Travel Destinations : Travel Destinations

A visit to a special Villa: Domus Aurea

2008-12-18T15:37:54Z

In my recent visit to Rome for a long week-end I was lucky enough to visit Nero's villa, usually named Domus Aurea, in the heart of the town. Domus Aurea is placed some 80/100 hectares from the Palatine hill to the Celio and Esquilino hills. Today you have to imagine how Domus Aurea looked like in Nero's times, but walking through the empty rooms imagination comes easily. In fact you can imagine Domus Aurea buildings and their decorations, the ivory ceilings from where perfumed flowers could fall down, the artificial lake, the porticos, the woods and the 'cenatio rotunda' which, according to Svetonio, could rotate day and night, just like the world. Nero's life in the domus was short and the emperor Vespasianus decided to return to the Romans what they had been deprived of. The lake became the Colosseum and the latter the emperor Trajanus had thermal baths built on the Oppio hill.

But you can still small imagine Nero's perfumed flowers fall from Domus Aurea ceilings if you just close your eyes.

Russia

2008-11-21T16:36:31Z

Just like the other popular countries in Europe, Russia is one that offers a wide variety of exciting events and festivals to several vacationers as well as to the locals.

The Winter Festival is a well-liked Christmas time event in Russia. The celebration will start from December 1, 2008 and run through to January 31, 2009. This Moscow Winter Festival commemorates the winter period with a variety of events including cultural performances, live music and the traditional folk shows.

On March 8, 2009, the people of Russia are going to celebrate Women�s Day. This International Women�s Day is one of the most significant events celebrated in Russia. It is a worldwide known celebration of women as well as their political, economic and social achievements.

The City Day is considered as the Russia�s biggest event. Many bigger cities and towns of Russia celebrate this City Day where the culture and history is the center of the celebration. This will be celebrated on May 27, 2009 with fireworks displays, public music concerts, special momentous displays, and parades.

The celebration of the Festivals of Festivals in Russia will be from June 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009. This is a non-competitive film fest that provides pleasure to all visitors with the program of screenings from the directors all over Russia. This has been first held in year 1993. The festival today screens more than one hundred films and catches the attention of around forty thousand visitors every year.

London

2008-07-17T21:55:41Z

London is a huge city. It's one of the world's leading

trade, commerce, and business cities. The residents of London are very diverse,

for over 300 languages are spoken. But no fret, English of course is the country�s

recognized primary language. In the land of fish n' chips and tea there is much

much more. The Thames River with all its attractions, the Parliament building,

Big Ben, and St. Paul�s cathedral are just a few of the hundreds of tourist

sites in London. You're going to need a solid 3 days, and I'd recommend at

least a week in London. Every time I visit I find something new and engaging that

makes me want to come back again.

The best part about London is that its tourist minded. The

public transportation system is probably the most complex in the world. The

famous London Underground will take a few minutes to learn, but it can take all

over London and even to some of the outlying areas. You can travel by bus,

taxi, underground, and even train. There are two international airports, Gatwick

and Heathrow airports, as well as many other domestic and Europe only airports.

Parks and gardens are big and sprawled throughout the city. A fun adventure I

like to do is to try to visit all the places on the British monopoly board.

From Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Street, you'll want to travel all throughout

London. There's also plenty to do. Watch a famous play, see a comedy act, go

clubbing, go to the pub, watch football (soccer), whatever you want London has.

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Amsterdam

2008-07-17T04:39:19Z

Amsterdam is one hell of a city, or heaven depending on the person. Western culture is at its most liberal, tolerant, and open-minded in this beautiful Dutch city. Amsterdam literally rests and is built on canals that slither every which way into the furthest reaching areas of the city. During the day most areas are calm as most people are happy, very friendly, and mind their own business. A city of cafes, Amsterdam is filled with old bakeries, small bread shops, and colorful pizzerias. It also boasts one the best Van Gogh museums in the entire world where people can see all his greatest works and learn about his life. The Anne Frank House is also a popular destination as you can see the home in which she wrote her diary.

Amsterdam is the place of dreams for those that have a free spirit and a sense of adventure. Coffee shops in Amsterdam are not known for their coffee. Instead they sell potent marijuana where weed aficionados can enjoy the best variety of herb and appreciate the tolerance to smoke in any one of the coffee shops they can find. Nightlife is unparalleled to any city in the world. The crazy Red Light District is famous for the variety of legal drugs, legal prostitution, adult theatres, and awesome clubs.

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Barcelona

2008-07-16T04:55:00Z

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the most laid back city in the world. You�ll rarely see any early birds, for most places don�t open until around 9 a.m.� Lunchtime Siestas close most of the city, (except heavy tourist areas) and late dinner feasts as late 10 at night are routine. Barcelona is the twenty-four hour city. As with most of Spain, nightlife lasts into the early morning light. The clubs are in their infant stages at 11 o�clock and most clubbers don�t come home until 7 or 8.

The popular Las Ramblas, or �stream� in Arabic, is scattered with tropical bird markets, makeshift fruit shacks, newspaper and magazine stands, eager shoe shiners, delicate masseuses, and the most exuberant and colorful mimes you�ll find anywhere in Europe.� The elaborate and enormous museums house some the greatest works from some of the best artists to ever live. Picasso, Salvador Dali, and local Antoni Guadi all have their works displayed in Barcelona. Guadi�s famous and unfinished Sagrada Familia Church is a must see. The food is also must eat. Barcelona can cater to any of the various diets people with food of all kinds. Fruits, vegetables, seafood, meats and local cuisine fill the bellies of millions of catalunyans everyday.

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