Check-ins
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
In Greece
Poveglia in Venice - Italy's most haunted island
Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. A small canal divides the island into two parts. Unless special permission is given to step foot on the island for whatever reason, the island is off limits to all.
In recent times, some legends have arisen about the island. According to legend, during Roman times it was used to isolate thousands of plague victims, and during the three occasions when the Black Death spread through Europe, the island was effectively used as a lazaretto and plague pit - it was considered an efficient way of keeping the infected people separated from the healthy. According to this version, over 160,000 people died on the island throughout its history. The island used in 1576 to accommodate those hit by the plague was not Poveglia, but Lazzaretto Nuovo.
Another legend surrounds a building erected in 1922 on the island, which was used for various purposes, including usage as a mental hospital. The legend states that a particular mental health doctor tortured and butchered many of the patients, before going "mad" and jumping to his death from the bell tower. According to that same legend, he survived the fall, but was 'strangled by a mist that came up from the ground'. Its ruins remain to this day. The institution in question has been described as a retirement home, but evidence on the island shows that despite the controversy, at least part of the building housed mental patients.
Monday, November 29, 2010
#1.Beer
Beer is very common in all parts of Germany, however almost every region has its own variety, which cannot be found anywhere else. There are almost 1300 breweries throughout the whole country and it is the second highest number in the world.
(Credit)
Geotourism - Greece
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Hampden Park. Home of the Scotland National Football Team
2014 Commonwealth Games
On 9 November 2007, Glasgow was selected to be the host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The games will be based on a number of existing and newly constructed sporting venues across the city, including a refurbished Hampden Park, Kelvingrove Park, the Kelvin Hall, and the planned Scottish National Arena at the SECC. The opening ceremony will be held at Celtic Park. Plans have already been drawn up for a Commonwealth Games campus in the east end of the city, which will include a new indoor arena, velodrome and accommodation facilities in Dalmarnock and Parkhead, with an upgraded Aquatics Centre at nearby Tollcross Park. 2014 will be the third time the Games have been held in Scotland
One of the most popular recreational activities of the early German immigrants was singing. They sang not only in church but also formed singing groups, known as Liedertafel. Carl Linger founded the first Liedertafel in Adelaide in 1858, which still exists as part of the South Australian German Association. The " Adelaider Liedertafel 1858" is the oldest continuously operating male choir in Australia. In 1862 a Liedertafel was established in Tanunda (Barossa), which is also still in existence. Music was an important social activity and every German settlement of significant size in the 19th century had a brass band. Usually the girls learned the piano and the boys learned brass instruments.
Singing is still a popular activity in the German-speaking clubs of Australia. The Club Tivoli in Melbourne still has its "Liedertafel Arion", founded in 1860. At the SAADV in Adelaide people can also join the German Folk Dance Group (Deutscher Volkstanzkreis) and the German Folksong Choir (Deutscher Volksliederchor). There are similar choirs for women and men at Melbourne's Club Tivoli as well as in clubs in other Australian states.
SKI RUNS
Skiing is a group of recreational activities using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding.
A piste is the name given to a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. The term is most often used in Europe; in North America, a piste would more often be referred to as a trail, a slope, or a groomed run. Piste is French for trail or track.
Friday, November 26, 2010
News in Italy!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
News in Germany!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The ski buff will find a wealth of slopes in France. In the winter, the Alps and the somewhat less pricey Pyrénées and Vosges offer more than a hundred excellent skiing facilities - both for ski alpin (downhill) and ski de fond (cross-country). The island of Corsica also features both types of skiing from December to April.
*Consult the Club Alpin Français in Ajaccio (04-95-22-73-81).
There are a huge network of hiking paths throughout France. The most popular of these are in hilly regions such as the Alps, the Ardennes, Beaujolais, CHampagne, the Jura, the Massif Central, and forested ares in the Ile-de-France.
*People who are interested on hiking, or want information on trails and hiking courses, contact the Comité Départemental de la Randonnéé Pedestre in each region.
IN ITALY
Saturday, November 6, 2010
IN SWITZERLAND
Volksmarching is a leisurely walk through a scenic and/or historic area over a pre-marked trail. The walk is non-competitive and the participants can travel at their own pace, thus making this an excellent recreational activity for the entire family.Volksmarching is a great way to meet new friends and a fun way for individuals to receive exercise who would otherwise get very little.
You Can Go on a Volksmarch
Nowadays volksmarches are usually 10 kilometers and 5 kilometers in length. The trails are measured, often marked, and events are held on weekends. You can see a calendar of events in your area by logging on to http://ava.org