaches the land mass of the island. It soon becomes easy to work out which beaches will still enjoy sunshine on the windward side whether you fancy waves to play in, or a sheltered cove to enjoy snorkelling with sunlight illuminating the seabed below?

Some days the skies are clear on your local beach, but the incoming wind is creating surf when you really fancied a lazy hour watching clouds vapourise from your lilo? Relax in the knowledge that it’s only 30 minutes to that new dream beach you never checked out before – sometimes even less than ten minutes walk?

!!! Enjoy:) !!!

text taken from ibizaholidays