Strangest Bars in the world

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Bar owners have always tried in all ways to attract a larger number of guests. Some believe that the key to success in the authentic decoration or program without equal anywhere.
Many have succeeded in their intentions, and their pubs have become a great attraction for visitors, on the other hand, there are bars that have “missed the topic”.
Whatever the case, today can sip a drink in the hospital setting, the tree trunk, a spaceship, the toilet… The waiters were masked as librarians, nurses… In a pub in Birmingham just go fearless guests, as waiters and visitors for years claiming to be terrorized by the ghost who nipping them, and when is Halloween party he smashing bottles of wine, which he does not like!
The Russian edition of the magazine “Forbes” has chosen 10 most unusual bars on the planet.

1. HR Giger Bar (Switzerland)
Drinks with alien
“Alien” in 1980. won an Oscar for special effects, and eight years later, in the Swiss town of Grujere opened one of the most unusual museums of contemporary art. Behind these two projects is the name of Hans Rudolf Giger (HR Giger). It was he who created the alien creatures in Ridley Scott’s film, after which he founded the museum which exhibits his best work, as well as works by other painters of fantasy and surrealism. One of the most impressive parts Gigerovih is bar in 2003. made within the museum. Here, they say, drink in order to have the courage. The bar, tables and chairs are made of imitation bone. Every detail makes visitors feel that they are in space or alien spaceship from the movie “Alien”…

2. The Brandy Library (United States)
Librarians at the bar
In New York there are bars for every taste, ancient and modern, in the basement or on the top of a skyscraper … And at least The Brandy Library and Library of brandy attracts attention with its authenticity. It is arranged as a library. But its not adorn shelves books for more than 900 different types of brandy, rum, whiskey, brandy and liqueurs. The collection includes bars and rare specimens of drinks, such as Armagnac Lagarde 1900. Pierre Ferrand, and Cognac in 1914. The true connoisseurs of drinks can make their own choices about what to drink, and choice can help and professional “librarians”. This picture is complemented by the beautiful jazz evenings. With that kind of music and good spirits immerse guests in an atmosphere of old New York.

3. Baobab Tree Bar (South Africa)
Refreshments at the Baobab
Sober is hard to imagine they sit and sip a drink in the tree trunk! But it can be done. This pub is a farm in Limpopo Province in South Africa. It can accommodate up to 60 guests at a time. Family Van Hirden opened the bar in 1993. in a natural hollow baobab tree. Large baobab in Limpopo Province, was no less than 6,000 years! Circumference of 33 to 47 meters, the height is 27 meters and the ceiling in the bar reaches a height of four meters. A selection of drinks, the truth is not very big, and is best-selling beer. In this unusual bar, located in the south of the hottest continent, plus is constant temperature of 22 degrees, and is therefore a popular haven for tourists, but also locals.
4. Bar Faraday (Antarctica)
The most southern pub in the world
British Faraday research station, which began operation 1950th The Galintes the island, was transferred in February 1996. to Antarctica, where he was handed over to the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine and is given a new name – Scholar Vernadskij. On it for 11 to 15 researchers. But the station is not only famous for his scientific work, but also as the southernmost bar in the world, which is the most difficult to reach. He also became an important stop for tourists, and regularly organize excursions. The bar is equipped with wooden furniture. The choice of drinks is not very big, but there is no place for the discerning, because this is the only bar on the continent. 

 
5. Clinic Bar (Singapore)
Whiskey on the infusion
Damien Hjorsta part admirers, one of the richest contemporary artists of today can be addressed directly to the “clinic”. Of course, it is not a right but a Singapore hospital, restaurant, nightclub and bar Clinic. Its design and concept devised Hjorst, extravagant author of diamond skull “For the love of the Lord.” The entrance to the bar looks like a morgue, the room look like a hospital room, with curtains of gauze. Chairs replace wheelchairs, waiters dressed in medical uniforms, and dance floor Morphine is made in the form of capsules. Drinks are served in bottles away for infusion, and the food is served in a special medical containers…
6. Hobbit House Bar (Philippines)
Dwarves serve cognac
Restaurant and bar Hobbit House Bar (Hobbit House) opened its doors to visitors 1973rd year. Professor and former Corps volunteer Jim Turner of the world was inspired by Tolkien’s trilogy “The Lord of the Rings.” Turner was intended to work in a bar people dwarfism and his idea come to life.
The object is changed locations several times, most recently in 2007, and is now in Manila. On the walls hung pictures and posters, inspired by the works of Tolkien, and work as waiters “hobbits.” And Beverages and menu are very diverse.
7. Sean’s Bar (Ireland)
Beer from 11th centurie
Walking through the streets of Dublin it may be that you do not pay attention to Sean’s Bar. From the outside it looks like all the other pubs in Ireland. When you enter, you will see the Guinness World Records certified that this is the oldest bar in Ireland and Europe, and possibly in the entire world. Among its walls people drink for 11 centuries. Namely, when the bar renovated in 1970, during the restoration were found wooden walls, which archaeologists say dates back to the 10th century. In all other respects, this is a normal Irish pub with loud, traditional music, which for hundreds of years, the most popular beverage drinks – beer. 

8. The Bar in Hostel Celica (Slovenia)
Spree in prison
Mansion Hostel Celica in Ljubljana was built in 1882. as a military prison during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He served in a variety of modes, more than 100 years, until 1991. After the breakup of Yugoslavia was planned to demolish the building, but by a group of 200 people are still preserved. They have received approval from the authorities for the reconstruction, which lasted for 10 years, since 1993. to 2003. Thanks to them, the building received a new look and a new purpose. Was turned into a hostel, and to join forces 80 Slovenian and foreign artists from society Sestava. Bars on the windows remain, but are now painted and decorated. The cells were converted into rooms, each painted by another artist. The yard is a stylish bar.
9. Lagoon Bar (Iceland)
Icy cocktail in the hot bath
Blue Lagoon is major tourist attraction in Iceland due to its healing hot waters. No visit is only those who want to get better, but all the others who love to relax, rest and spend quality time. Within the lagoon there is a bar that serves guests during bathing in the lagoon, offering the widest variety of cold beverages such as energy drinks and various cocktails and other refreshments – ice cream, fruit cups, vitamin cocktails… Such a truly uplifting year, bearing in mind that the water temperature here is around 40 plus, even in winter.
10. Das Klo Bar (Germany)
A toast in the bathroom
Bar, whose name translates as Toilet, fully justifies its name. This is not just sitting on chairs and benches, but also on the WC cups, napkins instead of used toilet paper, food is served from the so-called shovel (vessel in which immobile patients defecate), and sip drinks from the “goose” and tubes. WC cup brushes, and other similar items for the toilet integral part of the interior. This bar has been around for 40 years! Until then, in Berlin there are two such bars, but were sealed. Prices herein are little more than ordinary bars in the German capital, and since that is set in the heart of the city it attracts mainly tourists. 

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

10 Unique Beaches

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Refrigerated Beach, Dubai

The Palazzo Versace Dubai property development is now 80 percent complete, according to the Emirates Sunland Group, the developer behind the £400 million project. As a world premier, the hotel will have the first ever refrigerated beach which will include a system of heat-absorbing pipes built under the sand and giant wind blowers, designed to keep tourists cool in the searing 40-50C heat.  

Hot Water Beach, New Zealand

Hot Water Beach is a popular geothermal attraction in New Zealand. This unusual beach attracts 130,000 visitors each year. The hot water can reach 64ºC (147ºF), but you’ll have to dig a hole to enjoy it. These underground water reservoirs are formed by volcanoes as it reaches the surface. It’s just the perfect location for a nice hot bath. Don’t forget to bring some digging instruments and a bucket. 


Inland Beach, Spain

Gulpiyuri beach is near Llanes in Spain. Gulpiyuri’s name isn’t its only bizarre facet: this beach is found completely inland in a gorgeous little cove which looks like something out of a fantasy. The Cantabrian Sea bored through the earth to create this sandy spot, and though you can’t see the ocean, its waves to lap the shore just like any beach — it’s odd, like a magical wave pool.

Bowling Ball Beach, California

On the Californian coast is a town called Mendocino. Nearby is a coastal feature called Schooner Gulch, and this is where you can feast your eyes on what has become known as the ‘Bowling Ball Beach’. Thousands of rocks appear to have gathered together to defy the tides like an army of small boulders. The weird thing is that these boulders are uniform in size and shape, as well as in their spacing, though man has nothing to do with it.
The explanation is simple and purely geological in nature. Technically called concretions, these hard spheres are composed of materials far more resilient than the Cenozoic mudstone that once surrounded them. Over millions of years, this has eroded away under the constant onslaught of the Pacific Ocean, forming the cliffs that line the shore behind the beach and leaving the tougher ‘bowling balls’ behind.

Glass Beach, California

Glass Beach is a section of coastline in MacKerricher State Park in California. After World War II, it was used as a public dump for two decades until local officials halted the practice. Since that time, the waves have worn smooth the glass shards disposed on the shore. However sad the original cause, the result is quite pretty.

Airport Beach, Scotland

Barra Airport is probably the only airport in the world where planes land on the beach. BRR is situated in on the wide beach of Traigh Mhor, on Barra island, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. If you want to fly here commercially you will want to book with British Airways, which flies to Barra from Glasgow and Benbecula.
The airport is literally washed away by the tide once a day, and if you arrive on a late afternoon flight, you may notice a couple of cars in the parking lot with their lights on, which provides pilots some added visibility, since the airport is naturally lit. Needless to say you probably don’t want to hang out at Barra Airport beach, unless you are a aviation junkie, in which case Barra Airport has a fool proof system, as sign that reads: “Keep off the beach. When the windsock is flying and the airport is active.”


Red Sand Beach, Hana Bay

The beach is located south of Hana Bay and it’s also known as the Red Sand Beach. The trail leading to the beach is on a cliff edge and visitors should be very careful. Water shoes are recommended. The red color of the sand is given by a nearby cinder cone hill surrounding the bay. Swimming here is a different experience from everything you’ve tried before, just be aware of currents and don’t swim behind the lava sea wall. Because the beach is so secluded, nudism is not uncommon.

World’s Whitest Sand Beach, NSW South Coast

There’s a quiet spot on the NSW South Coast that deserves loud acclamation, Tony Grantham discovers. At first glance, Jervis Bay is not the sort of place to inspire thoughts of world records and extravagant claims. But for a quiet spot it has big tickets on itself, though to be fair, the claims are fully justified. It has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as having the whitest sand in the world (officially at Hyams Beach, though many others around there are similarly blessed) and the astonishing fact that the bay is at least six times bigger in volume and four times bigger in area than Sydney Harbour.

Green Sand Beach, South Point
Papakolea Beach is a green sand beach located at South Point, in the Kau district of the Island of Hawaii. One of only two green sand beaches in the world, the other being in Guam, the beach gets distinctive coloring from olivine crystals found in a nearby cinder cone. 

World’s Most Crowded Beach, China

Reputed to be the largest sandy beach in Asia, world’s probably number one bathing beach is situated on Huiquan Bay in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Also called Huiquan Bathing Beach, this beach is noted for its clear water, mild waves and soft sand. Even in winter this place is crowded with keen swimmers. 

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Top 8 Private-Island Homes

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

1.E Sister Rock Island, Marathon Florida
For sale: US $12,000,000
Many homes in the Florida Keys boast private beachfront and spectacular water views. Few, however, can lay claim to having a 360-degree beachfront, but this special private island home does.
Located a quarter-mile off the Atlantic shore of Marathon, FL, this small and private oasis on East Sister Rock Island is surrounded by white sand and coral reef.
The islands have a home, it’s a little house. This house is 5,000 square feet.
The Marathon home for sale is completely off-the-grid, relying on solar panels on the roof and side of the house for power, and cisterns collect rainwater.
Built in 1980 as a family getaway spot, the home holds all the vacation essentials: a wrap-around porch measuring 2,700 square feet, private dock and 21-foot-long boat, which is included in the sale. The island also has a helipad for ease of transportation to the Marathon and Miami airports.
The Bahamas-style residence was updated in 2001 and features enormous windows and 19 sliding glass doors that open out to veranda. In addition to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the main home, there is a smaller, detached 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom guest house. 

2. Architectural Island Gem, Lake Mahopac, New York

You don’t have to be a Frank Lloyd Wright fan to recognize his signature style in this private island home. Its 28-foot cantilever is nearly twice the length of the one at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Celebrating the island’s natural surroundings, the home, which is in Lake Mahopac, New York, features an enormous boulder in its entry hall and rocky surfaces discovered along the shores.


3. Pine Cay Private Island Community, Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands

Situated on Pine Cay, an 800-acre private island, this 10,000 square foot home is nestled in a lush landscape framed by an intimate pond. The villa-style residence is one of only a few exclusive residences on the tiny Caribbean island. Each of the home’s four bedrooms is housed in a separate pavilion. Located at Amanyara Villas, it has its own private black-volcanic-rock, infinity-edged pool.

4. Wallis Island, Australia
 With exceptional views over Wallis Lake and the surrounding area, and just 50 metres from its own jetty, 
the chateau offers fantastic opportunities for water skiing, windsurfing and swimming.
For sale: AUD $20,000,000
Built in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Le Marais faces a 1.5km beach and is in a region that is considered to have one of the best climates in the world.

Despite the property’s classic feel, it also has impeccable eco credentials, as it will have its own electricity generation system and solar panels, meaning it will be entirely self-sufficient.

This is where stunning architecture, nature, cutting edge technology and self-sufficient green energy come together to create the perfect, private oasis.

5. Cabbage Tree Island Estate, Australia
Cabbage Tree Island Estate is an exotic mid-North Coast paradise overlooking the Manning River and Pacific Ocean.
For sale: AUD $4,200,000
Situated on the waterfront, the main residence is set in park-like established gardens including magnificent 100-year old Port Jackson and Moreton Bay figs, Orange Guava, Cherry Guava, Pineapple Guava, Persimmon, Lychee, Custard Apple, Mango, Sapote, Orange, Lemon and Lime Trees.
With 3 residences and 5 Lots spanning approx. 130 acres, the Estate is situated on Cabbage Tree Island, around 5 kms to the township of Old Bar and about 25 mins driving time to Forster, and approx. 3 1/2 hrs driving distance from Sydney. The property is everything you would imagine island-living to be, and so much more. Spectacular views and scenery, glorious peace and solitude, vast rolling lawns and magnificent 100-year old trees.
 

6. North Coco Plum Island, Belize

This 3 year old Private Green Island Resort feels like you’ve entered a Tropical Nature Park with a mile of Sand Paths, surrounded by Crystal Clear Waters, spectacular Star Filled Nights and Some of the Friendliest People in the western hemisphere.

For sale: US $2,750,000
North Coco Plum Caye is located a short 15 minute flight from the International Airport and 30 minutes by boat from the mainland in the Southwater Marine Reserve off Dangriga Town on the Central Coast of Belize.
This handcrafted Eco-Island with 5 concrete Casitas ,5 Over Water Cabanas, and a 3 Unit Family Villa accommodates 31 in privacy and comfort.
World Class Scuba, Snorkeling, Sailing, Fly Fishing and Sea Kayaking are featured in this accessible part of Belize. Banks, pharmacies, markets, and essentials are only 30 minutes away.
This turnkey, fully titled, private Green Island feels like you’ve entered a Tropical Nature Park with a mile of Sand Paths and two Beaches surrounded by Crystal Clear Waters and spectacular Star Filled Nights.

7. Sandy Cay Bahamas, Bahamas
Sandy Cay is an private island nestled in the turquoise waters of The Sea of Abaco and is currently enjoyed as a private family retreat.

For sale: US $14,000,000

The potential is enormous for the use of the island as a an upscale private boutique resort. There are four residences on the island, a private Harbour that houses the five vessels included with the island, a fitness center comparable to commercial facilities, two beaches, and much more.
Located just off Man O War Cay, Sandy Cay offers an ideal location in the protected Sea of Abaco. Unnoticed by most that pass, the island has been developed very carefully, leaving much of the natural vegetation that provides the utmost privacy.
The island offers four homes strategically placed on the island to capture the views and to offer seclusion to its guests. Leading from the main house, beautiful white sand paths manicured and lined with conch shells lead to the various buildings, beaches and private harbour.
There are two beaches on the island, one facing west and the other facing the south east, with a total of over 800 feet of white powder soft sand. The island also lends itself to the potential of development. Sandy Cay provides an ideal opportunity for an exclusive private boutique resort as there is ample room on the island for further development.
Being centrally located in The Sea of Abaco, just 5 minutes from Marsh Harbour and Hope Town, day trips are a breeze for both owners and guests.


8. Cave Cay, Bahamas
Rarely does an island with the attributes of Cave Cay become available. Stunning natural beauty, a protected and private, deep-water harbour and marina with floating cement dock system and 35 dock slips, plus a 2,800 ft. private airstrip make this the perfect private island.

For sale: US $110,000,000

Located in the heart of the Exumas and near to famed Musha Cay, Cave Cay is one of the most beautiful spots in the world and is totally self sufficient with water and power supplied by diesel generators, while solar energy can easily be made available. The island is available “as is”, and features unspoiled beaches, lush vegetation, elevations of up to 40 ft. capturing breathtaking views, and a vast excess of compacted sand that can be sold to nearby islands if desired.
Perched atop one of the highest points on the island, the luxurious main house is move-in ready and enjoys 360-degree views and top-of-the-line appointments. Plans for 38 buildings totaling 70,000 sq. ft. include a 3-story houseboat with a marina shop on the first level and a 2-story residence overhead, plus staff and maintenance buildings. A large clubhouse and restaurant, shower and bathroom facilities, and three guest houses with hotel rooms and suites are still under construction.
Approved as a full-fledged commercial operation with approvals for a marina, hotel with an unlimited number of rooms, and clubhouse, this island paradise can be fully completed and operational in 6 months with a full construction crew, or converted for private use as a club or family compound. The owners have thought of everything – all building materials and heavy equipment are included such as tractors, rollers, graders, trucks, golf carts, boats, full and back-up generating systems, machine shops, back-up supplies of all working parts for easy repairs, along with a great team of 6 employees that are intimately familiar with the island. A 118 ft. landing craft and a dredger round off this sales offering.
A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a private island that has it all endless possibilities to enhance it to you personal taste.

11 smart tips to make your life easier

1.

Use leftover toilet paper rolls to store wrapping paper and preventing it from coming unfolded.

2.

A comb makes the perfect nail holder.

3.

Use a wooden spoon to prevent water from over-boiling.

4.

Sandals coming apart? Use a bread tie to keep them from breaking.

5.

Use a dustpan to fill buckets or pots that will not fit under the sink.

6.

Make ice cubes out of the same liquid they will be going in to prevent drink from becoming watered down.

7.

Bread ties make the perfect cord labels.

8.

Never trow away bottles. Simply remove the top portion to create easy and cheep bags for storage.

9.

Use sticky notes to catch debris while drilling.

10.

Don’t waste your money on Swiffer towels. Regular kitchen rags works just fine.

11.

Use a can opener to safely open those pesky plastic packages.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

10 Best St. Patrick’s Day Festivals in the U.S.

St. Patrick’s Day started out as a religious holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. Today “St. Paddy’s” in America has become a celebration of Irish food, culture, and drink, as well as anything having to do with the color green. Typically observed with loud music, dancing, parades and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day festivities happen everywhere in the country, and they are perfect opportunities for beer enthusiasts everywhere to come together and have their fill.
No matter where in America you live, chances are there’s going to be a festival in a city near you come March 17. Below is a list of what we think are the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S.

1. Downtown Chicago

Downtown Chicago hosts one the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. It begins with the world-famous dyeing of the Chicago River. The huge, vibrant green river flowing through the middle of the city is a must-see sight.

After the dying of the river, people cluster up along Columbus Drive to witness the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, replete with pipe bands, giant floats, Irish dancers and tons of other entertainers commemorating Irish culture. Then it’s on to the nightlife, as the party continues in the many Downtown Chicago bars and nightclubs.

2. Boston

St. Patrick’s Day first came to America in 1737, and the holiday was first celebrated in none other than Boston, Massachusetts. Over 850,000 people show up every year to this Irish bash, many of them from out of state. And with the population of the city being 16% Irish, Boston hosts one of the most enthusiastic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.

Boston starts partying a full week before St. Patrick’s Day. This year, the city will host the fourth annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, featuring top chefs from Ireland and Boston. Throughout the week there will be Irish band concerts as well as beer and food specials at bars and restaurants, like the 75 Chestnut, for those who dress their Irish best. On the 15th, South Boston hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, with an estimated 600,000 people showing up.

3. Washington D.C.

There are many, many celebratory events and activities throughout the Nation’s capitol come St. Paddy’s Day. The most famous of these is probably the Shamrock Festival at the RFK Stadium. It happens on March 14 and it’s an all-day event showcasing over 50 Irish bands, dancers, games and other activities.

There’s a huge parade the following day, featuring bagpipe players, and Irish folk dancers, as well as the required floats and marching bands.


4. New York City

New York City has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade since 1762. They expect well over 1 million people to show up. There are over 150,000 marchers alone. Green beer and the sound of bagpipes will be everywhere in the streets of NYC.

If you get there a few days earlier, take the time to make the pilgrimage to the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as the many Irish Pubs and Bars scattered throughout the city.

5. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is by far the best mid-western city for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. To start, Michelob sponsors a 5 mile run on the 14th. There is then a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown St. Louis, featuring character balloons, Irish dancers, equestrians and large floats.

At night, the celebration crescendos as people head off the many bars and pubs in the area offering festive drinks, plenty of green beer and Irish food.

6. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parade since 1825. What started out as a modest affair has turned into one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Savannah’s parade draws crowds of over 400,000 people.

Dying the city’s fountains green is one of the traditions unique to the city. Seeing the green fountains, as spring starts creeping up on the Georgia city is one of the most enjoyable sights you can witness.



7. San Francisco, California

In the western United States, you won’t find a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that’s bigger or richer in history than the one that takes place in San Francisco. Called one of the most fashionable parades in the country, San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day parade follows the city’s iconic trolley tracks.

Afterwards the nightlife gets livelier throughout the city’s many Irish bars and pubs, as the celebration draws thousands of people from all over the state.

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has been celebrating the famous Irish holiday since 1771. The city’s annual parade is the second oldest parade in the country, and it is organized by the Saint Patrick’s Observance Association. The parade draws about 500,000 people and this year, it will be held on March 15th. There will be thousands of marchers and CBS will be broadcasting the event live.

9. Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City first held a St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1873. Today the event draws a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. One of the things unique to this particular parade is that the grand prize winner of the procession gets an all-expense paid trip to Ireland, so participants really give it their all.

After the parade, head over to Westport, where you’ll find some of the best post-parade drinking and partying establishments in town.

10. Dublin, Ohio

There are nine cities in the United States named Dublin, but Dublin, Ohio is the one that lives up to its name the most, especially when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. The city hosts a miles-long parade featuring floats, bands and leprechauns. There are plenty of post-parade bashes to attend.

If you are in the mood to explore some of the city’s Irish heritage, you can head over to the Historic District, and enjoy some Irish food and Celtic music.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

World’s Most Romantic Islands

Romantic island getaways from the Caribbean to the South Pacific to help start—or stoke—the flame.
Whether you’re after all-out luxury or sand-between-the-toes casual, there’s a romantic island for you. And while many of these dream destinations have “remote” and “secluded” as their principle selling points, others are surprisingly close to home. (One you can practically see from the Hollywood sign.)
No matter whether you’re a new couple just getting to know each other or you’re celebrating your golden anniversary, these romantic islands will help you holiday happily ever after.

Rangali Island, The Maldives

Of the 1,192 islets that make up this island nation in the Indian Ocean, roughly 1,000 are uninhabited. Suffice to say, your chances of finding romantic seclusion are pretty high. Like most of the resorts here, the Conrad Maldives Hotel occupies its own private atoll, called Rangali Island. The romance factor kicks in before you even arrive, thanks to a seaplane ride over the shallow, impossibly clear lagoon. Soon enough, you’re dining in the underwater restaurant and kicking back in the over-water spa.

Molokai, Hawaii

A conspicuous absence of international hotel chains is just one reason this idyll—situated east of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago—draws romantics from all over. Hike to remote waterfalls, kayak secluded rocky coastlines, and ride donkeys into the lush valleys, or just laze beachside. (Head for the golden sands of secluded three-mile-long Papohaku Beach, at the far-west end of the island.) With just one traffic light on the island, the only gridlock you’ll encounter is caused by colonies of curious sea turtles frolicking in the outrageously clear waters.

Capri, Italy

Sure, noon in Capri Town can be a tourist swarm, but the bulk of visitors depart on the last ferry back to Naples or Sorrento—leaving the island blissfully free for lovers. And this dramatically craggy outcrop, a Mediterranean Garden of Eden splashed with floral color and perfumed by lemon trees and herb gardens, has remained a magnet for the A-list since antiquity, when Emperor Tiberius set up camp here.

St. Lucia, Caribbean

If the Caribbean Sea were a catwalk, St. Lucia would be its most bankable supermodel. This 27-mile-long island is lush, mountainous, and blessed with gorgeous beaches and verdant cocoa plantations. The jade-green twin peaks of the Pitons, jungle-swathed volcanic plugs that rise from a silvery ocean on the southwest coast, are the Caribbean’s most striking backdrop.

Bocas del Toro, Panama

Located in the Caribbean Sea near the border with Costa Rica, this group of islands is all about low-key relaxation with a Latin American flavor, pitch-perfect for sybarites who don’t want to pack a designer bikini. The main island of Colon has a buzzy downtown full of waterfront bars and laid-back nightclubs, while the smaller islands offer deserted beaches, rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Catalina Island, California

Just 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, Santa Catalina has a certain Mediterranean flavor. Yachts jostle in a glinting harbor, sorbet-colored homes cascade down the hillside, and the secluded coves are ready-made for romance—including the aptly named Lover’s Cove, east of Avalon.

Santorini, Greece

Sweeping views over a picture-perfect caldera—the result of a volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C.—is just one factor in Santorini’s romantic charm. Gorgeous, striated cliffs and black-sand beaches don’t hurt, either. Head to the famously picturesque village of Oia (book a room at the 18-suite Mystique) with its classic whitewashed, cliff-edge architecture, blue-domed churches, and stone houses overhung with bougainvillea canopies.

Barbuda, Caribbean

If your idea of Eden is unpaved roads, truly deserted beaches, and nary a nightclub, this 68-square-mile island in the Eastern Caribbean is for you. Barbuda features just a handful of high-end hotels, including Coco Point Lodge, on its own 164-acre peninsula fronting glorious pink-sand beaches. Take a boat trip to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary on a lagoon in the island’s northwest and ogle the 5,000 namesake birds that call it home.

Laucala Island, Fiji

The South Pacific fantasy of swaying palm trees and extravagantly lush scenery reaches its fullest expression here. There are just 25 cottages on this privately owned resort, which occupies the entire island, each with a private pool, dining pavilion, and outdoor hot tub and shower. While the resort attracts deep-pocketed travelers, don’t expect glitzy lobbies. The emphasis is on rustic, pared-back luxury; every detail seems crafted to appeal to couples, including the lagoon pool with its man-made “islands” big enough for two.

Pamalican Island, The Philippines

You’ll find only one resort here—Amanpulo, set on its own private island southwest of Manila with just 40 secluded pitched-roof traditional villas, strung along a pristine beach with sand so white it’s blinding. Beachcombers can navigate the entire island on foot in less than two hours, keeping their eyes out for baby sharks, kingfishers, and sea turtles, which lay their eggs here between March and October.

Types of Dragons

Amphiptere
Description: Winged or flying serpents
Famous: Quetzacoatl, the Dragon of Henham (169, Essex), many monsters in the mythology of ancient egypt : Aapep, Mertseger, Buto, Nekhbet

Amphisbaena
Description:double-headed serpent-dragons with heads at each end of its body. Its name means ‘goes both ways’ in Greek as it could reportedly stick one head inside the mouth of the other, and roll to where it wanted to go. Some pictures of this creature depict it as having feet, others just as a snake.It was said to be a very evil creature. Pliny recorded medicinal properties of the beast. Wearing a live amphisbæna will protect pregnant women, and wearing a dead one is a remedy of rheumatism.

Dragonet
Element : Earth
Description : They are small dragons less than 1.5 m high but very fierce and hostile to humans. Famous: the dragons of Wilser who lived on the mount Pilate (Switzerland) had poisoned blood and exhaled fire.

Firedrake
Element : Earth
Origin: Germany, Gaule (France)
Description: A drake is a dragon with only legs and no wings. FireDrakes have the breath of flame, and are usually reddish in color. In Europe many cities were named after this dragon: Drakeford, Drakeshill, Draguignan,…
Lore: They often live in caves and guard great treasure. They breath fire to defend themselves. Famous: Wiglaf, the firedrake killed by Beowulf

Hydra
Origin: Greece Description: many headed dragon who either have wings, or wingless. When one head is cut off, two more grow from the spurting blood.
Famous : the Hydra of Lernea, the Beast of the Apocalypse

Icedrake
Element : Water
Description: A drake is a dragon with only legs and no wings. Icedrakes exhaled snow and hail and are usually white or light bluish in color. These types of dragons do not fly, they look like large lizards being about 5-20 m long.

Naga
There are no trace of dragons as made up of different parts of animals in India. The closest creature is the Naga which inherited of many characteristics of the dragon.
Description: pseudo-dragons who are usually portrayed as having a human head, serpentine body, and no wings.
Origin: The word Naga is rooted in Sanskrit and means “Serpent”. It is one of a handful of rare words surviving the loss of the first universal language. Even in Mexico, we find the “Naga” which becomes “Nagal.”
Powers: Nagas were patrons of water and clouds, but could cause flooding or drought if disturbed. In some stories, the naga can shape-change at will from human to snake form Symbol: In the Esoteric Tradition it is synonymous for Adepts, or Initiates. In India and Egypt, and even in Central and South America, the Naga stands for one who is wise. Nagarjuna of India, for example, is shown with an aura, or halo, of seven serpents which is an indication of a very high degree of Initiation. Nagarjuna are called in Tibetan, Lu-trub. The symbolism of the seven serpents, usually cobras, are also on Masonic aprons of certain systems in the Buddhistic ruins of Cambodia (Ankhor) and Ceylon. In China, the Naga is given the form of the Dragon and has a direct association with the Emperor and is known as the “Son of Heaven” while in Egypt the same association is termed “King-Initiate”. The Chinese are said to have originated with the Serpent demi-gods and even to speak their language, Naga-Krita. In the Western traditions we find the same ubiquity for the Naga, or Serpent. One simple example is the Ancient Greek Goddess, Athena. She is known as a warrior Goddess as well as the Goddess of Wisdom; her symbol being the Serpent as displayed on her personal shield. An apocryphal tradition says that Apollonius of Tyana, while on a visit to India, was taught by the “Nagas” of Kashmir. (See The Life of Apollonius, by Philostratos.) The Serpent’s reputation for positive medicinal and/or life-preserving qualities is still present through seen the employment of the Caduceus.
Oriental Dragons
Element : Water
Powers: Some of the worst floods in Asia’s History were caused when a mortal has upset a dragon. Dragons were essentialy linked to the water element, influencing the weather and the water courses. According to Chinese mythology, a dragon has to spend 1000 years under the sea, 1000 years in the mountains and 1000 years among men before turning into a real dragon. Before that he is a small serpent prisoner of a stone, called a “serpent’s egg”. After 3000 years, the dragon escape and take his adult form, the stone was known to spill a magic liquid called “inky blood”.
Friend/Foe : In the Eastern world the dragon has a rather different significance than in the West. He is essentially benevolent, son of heaven, and controls the watery elements of the universe.In many cases the dragon is combined with the phoenix to symbolize long life and prosperity. It is also combined with the tiger to represent heaven and earth or inyo (Yin and Yang).
Description : Having sinuous serpentine bodies and four legs, eastern dragons do not usually breath fire, nor do they fly. According to Wang Fu (Han 206 BC-220 AC)dragons are made up of many different types of animals of the Earth: the body of a snake, scales of a carp, head of a camel, horns of a deer, the eyes of a hare, ears like a bull, a neck like an iguana, belly of a frog, paws like a tigers, and claws like an eagle. A lion-type mane decorates its neck, its chin, and each elbow. They also carry two antler-like horns on their wide-mouthed head, and two long whiskers spread out from their snout. They are depicts in many colors like blue, black, white, red, or yellow. Oriental dragons are usually shown with a pearl in their mouth, under their chin, or in their claws. This is apparently where the dragon gets its power, and how it ascends to heaven. The male dragon holds a war club in its tail while the female dragon holds a sensu or fan in its tail.
Types
There are many different kinds of dragons. Some live in the air, some live in the sea, and some live underground. The legends of China include a white lunar (moon) dragon. Others include the the Spiritual, The Dragon of Hidden Treasures, the Winged, the Horned, the Coiling, and the Yellow. The chinese have a dragon to help them for each circumstance of their life. In China dragons are known as Lung.Yu-Lung which looks like a fish give success to exams. Eastern dragons can be classified according to the number of claws they have. Most five clawed dragons are Chinese. Three clawed dragons are Japanese. Four clawed dragons are Chinese, Indonesian or Korean.
Ourobouros

Aka: oroborus, uroboros, and oureboros.
Description: a serpent whose end is his beginning as he endlessly eats his own tail.
Origin: The Serpent biting its own tail is first seen as early as 1600 years BC in Egypt. From there it moved to the Phonecians and then to the Greeks, who called it the Ouroboros, which means devouring its tail Famous: The serpent biting its tail is found in other mythologies as well. In Norse mythology Jörmungandr circles the entire world whith his huge body., in Hindu mythology the snake circles the tortoise which supports the four elephants that carry the world. Symbol: the serpent biting, devouring, eating its own tail symbolises the cyclic Nature of the Universe: creation out of destruction, Life out of Death. The ouroboros eats its own tail to sustain its life, in an eternal cycle of renewal. It is also an emblem of immortality. Its endless representation with its tail in its mouth (Ouroboros), and the constant renewal of its skin and vigor, enliven the symbols of continued youth and eternity. Alchemically, the ouroboros is also used as a purifying glyph. He keeps the cosmic waters under control, and is symbolic of the cyclical nature of alchemical work. He is the basilisk, the alchemical serpent.
Western Dragons

Element : Earth and Water
Description: The Western type of dragon has been variously described. He appears to be created from parts of various creatures, having eagle’s feet, two bat-like wings, lion’s forelimbs, reptile’s head, fish’s scales, antelope’s horns and a serpentine form of spade tail, which occasionally extended to the head.He can be of any color and some species can even change the color of their skin just like a chameleon. They usually breath fire but this is not a general trait.
Powers: Those dragons usually have huge hoards of gold and jewels hidden in their lairs. They are known to live more than 300 years, some western dragons are even immortal.
Friend/Foe: They do not eat too often and can live on a sheep or ox once a month. They are usually portrayed as evil, mean, and bloodthirsty which is a consequence of the demonization exerced by the Church.
Famous: The end of the dragon came with Christianity as the Church declares them as enemies and send hords of knights to struggle against them. As a result, most dragons have been destroyed (and even more knights have been burned).


Magic: Eating a dragons’ heart will give the the power of understanding the language of animals, eating the dragons’ tongue enables to win any argument, and rubbing the dragons’ blood on skin will protect against stabs

Worm

Description: These are dragons which have neither legs nor wings
Origin: Worms are known to be the first incarnations of dragons. They are linked to water and are omnipresent in most primitive cultures (Australia, Africa, Amazonia)
Famous: the Lambton Worm.
Lore : forests and wells and any dark place near water

Wyvern
Aka: Wyver, Lindworm, Lindorm, Wouive, Vouivre
Element : Earth
Description: two-legged dragon with two wings, a serpent’s head and the claws of an eagle.In modern images, they may have claws on the wings and a sting filled with poison on the end of its tail. The French Wyvern known as a Vouivre or Wouive, is portrayed with the head and upper body of a voluptuous woman with a ruby or garnet set between her eyes that help her to find her way through the Underworld.
Origin: from the Old French wyvere which means both viper and ‘life’. They were also very popular mountains of central europe and in Sweden
Friend/Foe : Wyvern are frequent in heraldry and are considered a sign of strength to those who bear the symbol. Wouive is the good ‘Genius’ who hovers protectively over the countryside and masters the underlying currents of the earth. She is ‘the spirit that breathes or inspires.’ The ancients represented these currents, that today we term cosmic or magnetic, by winged serpents. Neverthelessthe Wyvern appears in some western folk tales as a malign and violent predator with a fierce head, bat’s wings and a tail that sometimes has an extra scorpion-like head on its end. The life-giving aspect of the Wyvern is inverted in favour of death as she takes life. The Wouive’s ‘Breath of Life’ has been reversed, for the Wyvern is said to have poisonous and corrupt breath. These dragons symbolise envy, war, pestilence, and viciousness.
Famous: Marco Polo met and described Lindworms while crossing Central Asia. They were quick and mighty enough to take down a man on a galloping horse.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js

Chronology of Vampires

Vampires appear in various lore, folklore and legends throught history. They are mentioned in many cultures, in different parts of the world in different time periods.
This is a timeline of the vampires through the history:

Year Event
5000 BC The emergence of Vampirism in the Mediterranean Basin.
2000 BC Tomb of the Vampire is erected in Giza, Egypt.
31 Jesus is claimed to have healed vampires at Capernaum.
140 Reign of Longinus, Rome’s Vampire Emperor.
773 Charlemagne defeats Quadilla the Vampire thus saving Rome.
1047 First appearance of the word “upir”(an early form of the word later to become “vampire”)in a document referring to a Russian prince as “Upir Lichy”,or wicked vampire.
1096 First Crusade expels vampires from The Holy Land, Jerusalem.
1190 Walter Map’s “De Nagis Curialium” includes accounts of vampire like beings in England.
1196 William of Newburgh’s “Chronicles”records several stories of vampire like revenants in England.
1428/29 “Dracula” aka Vlad Dracula or aka Vlad the Impaler is born.
1476/77 Dracula is assassinated.
1484 The Malleus Maleficarium (the witch hunter’s bible) is writtenby Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. The topic of how to hunt anddestroy a vampire is discussed within it’s pages.
1530 Italian scientist Ludovico Fatinelli burned at the stake forsuggesting a biological cause for vampirism in his “Treatise onVampires”.
1560 Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory is born.
1607 “The Ship of the Dead” brings vampires to the New World.
1610 Bathory is arrested for killing several hundred girls and bathing in their blood. Tried and convicted, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, being bricked into a room in her castle.
Leo Allatius finishes writing the first modern treatment of vampires, “De Graecorum hodie quirundam opinationabus”.
1614 Elizabeth Bathory dies.
1657 Fr. Francoise Richard’s “Relation de ce qui s’est passé a Sant-Erini Isle de l’Archipel” links vampirism and witchcraft.
1672 Wave of vampire hysteria sweeps through Istra.
1679 A German vampire text, “De Masticatione Mortuorum”, is writtenby Phillip Rohr.
1710 Vampire hysteria sweeps through East Prussia.
1725 Vampire hysteria returns to East Prussia.
1725/30 Vampire hysteria lingers in Hungary.
1725/32 The wave of vampire hysteria in Austrian Serbia produces the famous cases of Peter Plogojowitz and Arnold Paul (Paole).
1734 The word “vampyre” enters the English language in translations of German accounts of European waves of vampire hysteria.
1744 Cardinal Giuseppe Davanzati publishes his treatise, “Dissertazione sopre I Vampiri.”
1746 Dom Augustin Calmet publishes his treatise on vampires, “Dissertations sur les Apparitions des Anges des Demons et des Espits, et sur les revenants, et Vampires de Hundrie, de boheme, de Moravic, et de Silesie.”
1748 The first modern vampyre poem, “Der Vampir”, is published by Heinrich August Ossenfelder.
1750 Another wave of vampire hysteria occurs in East Prussia.
1756 Vampire hysteria peaks in Wallachia, Romania.
1772 Vampire hysteria occurs in Russia.
1797 Goethe’s “Bride of Corinth” (a poem concerning a vampire) is published.
1798/1800 Samuel Taylor Coleridge writes “Christabel,” now conceded to be the first vampire poem in English.
1800 “I Vampiri,” an opera by Silvestro de Palma, opens in Milan, Italy.
1801 “Thalaba” by Robert Southey is the first poem to mention the vampire in English.
1810 Reports of sheep being killed by having their jugular veins cut and their blood drained circulated through northern England. “The Vampyre,” an early vampire poem, by John Stagg is published.
1813 A vampire appears in Lord Byron’s The Giaour.
1819 John Polidori’s “The Vampyre,” is the first vampire story inEnglish is published.
1820 “Lord Ruthwen ou Les Vampires” by Cyprien Berard is published anonymously in Paris. June 13: “Le Vampire,” the play by Charles Nodier, opens at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris. August: “The Vampire; or, The Bride of the Isles,” a translation of Nodier’s play by James R. Planche, opens in London.
1829 March: Heinrich Marschner’s opera, “Der Vampyr,” based on Nodier’s story, opens in Liepzig.
1841 Alexey Tolstoy publishes his short story, “Upyr,” while living in Paris. It is the first modern vampire story by a Russian.
1847 Bram Stoker is born.
1850 Haussman destroys Paris’ Vampire Quarter then rebuilds city.
1851 Alexandre Dumas’ last dramatic work, “Le Vampire,” opens in Paris.
1854 Copper Creek Siege in California prompts formation of FederalVampire and Zombie Agency.
The case of vampirism in the Ray family of Jewell, Connecticut, is published in local newspapers.
1872 In Italy, Vincenzo Verzeni is convicted of murdering two peopleand drinkin
1874 Reports from Ceven, Ireland, tell of sheep having their throats cut and their blood drained.
1882 New York Vampire riots ensue.
1891 Steketee’s Vampire Rights movement in France is started.
1897 “Dracula” by Bram Stoker is published in England.
1905 Worldwide vampire population hits the one million.
1924 Fritz Haarmann the “Vampire of Hanover” is arrested, tried and convicted of killing more than 20 people in a vampire crime spree.
1931 Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, is released.
Peter Kurten of Dusseldorf, Germany, is executed after being found guilty of murdering a number of people in a vampiric killing spree.
1932 The movie “Vampyr,” directed by Carl Theodore Dreyer, is released.
1936 “Dracula’s Daughter” is released.
1942 A. E. Van Vought’s “Asylum” is the first story about an alien vampire.
1943 U. S. President Franklin Roosevelt unveils “The Zozobra Project”.
1943 “Son of Dracula”, stars Lon Chaney, Jr., as Dracula.
1950 In New Mexico an auto mechanic named Joe Valdez becomes the first successful recipient of the vampire vaccine.
1962 The Count Dracula Society is founded in the United States by Donald Reed.
1964 “The Munsters” and “The Addams Family”; television shows with vampire characters.
1965 Jeanne Youngson founds The Count Dracula Fan Club.
1967 Due to the Lazo Disaster in Siberia, the United Nations (UN) passes a resolution banning vampire blood research.
1970 Sean Manchester founds The Vampire Research Society.”In Search of Dracula” by Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu is published. –Stephan Kaplan founds The Vampire Research Centre.
1976 The first of The Vampire Chronicles, “Interview With the Vampire”, by Anne Rice is published.
1978 Eric Held and Dorothy Nixon found the Vampire Information Exchange.
1979 Frank Langella stars in the remake of Dracula.
1980 Richard Chase, the so-called Dracula Killer of Sacramento, California, commits suicide in prison.
The World Federation of Dark Shadows Clubs (now Dark Shadows Official Fan Club) is founded.
1985 “The Vampire Lestat” by Anne Rice is published and reaches the best seller list.
1986 President Reagan lifts ban on the vampire and zombie blood research.
1987 “Methuselah Project” is initiated at the Santa RosaInstitute.
1988 “The Queen of the Damned” is published by Anne Rice.
1992 Andrei Chikatilo of Rostov, Russia, is sentenced to death after killing and vampirizing some 55 people.
1994 The film version of Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” opens with Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat and Brad Pitt as Louis.
1998 Blade is released into theaters. Pandora by Anne Rice is published. The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice is published.
1999 Vittorio the Vampire by Anne Rice is published.


Towards the day of love… Where to go for a Valentine’s Day?

Legend has it that Emperor Claudius I forbid men to get married, as he thought that married or engaged to men would not fight in the wars, because they will stay at home with their family. All priests are respected that decision, except Valentine. He still held wedding ceremony. Therefore he was thrown into prison, and on 14 February 269th decapitated. Shortly after that he was proclaimed as a saint, and from then 14.2. in the Catholic world is celebrated as the Day of St.. Valentine, Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Tryphon, while among young people this holiday popular as Valentine’s Day.

Did you ever wonder who sent the first Valentine’s Day card? The oldest card for this holiday was sent by the French Duke of Orleans while he was imprisoned in England, and he was wrote to his wife. A tradition of sending greeting cards of love comes from Sv. Valentine who was before his death sent a suicide note for a dungeon keeper daughter, who was blind. Sv. Valentin was on the end of the letter wrote “from your Valentine for the warmth that you showed to him,” and then on the girl could see. Since this event Valentine greetings around the world fill the mailboxes.
However, the tradition of sending romantic letters and cards, slowly fading, but be original, and send card of this type to your loved one. And what might be even more delighted your loved one, if you write a card with plenty of love and hand in some of the most romantic city.

Is there anything more romantic than driving in the beautiful canals of Venice with the gondolas? Probably most would say “No”. Therefore Valentine’s Day spend in this town, located in northern Italy. In one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world can visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, San Sebastian Church, St. Mark Church and Rialto bridge.

For the most romantic date in the year you can go to Vienna. This is, by the quality of life, the first city in the world. as the major city of the European Union is the 10th . It is the largest city of Austria, and the place has full of cultural and historical sights. Walk with your loved one start from the center of Vienna, which is on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage, and visit the many museums, Mozart’s home, Castle Belvedere, Schönbrunn Palace, Rupert’s Romanesque church, the Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen, Parliament …
Without doubt, the title of the most romantic city holds Paris. This is the capital and largest city of France, and the most visited tourist destination in the world. What the tourists first visit when they come to Paris? – Eiffel Tower, the most famous tower in the world, 324 m high. Then follows the tour to the Arc de Triomphe, then the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of disability, Concorde Square … We recommend you to climb to the highest peak of Paris – Montmartre, which offers stunning views of the entire city.
The richest history from all of the world capital has Rome, the capital of Italy. Rome is the center of ancient culture and open-air museum. Numerous witnesses of the past and the cultural and historical monuments are located within the city. The most popular attractions in Rome, the most famous in the world is the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. In Rome there is a pantheon, or temple of all gods, numerous museums and villas, churches, castles, fountains … Remember: “All roads lead to Rome”.

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js