Tourism and Travel

The City of Luxor (and Karnak),Pharaons civilization

2012-06-06T17:08:00.002+02:00

Luxor has often been called the world's greatest open air museum, as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Actually, what most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the city of Luxor on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor, and Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.

To say that the Luxor area is a major attraction for tourists in Egypt would be an understatement. It has been a tourist destination since the beginning of tourism. Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek and Roman periods, the area drew tourists, and has been doing so ever since. Today, Luxor is well equipped to accommodate tourists with many hotels and, in general, a tourist industry ready and willing to serve the people from across the globe that descend on this area of the Nile Valley every year.

Within Luxor, there are only three main streets consisting of Sharia al-Mahatta, Sharia al-Karnak and the Corniche, next to the Nile. The street in front of the train station is Sharia al-Mahatta and runs away from the Nile where it meets the gardens of Luxor Temple. Sharia al-Karnak, or Maabad al-Karnak which means Karnak Temple Street runs along the Nile from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple. However, Sharia al-Karnak is known as Sharia al-Markaz where it meets Sharia al-Mahatta, and to the south around the temple it is known as Sharia al-Lokanda. Along this street one will find the colorful signs of restaurants and cafes, as well as bazaars where the usual variety of Egyptian souvenirs can be found. Of interest is the alabaster, which is plentiful along the West Bank and milled not far from here. Also look for the clay pots used by the locals for cooking, which are more unusual.

uxor today is a city of some 150,000 people and is governed by special statutes that allow it more autonomy than other political areas of Egypt. One thing you might notice is that various government and other buildings conform to an 'ancient' building code. Particularly, the National Bank of Egypt (located near the Winter Palace Hotel), the spa south of the police station, and the railway station are all designed to appear as pharaonic constructs. All of this occurred after the Egyptianization of the modern town resulting mostly from the mania that resulted from Howard Carter's discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun. As one might think, the city has all the amenities tourists might expect, including a variety of hotels, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

n Luxor proper on the East Bank, one of the first stops must be the Temple of Luxor built by Amenophis III. Head south on Sharia al-Karnak to reach the temple, which was connected to the Karnak Temple via a long stone processional street called a dromos. The dromos (Picture at right) was built by Nectanebo I, and originally was lined on either side by sphinxes. In front of the LuxorT emple, the dromos is well preserved, and on the way to the entrance one passes by a Roman chapel of burnt brick dedicated to the god Serapis, which was built during the rule of Hadrian. There is a path that leads to the Nile side of the temple where one enters the complex.

After leaving Luxor Temple, head back to Sharia al-Karnak and go north towards Karnak. Down the road, near the police station which is near the tomb, is the oldest mosque in Luxor, the El-Mekashkesh Mosque. It contains the remains of a 10th century Islamic saint who, rumor has it, was a monk prior to converting to Islam. The mosque is a popular pilgrimage destination. Here also is the Franciscan Church and its schools, one for boys and the other girls. Beyond this lies a great Coptic basilica.

At the police station, head towards the Nile Corniche. Here, opposite the Mena Palace Hotel you will find the Mummification Museum, which has almost anything you would ever want to know about mummification. From here, head north towards Karnak.

About halfway to Karnak, you will discover the Luxor Museum. (The image at left is a Block Statue of Iamu Negh from the Luxor Museum). It should certainly be visited if you plan a well rounded and educated experience. While this is a small museum, most of the relics are from the surrounding area and provide considerable insight to the monuments you will visit.

From the Museum, head back to Sharia al-Karnak and continue north towards Karnak. After crossing a small bridge one will begin to see the excavated dromos off the road and running through a small village. A little further on you will pass the ruins of the Temple of Mut where another dromos leads to the gateway of the tenth pylon. The road finally arrives at the domed tombs of two saints, Sidi Ahmed and Sidi Ali, where a road leads past the Department of Antiquities to the main Temple of Karnak entrance. This road is built along a canal that once connected the Nile to the Temple. There was a dock in ancient times, but now all that is left is the quay and the raised dais. Just past that is a red brick Roman dock and past that two paved ramps led to the river bank. They are bordered by stone parapets, and were built during the rule of Taharqa. Past these is the Chapel of Achoris, which received the sacred boat of Amun when it was used in ceremonies.

To arrive at the entrance one follows the dromos with its crio-sphinxes. They have the head of a Ram and the body of a lion and are symbolic of the God Amun. Arriving at the temple, there is a statue of Ramesses II with his son between his feet.

To the right is a structure that has red steps, a red front colonnade and red brick walls. Inside there are pedestals. inscribed with the names of Roman emperors, that once held their statues. This was a Roman chapel dedicated to imperial worship. After leaving the Temple complex on the left is the Franco-Egyptian Center which has managed the temple complex since 1967. Down on the shore of the Nile is the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifque, or CNRS, which houses the French and the Chicago House, a project of the University of Chicago is near by.

After this, you will wish to take a boat trip over to the West bank. This trip had a special meaning to the Egyptians, for they were more crossing the way to the West and life, then to a necropolis. The Valley of the Kings is as good as any to try first, with tombs from the 18th and 19th Dynasties. Outside the Valley of the Kings, the road leads past Antef, named for the 11th Dynasty princes who were buried here. Some tombs can still be seen as one heads towards the Temple of Seti I. Most of what is left of Seti's Temple is the view. The court is entered by the ruined gate of a pylon The court has what is left of a palace on the south side. The road continues south passing Dra-Abu el-Naga necropolis.

The road eventually winds itself westward until reaching the Valley of Asasif. These are 25th and 26th Dynasty tombs. At the end of of the Valley of Asasif at the foot of a cliff named Deir el-Bahri is a spectacular complex of temples. The Temple of Mentuhetep I, Hatshepsut and Thotmose II here must be seen. Much of the architecture here seems so very powerful against the towering cliffs in the background. From here, the road continues past the remains of the Temples of Ramesses IV and Thutmose III, eventually reaching the Necropolis of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. This 18th Dynasty necropolis sits amidst houses where there are hundreds of holes. And below here, one comes to the famous Ramesseum, built by Ramesses II, a huge complex that took twenty years to complete.

As the road runs along past the remains of Thutmose IV, Merneptah, Ay and Horemheb's Temples, it finally comes to the huge complex known as Medinet Habu, which is another of Thebes's major attractions and a must see sight. The gate has square towers and appears almost oriental. Behind the complex is the workmen's village called Deir el-Medina. Out in the fields near here is the Colossi of Memnon, one of the major tourist attractions throughout time. Southwest of Deir el-Medina is the Valley of the Queens, where queens of the 18th and 19th Dynasties were buried.

From here, the road continues past the mudbrick remains of Amenhotep III's palace called Malkatta. There is a lake to the east and at the other end of that, a small Roman temple called Deir Shelwit built at the end of the 1st century.

international tourism rank 2011-2010-2009-2008

2011-05-08T15:16:00.000+02:00

The World Tourism rankings are compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as part of their World Tourism Barometer publication, which is released three times throughout the year. In the publication, world tourism is ranked both by the number of visits and by the tourism revenue generated.

International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2010

The top four international destinations in 2010 were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	France	78.95 million
2	United States	60.88 million
3	China	55.98 million
4	Spain	53.00 million

International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2009

Out of a global total of 880 million tourists, the top ten international tourism destinations in 2009 were (see the barometer for the full rankings):

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	France	74.20 million
2	United States	54.88 million
3	Spain	52.23 million
4	China	50.88 million
5	Italy	43.24 million
6	United Kingdom	28.20 million
7	Turkey	25.51 million
8	Germany	24.22 million
9	Malaysia	23.65 million
10	Mexico	21.45 million

Africa

Out of the total of almost 46 million tourists to Africa in 2009, the top ten African destinations were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	Morocco	8.34 million
2	South Africa	7.01 million
3	Tunisia	6.90 million
4	Mozambique	2.39 million
5	Zimbabwe	2.01 million
6	Algeria	1.91 million
7	Botswana	1.55 million
8	Kenya	1.14 million (2008)
9	Swaziland	0.909 million
10	Mauritius	0.871 million

Middle East

Out of the total of over 53 million tourists to the Middle East in 2009, the top ten destinations were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	Egypt	11.91 million
2	Saudi Arabia	10.90 million
3	United Arab Emirates	7.13 million (2005)
4	Syria	6.09 million
5	Bahrain	4.94 million (2007)
6	Jordan	3.79 million
7	Israel	3.45 million
8	Lebanon	1.85 million
9	Qatar	1.66 million
10	Yemen	0.434 million

Americas

Out of the total of over 165 million tourists to the Americas in 2009, the top ten destinations were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	United States	54.88 million
2	Mexico	21.45 million
3	Canada	15.74 million
4	Brazil	4.80 million
5	Argentina	4.31 million
6	Dominican Republic	3.99 million
7	Puerto Rico	3.55 million
8	Chile	2.75 million
9	Cuba	2.41 million
10	Colombia	2.15 million

Asia-Pacific

Out of the total of over 181 million tourists to Asia and the Pacific in 2009, the top ten destinations were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	China	50.88 million
1	Malaysia	23.65 million
3	Hong Kong, China	16.93 million
4	Thailand	14.15 million
5	Macau, China	10.40 million
6	South Korea	7.82 million
7	Singapore	7.49 million
8	Japan	6.79 million
9	Indonesia	6.32 million
10	Australia	5.58 million

Europe

Out of the total of over 459 million tourists to Europe in 2009, the top ten destinations were

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	Spain	53.2 million
2	France	49.4 million
3	Italy	40.2 million
4	Germany	34.7 million
5	United Kingdom	30.1 million
6	Turkey	21.3 million
7	Austria	19.4 million
8	Greece	14.5 million
9	Switzerland	13.8 million
10	Netherlands	12.4 million

International tourist arrivals by country of destination 2008

The top ten international destinations in 2008 were:

Rank	Country	International tourist arrivals
1	France	79.22 million
2	United States	57.94 million
3	Spain	57.19 million
4	China	53.05 million
5	Italy	42.73 million
6	United Kingdom	30.14 million
7	Ukraine	25.39 million
8	Turkey	24.99 million
9	Germany	24.87 million
10	Mexico	22.64 million

Caribbean Tourism

2011-05-08T15:06:00.000+02:00

may be the carribeans name reminds u of johnny depp pirates of the carribeans ;) and joyment of this movie

but lets talk about this amazing place

do you know that The region takes its name from that of the Carib, an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of European contact.

The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which are enclosed by the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America.

Geography and climate

Detail of tectonic plates from: Tectonic plates of the world.before you travel you must know about the geography and climate there cuz its really important.

The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies. Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. These islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features), Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Saint Croix, The Bahamas or Antigua. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba,Hispaniola, Puerto Rico,Jamaica,Dominica,Montserrat Saba,Saint Kitts Saint Lucia,Saint Thomas,Saint John,Tortola,Grenada, Saint Vincent, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Trinidad & Tobago.
The climate of the region is tropical but rainfall varies with elevation, size and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands arid). Warm, moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. The region enjoys year-round sunshine, divided into 'dry' and 'wet' seasons, with the last six months of the year being wetter than the first half.
The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of fish, turtles, and coral reef formations. The Puerto Rico trench, located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricanes, which at times batter the region, usually strike northwards of Grenada, and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean.
The region sits in the line of several major shipping routes with the man-made Panama Canal connecting the western Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.

Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. These islands, called the West Indies, generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea. These islands are called the West Indies because when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1492 he believed that he had reached the Indies (in Asia).
The region consists of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north, the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands or the Lucayan Archipelago, which are in fact in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba, not in the Caribbean Sea.
Geopolitically, the West Indies are usually regarded as a subregion of North America^. and are organized into 27 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. From January 3, 1958, to May 31, 1962, there was a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories, all of which were then UK dependencies. The West Indies cricket team continues to represent many of those nations.

France amazing tourism places

2010-10-14T23:25:00.002+02:00

France , officially the French Republic (French:République française, pronounced: [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]),

Armoiries_république_française

France amazing tourism places

Tourism

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in France.

With 81.9 million foreign tourists in 2007, France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of Spain (58.5 million in 2006) and the United States (51.1 million in 2006). This 81.9 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as Northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy during the summer.

The Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most visited sites of France

France features cities of high cultural interest (Paris being the foremost), beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). France also attracts many religious pilgrims to Lourdes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, that hosts a few million visitors a year.

Disneyland Paris is France's and indeed Europe's most popular tourist site, with 15,405,000 combined visitors to the resort's Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park in 2009.

Other popular tourist sites include: (according to a 2003 ranking visitors per year): Eiffel Tower (6.2 million), Louvre Museum (5.7 million),Palace of Versailles (2.8 million), Musée d'Orsay (2.1 million), Arc de Triomphe (1.2 million), Centre Pompidou (1.2 million), Mont-Saint-Michel(1 million), Château de Chambord (711,000), Sainte-Chapelle (683,000), Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (549,000), Puy de Dôme (500,000),Musée Picasso (441,000), Carcassonne (362,000).

Satellite image of France

History

the history of France full of so important events , i don't want to talk alot about it because in case you visited France you will know everything during your tour.so i will view some amazing picture describe some events in French history

The borders of modern France are approximately the same as those of ancient Gaul, which was inhabited by Celtic Gauls. Gaul was conquered by Rome under Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC,and the Gauls eventually adopted Roman speech (Latin, from which the French language evolved) and Roman culture. Christianity first appeared in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and became so firmly established by the fourth and 5th centuries that St. Jerome wrote that Gaul was the only region “free from heresy”.

The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre(1572) during the French Wars of Religion.

In the 4th century AD, Gaul’s eastern frontier along the Rhine was overrun by Germanic tribes, principally the Franks, from whom the ancient name of “Francie” was derived. The modern name “France” derives from the name of the feudal domain of the Capetian Kings of France around Paris. The Franks were the first tribe among the Germanic conquerors of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert to Catholic Christianity rather than Arianism (their King Clovis did so in 498); thus France obtained the title “Eldest daughter of the Church” (La fille aînée de l’Église), and the French would adopt this as justification for calling themselves “the Most Christian Kingdom of France”.

The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre(1572) during the French Wars of Religion.

Napoleon I, Empereur des Français, built a Great Empireacross Europe.

Jeanne d'Arc by Le Brun de Charmettes.

Existence as a separate entity began with the Treaty of Verdun (843), with the division ofCharlemagne's Carolingian Empire into East Francia, Middle Francia and West Francia. Western Francia approximated the area occupied by modern France and was the precursor to modern France. The Carolingian dynasty ruled France until 987, when Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, was crowned King of France.

His descendants, the Direct Capetians, the House of Valois and the House of Bourbon, progressively unified the country through a series of wars and dynastic inheritance into a Kingdom of France. The Albigensian Crusade was launched in 1209 to eliminate the heretical Cathars ofOccitania (the southern area of modern-day France). In the end, both the Cathars and the independence of southern France were exterminated. In 1066, the Duke of Normandy added King of England to his titles. Later Kings expanded their territory to cover over half of modern continental France, including most of the North, Centre and West of France.

The exact boundaries changed greatly with time, but French landholdings of the English Kings remained extensive for centuries. Strong French counterattacks, helped by English weakness during the Wars of the Roses, won back mainland territory until only Calais remained. Under Mary I of England this was lost to the Spanish Netherlands.

Charles IV (The Fair) died without an heir in 1328.Under the rules of the Salic Law adopted in 1316, the crown of France could not pass to a woman, nor could the line of kinship pass through the female line. Accordingly, the crown passed to the cousin of Charles, Philip of Valois, rather than through the female line to Charles' nephew, Edward, who would soon become Edward III of England. In the reign of Philip of Valois, the French monarchy reached the height of its medieval power. However, Philip's seat on the throne was contested by Edward III of England and in 1337, on the eve of the first wave of the Black Death, England and France went to war in what would become known as the Hundred Years' War.

In the most notorious incident during the French Wars of Religion (1562–98), thousands of Huguenots were murdered in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572.

The monarchy reached its height during the 17th century and the reign of Louis XIV. At this time, France possessed the largest population in Europe (see Demographics of France) and had tremendous influence over European politics, economy, and culture. Since the 18th century, French was the most used language in diplomacy, science, literature and international affairs, before English took the lead in the 20th century. Much of the Enlightenment occurred in French intellectual circles, and major scientific breakthroughs were achieved by French scientists in the 18th century. In addition, France obtained many overseas possessions in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

Architecture

Technically speaking, there is no standard type of "French" architecture, although that has not always been true. Gothic Architecture's old name was French Architecture (or Opus Francigenum).The term “Gothic” appeared later as a stylistic insult and was widely adopted. The Gothic Architecture was the first French style of Architecture to be copied in all Europe. Northern France is the home of some of the most important Gothic cathedrals and basilicas, the first of these being the Saint Denis Basilica (used as the royal necropolis); other important French Gothic cathedrals are Notre-Dame de Chartres and Notre-Dame d'Amiens. The kings were crowned in another important Gothic church: Notre-Dame de Reims . Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used for many religious palaces, the most important one being the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

Saint Louis' Sainte Chapelle represents the French impact on religious architecture.

During the Middle Ages, fortified castles were built by feudal nobles to mark their powers against their rivals. When King Philip II took Rouen from King John, for example, he demolished the ducal castle to build a bigger one. Fortified cities were also common, unfortunately most French castles did not survive the passage of time. This is why Richard the Lionheart's Château Gaillard was demolished, as well as theChâteau de Lusignan. Some important French castles that survived are Chinon, Château d'Angers, the massive Château de Vincennes and the so called Cathar castles.

Before the appearance of this architecture France had been using Romanesque architecture like most of Western Europe (with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula, which used Mooresque architecture, which now consists of Spain and Portugal). Some of the greatest examples of Romanesque churches in France are the Saint Sernin Basilica in Toulouse (largest romanesque church in Europe) and the remains of theCluniac Abbey (largely destroyed during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars).

Opéra Garnier, Paris, a symbol of the French Neo-Baroque style

The end of the Hundred Years' War marked an important stage in the evolution of French architecture. It was the time of the French Renaissance and several artists from Italy and Spain were invited to the French court; many residential palaces, inspired by the Italians, were built, but mainly in the Loire Valley. Such residential castles were the Château de Chambord, the Château de Chenonceau, or the Château d'Amboise. Following the renaissance and the end of the Middle Ages, Baroque Architecture replaced the traditional gothic style. However, in France, baroque architecture found a greater success in the secular domain than in a religious one.In the secular domain the Palace of Versailles has many baroque features. Jules Hardouin Mansart was said to be the most influential French architect of the baroque era, with his famous dome, Les Invalides. Some of the most impressive provincial baroque architecture is found in places that were not yet French such as the Place Stanislas in Nancy. On the military architectural side, Vauban designed some of the most efficient fortresses in Europe and became an influential military architect; as a result, imitations of his works can been found all over Europe, the Americas, Russia and Turkey.

The Eiffel Tower is an icon of both Paris and France

After the Revolution the Republicans favoured Neoclassicism although neoclassicism was introduced in France prior to the revolution with such building as the Parisian Pantheon or the Capitole de Toulouse. Built during the French Empire the Arc de Triomphe and Sainte Marie-Madeleine represent this trend the best.

Under Napoleon III a new wave of urbanism and architecture was given birth. If extravagant buildings such as the neo-baroque Palais Garnier were built, the urban planning of the time was very organised and rigorous. For example, Baron Haussmann rebuilt Paris. The architecture associated to this era is named Second Empire in English, the term being taken from the Second French Empire. At this time there was a strong Gothic resurgence across Europe and in France the associated architect was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In the late 19th century Gustave Eiffel designed many bridges, such as Garabit viaduct, and remains one of the most influential bridge designer of his time, although he is best remembered for the iconic Eiffel Tower.

In the 20th century, Swiss Architect Le Corbusier designed several buildings in France. More recently French architects have combined both modern and old architectural styles. The Louvre Pyramid is an example of modern architecture added to an older building. Certainly the most difficult buildings to integrate within French cities are skyscrapers, as they are visible from afar. For instance, in Paris, since 1977, new buildings must have been under 37 meters, or 121 feet. France's largest financial district is La Defense, where a significant number of skyscrapers are located. Other massive buildings that are a challenge to integrate into their environment are large bridges; a good example of the way this has been done is the Millau Viaduct. Some famous modern French architects include Jean Nouvel or Paul Andreu.

Literature

Victor Hugo is one of the most important French novelists and poets, and is sometimes seen as the greatest French writer of all times.

The earliest French literature dates from the Middle Ages, when what is now known as modern France did not have a single, uniform language. There were several languages and dialects and each writer used his own spelling and grammar.The authors of French mediaeval texts are unknown, such as Tristan and Iseult and Lancelot and the Holy Grail. Much mediaeval French poetry and literature were inspired by the legends of the Matter of France, such as The Song of Roland and the various Chansons de geste. The “Roman de Renart”, written in 1175 by Perrout de Saint Cloude tells the story of the mediaeval character Reynard ('the Fox') and is another example of early French writing. The names of some authors from this period are known, for example Chrétien de Troyes and Duke William IX of Aquitaine, who wrote in Occitan.

An important 16th century writer was François Rabelais who influenced modern French vocabulary and metaphor. During the 17th century, plays by Pierre Corneille, Jean Racine and Molière, as well as the moral and philosophical books by Blaise Pascal and René Descartes, deeply influenced the French aristocracy leaving an important new niche for authors of the following decades, such as Jean de La Fontaine, who was an important poet from this century.

19th century poet, writer, and translator Charles Baudelaire.

French literature and poetry flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 18th century saw the works of writers, essayists and moralists such as Voltaire, Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Charles Perrault was a prolific writer of famous children's fairy tales including “Puss in Boots”, “Cinderella”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Bluebeard”.

At the turn of the 19th century symbolist poetry was an important movement in French literature, with poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaineand Stéphane Mallarmé.The 19th century saw the writings of French authors: Victor Hugo (Les Misérables), Alexandre Dumas(The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo), and Jules Verne (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea), which are amongst the most well-known in France and the world. Other 19th century fiction writers include Émile Zola, Honoré de Balzac, Guy de Maupassant, Théophile Gautierand Stendhal.

The Prix Goncourt is a French literary prize first awarded in 1903. Important writers of the 20th century include Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Antoine de Saint Exupéry wrote Little Prince which has remained popular for decades with children and adults around the world.

turkey tourism best places

2010-10-10T15:02:00.000+02:00

Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye),its known officially as the Republic of Turkey

The name of Turkey, Türkiye in the Turkish language, can be divided into two components: Türk, which means "strong" or "mighty" in Old Turkic. and usually signifying the inhabitants of Turkey or a member of the Turkish or Turkic peoples,a later form of "Tu–kin", a name given by the Chinese to the people living south of the Altay Mountains of Central Asia as early as 177 BCE; and the abstract suffix –iyemeaning "owner", "land of" or "related to" (derived from the Arabic suffix –iyya, but also associated with the Medieval Latin suffix –ia inTurchia).

Antiquity;)

One of the main entrance gates of theDolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul

Portion of the legendary walls ofTroy (VII), identified as the site of theTrojan War (ca. 1200 BCE)

The settlement of Troy starts in the Neolithic and continued into the Iron Age. Through recorded history, Anatolians have spoken Indo-European, Semitic and Kartvelian languages, as well as many languages of uncertain affiliation. In fact, given the antiquity of the Indo-European Hittite andLuwian languages, some scholars have proposed Anatolia as the hypothetical center from which the Indo-European languages have radiated. The Hattians were an ancient people who inhabited the southeastern part of Anatolia, noted at least as early as ca. 2300.
The Celsus Library in Ephesus, dating from 135 AD.

The House of Seljuk was a branch of the Kınık Oğuz Turks who resided on the periphery of the Muslim world, north of the Caspian and Aral Seas in the Yabghu Khaganate of the Oğuz confederacy in the 10th century. In the 11th century, the Seljuks started migrating from their ancestral homelands towards the eastern regions of Anatolia, which eventually became the new homeland of Oğuz Turkic tribes following theBattle of Manzikert in 1071.
The victory of the Seljuks gave rise to the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate; which developed as a separate branch of the larger Seljuk Empire that covered parts of Central Asia, Iran, Anatolia and Southwest Asia.

Geography and climate
Turkey is a transcontinental Eurasian country. Asian Turkey (made up largely of Anatolia), which includes 97% of the country, is separated from European Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and theDardanelles (which together form a water link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea). European Turkey (eastern Thrace or Rumelia in the Balkan peninsula) comprises 3% of the country.

lovely places to visit

Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, connecting Europe (left) and Asia (right)

Ölüdeniz Beach near Fethiye on theTurkish Riviera

Turkey is divided into seven census regions: Marmara, Aegean, Black Sea, Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean. The uneven north Anatolian terrain running along the Black Sea resembles a long, narrow belt. This region comprises approximately one-sixth of Turkey's total land area. As a general trend, the inland Anatolian plateau becomes increasingly rugged as it progresses eastward.

Maslak financial district in Istanbul

TCDD high speed train

Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara

Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final

The most popular sport in Turkey is football.Turkey's top teams include Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. In 2000, Galatasaray cemented its role as a major European club by winning the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Two years later the Turkish national team finished third in the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea, while in 2008 the national team reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 competition. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, while the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2009 UEFA Cup Final.
Istanbul Park racing circuit a few hours before the F1 Turkish Grand Prix

Spain tourism best places

2010-10-05T08:13:00.003+02:00

First of all i wanna say welcome to you all in my blog, my goal is to try to give you best information about the amazing places u would love to visit in the world, today i will talk about Spain .

Spain (pronounced /ˈspeɪn spayn; Spanish: España, officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish:Reino de España),

An over view :it is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.

My friends let me talk at first about the geography and the amazing nature which u will really enjoy there,

The city of San Sebastián in Guipúzcoa

Spain has great amazing nature,geography , i will give you a lot of examples here

Teide, the highest mountain in Spain (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

On the west, Spain borders Portugal; on the south, it borders Gibraltar (a British overseas territory) and Morocco, through its exclaves in North Africa (Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera). On the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra.
you can enjoy visiting this place and take picture for memories :)

Spain includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea too, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the Strait of Gibraltar, known as Plazas de soberanía, such as the Chafarine islands, the isle of Alborán,Alhucemas, and the tiny Isla Perejil. Along the Pyrenees in Catalonia, a small exclave town called Llívia is surrounded by France. The littlePheasant Island in the River Bidasoa is a Spanish-French condominium.

Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tagus, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia.

Climate in Spain

As a result for Spain's geographical situation and orographic conditions, the climate is extremely diverse,discounting the mountain climate, it can be roughly divided into five areas

Spain's climatic areas (except Canary Islands)

A Continental Mediterranean climate in the inland areas of the Peninsula (largest city, Madrid).
An Oceanic climate in Galicia and the coastal strip near the Bay of Biscay or (largest city, Bilbao). This area is often called Green Spain.
A Semiarid climate or arid Mediterranean in the southeast (largest city, Murcia).
A Mediterranean climate region extends from the Andalusian plain along the southern and eastern coasts up to the Pyrenees, on the seaward side of the mountain ranges that run near the coast. Also in Ceuta and Melilla (largest city,Barcelona).
A Subtropical climate in the Canary Islands and some areas in the coast of Granada and Málaga (largest cities, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Motril).

The rain in Spain does not fall mainly in the plain. It falls mainly in the northern mountains.

now , let us see the amazing places there, and then the ancient places .

The Hemispheric at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia, Spain

I can tell u Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures.

here is an overview for some nice cities you can visit there.

panorama of the Toledo Skyline in Spain at sunrise

A view of AThe city of Alicante

, Spain from Castillo de Santa Barbara (Castle of Santa Barabara)

The city of Girona

Panoramic view over the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria). Canary Islands, Spain.

Palma, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain: palma cathedral of the holy maria; called "La Seu"

The city of Seville

I would like to talk now about the museums ,Architecture ,and Art

Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European artistic movements. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during theBaroque and Neoclassical periods.

Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were calledHispania, Al-Andalus, or were formed of several Christian kingdom

The Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid

Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. An important provincial city founded by the Romans and with an extensive Roman erainfrastructure, Córdoba became the cultural capital, including fine Arabic style architecture, during the time of the Islamic Umayyad dynasty.Later Arab style architecture continued to be developed under successive Islamic dynasties, ending with the Nasrid, which built its famed palace complex in Granada.

Nativity facade of the Sagrada Família Temple in Barcelona

Zaragoza on the Ebro, at sunset

Madrid, Spain. Cuatro Torres Business Area.

Barcelona

The city of Valencia

Pont de l'assut de l'or" bridge and the "Ágora" in construction

now, what are the ancient places , old civilizations ,empires ,amazing places you must visit

La Giralda, the bell tower ofSeville Cathedral

Alcázar of Segovia

City walls of Ávila (Province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain).

Loarre Castle, in Huesca

View of the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Egypt , pharaohs ancient civilization tourism best places

2010-10-02T10:01:00.002+02:00

pharaoh king tutankhmun

Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. It was part of a larger complex of civilizations, the Nile Valley Civilizations, of which regions south of Egypt in today's Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia are a part. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC.

rallye-des-pharaons

as you see in this picture, rally members enjoying in this special unique place (the pyramids)

sphinx

lets know about sphinx :),The largest and most famous is the Great Sphinx of Giza, Arabic: أبو الهول, sited at the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile River and facing due east (29°58′31″N 31°08′15″E / 29.97528°N 31.1375°E / 29.97528; 31.1375). It is also from the same dynasty. Although the date of its construction is uncertain, the head of the Great Sphinx now is believed to be that of the pharaoh Khafra.

now if you wanted to visit Egypt you can ask yourself ok what is the place i love to enjoy but not ancient civilization ??

wow let me tell you

Sharm el-Sheikh (Arabic: شرم الشيخ‎, Sharm al-Shaykh, pronounced [ˈʃɑɾm eʃˈʃeːx])

nickname ( city of peace)

Sharm el-Sheikh's major industry is foreign and domestic tourism, owing to its dramatic landscape, year-round dry and temperate climate and long stretches of natural beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various watersports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkeling which some consider to be among the best in the world. Coral reefs, under water and marine life offer a spectacular and dazzling time for divers. There is great scope for scientific tourism with diversity in marine life species; 250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish.

and

These natural resources, together with its proximity to European tourism markets, have stimulated the rapid growth of tourism that the region is currently experiencing. The total number of resorts increased from three in 1982 to ninety one in 2000. Guest nights also increased in that period of time from sixteen thousand to 5.1 million. Companies which have been attracted to invest in this city include Hyatt Regency, Accor, Marriott, Le Méridien, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, with categories of three to five stars. In 2007 the area saw the opening of its first aqua park hotel resort. The four star Aqua Blu Sharm Resort was built on the Ras Om El Seid, with an area of 133,905 square metres (1,441,340 sq ft). Famous American chains like Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe, McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken can be found in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Sharm is also the home of a state of the art congress center, located along peace road, where many international political and economic meetings have been held, including peace conferences, ministerial meetings, world bank meetings, Arab League. The Maritim Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre can host events and congresses for up to 4,700 participants.

The nightlife of Sharm El-Sheikh is modern and developed. In 2005, Little Buddha, a sushi bar, nightclub, and bar, took the title of having the longest continuous bar in the Middle East. Other popular bars include the Camel Bar, The Tavern, Pirate's Bar, Movenpick Beach, and The Mexican. Dance club franchise Pacha has one of its three African clubs in Sharm (the other two are in Morocco and Nigeria). These nightclubs and restaurants contribute greatly to the lifestyle led by Sharm el-Sheikh's visitors each year.

Egypt best places tourism + ancient pharaon civilization

2010-10-01T13:26:00.001+02:00

The civilization of ancient Egypt has cultural characteristics of individual achievements and great originality. It was the credibility of the authenticity of all civilizations. Making the civilization of ancient Egypt or the undisputed world civilizations. This is civilization's most famous and ancient civilizations.

Egypt ancient pharoans & amazing tourism places

2010-10-01T13:07:00.001+02:00

VIENNA

2010-10-01T05:45:00.000+02:00

I'm writing this topic to discuss with you all friends about tourism places ,starting with Vienna
Yet 10 years later, with those internal and external conflicts firmly in the past, Vienna is again noted first for its arts and cultural institutions like its famed opera house, parks and continental architecture that line the Danube. Skies are clearly sunny that international human resource consulting company Mercer ranks VIENNA No. 1 for having the world's highest quality of life, and particularly notes the city's harmonious political and social environment as a reason why.

Times can change quickly, it seems.

And if we are talking about art lover's , fans of the theaters,i can tell you
Vienna is truly a music and art lover’s delight. Throughout the year, Vienna’s theaters, concert halls and opera houses offer a variety of concerts, dances and exhibitions that dazzle the senses. Whether you want to see a famous pianist or a rock star, or a little bit of both, Vienna is the place for you.

Museums are also plentiful in Vienna.you can say , From modern to classic art, museums such as the KunstHaus Wein, The Leopold Museum and the Museum of Fine Art house some of the most important collections in the world. Specialty museums devoted to music, the culinary arts, architecture, dolls and science also abound. Some of Vienna’s best and most famous museums include: Museum of Fine Art , Vienna’s Museum Quarter , Albertina Wein , Generali Foundation.

Vienna is also home to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a must-see for any visitor. Dating from the 1200s, with major construction in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, the cathedral is a living piece of history unlike any other. From the magnificent towers to the gloomy catacombs, St. Stephen’s Cathedral offers a unique glimpse of Viennese culture.

Schonbrunn Palace is also located in Vienna. With 1,500 rooms, the palace towers the surrounding zoo, coach museum, cafes, theatre and concert hall. A short 22-room tour of the palace is available, as well as a longer 40-room tour.

Vienna state opera

the most interesting ever :)
Vienna is also home to a number of opera houses, including the Theater an der Wien, the Staatsoper and the Volksoper, then lately has been Devoted to the typical Viennese operetta. Classical concerts are performed at well known venues such as the Wiener Musikverein, home of theVienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Wiener Konzerthaus. Many concert venues offer concerts aimed at tourists, featuring popular highlights of Viennese music (particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss).

To experience the culture of Vienna,its ok you only need stop in one of its many coffee houses. Much like pubs in England, they play a central role in Viennese social life. The Danube River is also an ideal place to soak in Viennese culture, both recent and past. The Prater Amusement Park and the Danube Tower offer visitors a chance to enjoy the city’s famous river.

Vienna gasometer city

wow are ready for shopping
For those who like to shop, Vienna has Gasometer Town, a unique shopping experience built inside four 24-story 100-year old gas tanks. Gasometer town, or g-town, has more than 70 shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as a vinotheque, or wine cellar. A convenient way to discover Vienna's sights is to book an English speaking book for a city walk. Arts, culture, music, amusement and relaxation, Vienna offers an exciting taste of what Austria has to offer.

Ernst Happel Stadium

what sports do you love ?
Vienna hosts many different sporting events including the Vienna City Marathon, which attracts more than 10,000 participants every year and normally takes place in May. In 2005 the Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Austria and the final was played in Vienna. Vienna'sErnst Happel Stadium was the venue of four Champions League and European Champion Clubs' Cup finals (1964, 1987, 1990 and 1995) and on June 29 it hosted the final of Euro 2008 which saw a Spanish 1-0 victory over Germany.

Austria's capital is home to numerous teams. The best known are the local football clubs SK Rapid Wien (32 Austrian Bundesliga titles), FK Austria Wien (23 Austrian Bundesliga titles and 26-time cup winners) and the oldest team, First Vienna FC. Other important sport clubsinclude the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna (American Football), who won the Eurobowl title between 2004 and 2007 4 times in a row, the Aon hotVolleys Vienna, one of Europe's premier Volleyball organisations, the Superfund Wanderers (baseball) who won the 2009 Championship of the Austrian Baseball League, and theVienna Capitals (Ice Hockey). Vienna was also where the European Handball Federation (EHF) was founded.

2010-10-01T04:29:00.001+02:00

VIENNA

Yet 10 years later, with those internal and external conflicts firmly in the past, Vienna is again noted first for its arts and cultural institutions like its famed opera house, parks and continental architecture that line the Danube. Skies are so sunny that international human resource consulting company Mercer ranks Vienna No. 1 for having the world's highest quality of life, and particularly notes the city's harmonious political and social environment as a reason why.

Times can change quickly, it seems.

Vienna is truly a music and art lover’s delight. Throughout the year, Vienna’s theaters, concert halls and opera houses offer a variety of concerts, dances and exhibitions that dazzle the senses. Whether you want to see a famous pianist or a rock star, or a little bit of both, Vienna is the place for you.

Museums are also plentiful in Vienna. From modern to classic art, museums such as the KunstHaus Wein, The Leopold Museum and the Museum of Fine Art house some of the most important collections in the world. Specialty museums devoted to music, the culinary arts, architecture, dolls and science also abound. Some of Vienna’s best and most famous museums include: Museum of Fine Art , Vienna’s Museum Quarter , Albertina Wein , Jewish Museum , Generali Foundation.

To experience the culture of Vienna, you only need stop in one of its many coffee houses. Much like pubs in England, they play a central role in Viennese social life. The Danube River is also an ideal place to soak in Viennese culture, both recent and past. The Prater Amusement Park and the Danube Tower offer visitors a chance to enjoy the city’s famous river.

For those who like to shop, Vienna has Gasometer Town, a unique shopping experience built inside four 24-story 100-year old gas tanks. Gasometer town, or g-town, has more than 70 shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as a vinotheque, or wine cellar. A convenient way to discover Vienna's sights is to book an English speaking guide for a city walk. Arts, culture, music, amusement and relaxation, Vienna offers an exciting taste of what Austria has to offer.