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One of a Kind Accommodation
One of a Kind Accommodation
The rebirth of sacred art
When we think of religious art, images of Christ, the virgin, the apostles and other biblical scenes, pop up in our minds. The most of the art we relate with sacred art are paintings and sculptures done many centuries ago; works that surely you’ve seen in Italy, especially in the artistic city of Florence, by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini or other famous Renaissance artists. The ones, who thought that sacred art was something from the past, are simply wrong. In fact, religious art is in demand today, in the XXI century. Located on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, there is a school of sacred art, which is trying to stoke the fires of this tradition, which has made the city one of the most important historical and artistic centers worldwide. Although Michelangelo and his colleagues passed away many years ago, their spirit is still there. In an article published in the Huffington Post, the director of this school, Giorgio Fozzati, declared that “the sacred art market is a booming market”, adding the fact that, only in Italy, more than 540 churches have been built in the past two decades. Photo: madprime Another factor influencing that the sacred art is in constant development is the fact that the Catholic Church sanctifies people, such as the former Pope John Paul II, among many others. These new saints need paintings, sculptures and other works of art to represent them and that is why religious artists are in constant demand. Fozzati indicates, “The challenge is not to copy the old masterpieces but to educate artists to be able...
Sinterklaas 2013 – Amsterdam
St. Nicholas, typically associated to Christmas, will be the star of a great festival celebrated on the 17th of November 2013 in the Netherlands. This is not just a regular celebration; it is a rooted Dutch tradition that never fails to mesmerize locals and visitors. In anticipation of St. Nicholas’ arrival, streets, houses and shops all over the country are decorated with images of the venerable red-dressed old man with the white beard. Although it is not very clear why Sinterklaas lives in Spain, every year during mid-November he arrives by boat to Amsterdam along with his assistants the Zwarte Pieten (the black Peters). Wearing elegant medieval clothes, Sinterklaas and his assistants navigate the beautiful waters of the Amstel River, while waiving at families that enjoy his colorful parade from the riverbanks. The cheerful boat-parade ends at noon at Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum), where Santa and his assistants are welcomed by the city Mayor. Photo: Sander van der Wel At half past Twelve Sinterklaas gets on Americo, his beautiful white horse, and heads towards the famous Dam square in a joyful parade led by his beloved assistants, who throw millions of candies to the happy crowds that enjoy this show full of music and dances. At Dam Square, you’ll find thousands of families craning their necks to get a glimpse of Sinterklaas’ arrival. Multiple acrobat shows and, of course, the Zwarte Pieten, who wouldn’t spot throwing candies until everyone get a piece, liven up this beautiful event. Starting on the 17th of November and until the 6th of December, Santa and his loyal assistants get down the chimneys to...
Venice at its finest: The Acqua Alta Bookshop
Venice is much more than gondolas The canals and the gondola rides are perhaps one of the most acclaimed attractions of this city. For a first contact, it´s a great plan to sail around the canals. However, on foot, there´s much more to discover. Every corner is a surprise and the city´s air smells of Renaissance, culture and music as well as canals when the weather gets hotter. It´s not in plain view and you get there mostly by chance on a long walk or because someone knows about it and expressly goes there. The Acqua Alta bookshop is the most fascinating one in the city. From the outside, the impression is that it´s nothing special but once you´re inside, that perception changes completely. It´s a small treasure inside the even bigger treasure that is Venice. You´d need a whole day in that bookshop to check all the books out properly because, once you´re inside, the untidy chaos draws you in. Photo vía trabalibros.com Irresistible seduction… You can spend hours and hours browsing in this peculiar bookshop. The owner is a charming and pleasant man who welcomes you to learn more about the place and its books. Any book that you want to buy, you´ll probably find it there, in the huge piles, inside bathtubs, gondolas or even a boat, all of which making up a staircase. The books that you can find here are about Venice and a thousand other topics. Also, there are in many languages. It´s a special place that when you think you´ve seen it all, the owner takes you to the second floor so you can see an...
Which Type of Tourist are you?
The term “tourist” admittedly has somewhat of a negative connotation in my head, but when we boil it down to facts I take the freedom to quote my friend in need Wikipedia and its definition of the word “tourism” is: “traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes” – Not so negative after all… There are different kinds of this specimen and depending on what type of tourist you are this can have an impact on your decisions of where to go on holiday, what type of accommodation you choose, the activities you go during your holiday, people you travel with and lastly how you eat and behave when you are in destination. Via zoetnet We have picked out 3 types of tourists that are likely to choose an apartment as accommodation and why: History Buff This person loves to visit historical places and museums and will choose a travel destination with that in mind. In many cases the history buff is a passionate photographer who will bring adequate equipment on his/her trip. This person is always very appreciative of local insider tips and is eager to (try to) speak the local language. He/she will choose an apartment to be closer to the locals and get a feel for the local life. Travelling Gourmand This person is a true foodie with the curiosity to try new things. The first he/she will look for are the local markets and/or the best restaurants of the city. Most likely he/she won’t send a postcard, but will bring back...
Top 5 Weird Cafés in the world
1. Chin Chin Laboratorists – London For those folks who are crazy about ice cream, London has the most unique Ice cream parlor in the world. It is that unique that all ice cream flavors are customized to match the specific taste of each individual. At Chin Chin Laboratorists you’ll have the chance to create a mixture of your favorite ingredients that combined with liquid nitrogen, will make your dream ice cream come true. Chin Chin Laboratorists resembles a lab pulled off an old movie, rather than Ice cream parlor. Pipes that water liquid nitrogen, test tubes, flasks, giant thermos and people dressed in white coats, are just some of the elements make up the atmosphere at this pleasant place. As often, unique places aren’t cheap and Chin Chin Labs is not an exception since a small ice cream here cost around 4 pounds, anyways, It is not like you are going to come here everyday? Are you? Address: 49-50 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF, UK, Vereinigtes Königreich Photo: bianchiandrea.com 2. Cat Café Felis – Utsunomiya (Japan) A Café where you can play with cats? Really? Well, those who enjoy the company of these mystic animals would love the Cat Café Felis in Utsunomiya (Japan). At Felis, visitors can enjoy a cup of joe while playing with one of the thirty cats that live here. No worries, all these cats are healthy, clean, vaccinated, and, since they were abandoned as kittens, ready to be adopted. So, if you get attached to one of these animals, you can even take it home with you. Cats playing with yarn,...
The Best 5 Destinations for Ecotourism
The Best 5 Destinations for Ecotourism
48 hours in Helsinki
Two days aren’t enough to enjoy what Helsinki has to offer, but even so, you can do great activities when you know where to go and what to do. Thus, Helsinki is a perfect destination whether on a short holiday break or for a longer period. Saturday Start your day with a good breakfast. In Helsinki there are many small and cozy cafes where you can have breakfast at good prices and one of the most famous places to do so is Cafe Engel, which is located in an ancient building overlooking Senate Square. Here you can enjoy a great breakfast while overlooking the square. Address: Aleksanterinkatu, 26. Once you had a good breakfast, it´s time to visit some of the most emblematic places of the city and just in front of the café you’ll have the most famous of all: Senate Square. Here you’ll see the beautiful neoclassical architecture style of the city. Adorning the center of the square, there is a statue of Alexander II in front of the gorgeous Helsinki Cathedral; you’ll want to go on the top of the cathedral to enjoy unique views of the city. Photo: p_a_h You won’t believe it, but sightseeing Senate Square and all its landmarks can take you all morning and it is very likely that you feel hungry again. Down around the Mannerheimintie avenue, you’ll find a small street called Uudenmaakatu and at number nine you’ll find Café Bar 9, a charming restaurant where you can eat excellent food at a great prices, soups, salads, pastas, woks and fish are just great here. There is no better way...
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere: Brazil, Argentina and Australia
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere
