Author: Gill Dewar

Amazing travel fact Tunisia

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Tunisia:

This beautiful place was used as a backdrop in the movies for Indiana Jones, Star Wars and The English patient, just to name a few.

Do you know where this is?

Tunisia in an area known as Tataouine.

If you are a fan of the Star Wars film series, then you are probably aware that main character Luke Skywalker hails from the planet of Tatooine, a dusty desert world inhabited by strange creatures and presided over by twin suns.

But you might not be aware that Tatooine is a real place, brought to life by real-world locations in  Tataouine.

Although a few scenes set on Tatooine were filmed in Death Valley in the United States, the majority of desert scenes in the original Star Wars were filmed in Tunisia, with subsequent films in the series also returning to shoot footage in the country.

Many of the original sets used to film Star Wars in Tunisia still remain standing today and have become some of the most popular attractions for tourists in the country. 

Travel to Tunisia

 

Amazing travel fact South Africa

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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South Africa:

Over a million flowers appear once a year for a brilliant display of colour. 

Amazing right?

With the first rains of spring, the dry, dusty plains of South Africa’s “outback” are magically transformed into a carpet of colour as the Namaqualand wild flowers burst to life.

Almost overnight, the normally drab semi-desert of the Northern Cape is suddenly covered in millions of cheerful flowers, which last from early August to late September. And contrary to popular belief – it isn’t just a bunch of daisies! 

Superlatives don’t do justice to this spectacle. You will find yourself constantly changing your focus from gazing out across a few acres of multicoloured daisies, which almost seem to have been cultivated, or focusing close to your feet and revelling in the myriad of different flowers co-existing in the space of a few metres.

No exaggeration, you will find acres of daisies, or brightly coloured bulbs. Tiny little pockets of delicate flowering plants create a private garden every few metres down the road and everywhere, flowers flourish for their brief but sublime moment in the sun.

Obviously, the exact timing of the flowering and the very best viewing positions change from year to year and even within the season, so it is best to get the latest up-to-date flower reports before heading off. Truly, the blooming of the desert is almost biblical in its proportions.

Travel to South Africa

 

Where in the World Zambia

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Zambia:

Where would you find 150 year old tree fossils?

In Siavonga, Zambia

About 150 million years ago, in what is now the Luangwa Valley, a totally different ecosystem flourished than the one found there today. At that time, large coniferous trees thrived, such as Dadyoxlon sp. and Rhexoxylon africanum. When these trees died, they were eventually buried and turned to stone.

The site today contains a large number of extremely well-preserved ancient trees, with features such as tree rings and bark still visible on the fossils. Many of the trees are lying in what appears to be the same location and position as when they fell during the Jurassic Period. The fossils are in a large array of sizes, from small fragments to complete logs up to 30 feet long.

Scientists posit that 150 million years ago, what is today a desert region enjoyed a more temperate and wet climate, favourable to growing tall coniferous trees, but also prone to storms and floods. A giant flood may have felled the large trees in this ancient forest, which were then preserved in a layer of soil and petrified as the organic materials were replaced by minerals. 

In modern times, the unique Chirundu Fossilized Forest is a National Monument of Zambia. 

Travel to Zambia

 

Where in the World Senegal

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Senegal:

Where would one find this huge monument?

On one of the twin hills in the Mamelles district of Dakar, Senegal, stands a mighty monument.

At 160 feet tall, the bronze African Renaissance Monument is over one-and-a-half times the height of the Statue of Liberty.

It depicts a man with a bare, ripped torso holding an infant aloft in one arm and guiding a woman with the other. The infant points ahead to indicate the glorious future, while the woman extends her arm behind to acknowledge the troubled past. Her hair is swept back by the wind, as are her scant, gossamer-like garments.

Travel to Senegal

Where in the World Namibia

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Namibia:

Where would you find this famous site?

Among the towering red dunes of  Namib-Naukluft National Park in the central Namib Desert is an area known as Sossusvlei.

It is a strange and alien landscape. The rich red dunes that surround the area owe their hue to age – over the thousands of years, the sand has literally rusted.

Sossusvlei is a wide, flat, salt-covered expanse with a dense and compact layer of clay in the subsoil. When dry, Sossusvlei is hard and arid, and when wet, as it gets every 5-10 years when fed by the Tsauchab River, it becomes sticky and plastic. The area is the river’s final destination. 

Nearby is yet another “place of no return” this one even older, and much more dead than Sossusvlei. Known as Dead Vlei, it is found among the tallest dunes in the world – some reach 1,312 feet high, which is almost as lofty as the Empire State Building. Dead Vlei was once like Sossusvlei, with the river draining into it nourishing desert life and even trees. But no longer. Some 900 years ago the climate dried up, and dunes cut off Dead Vlei from the river.

It became too dry in Dead Vlei for the trees to even decompose. They simply scorched black in the sun, monuments to their own destruction. The trees, now over 1000 years old, form a barren forest.

Travel to Namibia

Where in the World Kenya

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Kenya:

Into which city do these tusks welcome visitors?

Into Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa is certainly the oldest city in Kenya and one of the historical ports of East Africa. 

The iconographic symbol of Mombasa, however, has no deep roots in the history of the island-city, but its origins are relatively recent, dating back to 1952.

These are the famous aluminium tusks that dominate the central artery of the city: four elephant tusks of white colour reminiscent of ivory, positioned to intersect and compose as many arches in the two lanes of Moi Avenue (once Kilindini Road).

The two iconic tusks (Mapembe ya Ndovu) were erected in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the city, who stayed at the Mombasa Yachting Club.

Originally the tusks were made of wood and were erected precisely because it was known that the British Sovereign would pass by that road to go from Mombasa airport to his residence by the sea. The idea was to remove them when the Queen returned home, but given their proximity to Uhuru Park, the citizens’ recreation area, the tusks almost became an attraction.

Not only that: many travel agencies and merchants began to associate their activities with the two tusks, as a symbol of Mombasa, rather than using Fort Jesus, the Swahili gates, the dhows or some Portuguese or Indian palace in the old town.

So it was that in 1956 the Municipality decided to rebuild them even more imposing, using aluminium which would have more easily withstood the heat and rain.

So much so that, with some seasonal repainting, the tusks are still there to camp in the heart of the city and today, in addition to travelers’ catalogues, stamps and digital images, they welcome the selfie of tourists from all over the world and remind that Kenya is the country of wildlife and savannah, which is just over a hundred kilometres from Mombasa itself.

Travel to Kenya

 

Amazing travel fact Botswana

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Botswana:

2 of the largest diamonds ever found were discovered in Botswana making it one of the richest diamond producers in the world.

Amazing right?

Most of Botswana’s diamond production is of gem quality, resulting in the country’s position as the world’s leading producer of diamond by value.

The diamond firm Debswana has announced the discovery in Botswana of a 1,098-carat stone that it described as the third largest of its kind in the world.

It is the third largest in the world, behind the 3,106-carat Cullinan found in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona discovered in Botswana in 2015.

“This is the largest diamond to be recovered by Debswana in its history of over 50 years in operation,” Armstrong said.

“From our preliminary analysis it could be the world’s third largest gem-quality stone.

Travel to Botswana

Where in the World Botswana

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Botswana:

Where would this take place?

The Okavango Delta, Botswana.

A vast and varied ecosystem created as the Okavango River flows into the Kalahari desert in Botswana. Rich in wildlife, this World Heritage Site is a sanctuary to some of the world’s most endangered animals and birds.

The Okavango Delta is a unique pulsing wetland. More correctly an alluvial fan, the delta covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometres of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River which flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert.

Generally flat, with a height variation of less than two meters across its area, dry land in the Okavango Delta is predominantly comprised of numerous small islands, formed when vegetation takes root on termite mounds, however larger islands exist with Chief’s Island, the largest, having been formed on a tectonic fault line.

The 1000th site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2014, the Okavango Delta is an important wildlife area protected by both the Moremi Game Reserve, on its eastern edge, and the numerous wildlife concessions within Ngamiland.

An oasis in an otherwise dry environment the Okavango Delta is known for its superb wildlife, with large populations of mammals and excellent birding particularly in the breeding season.

Travel to Botswana

Amazing travel fact Malta

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Malta:

This church survived a bombing during World War II and is one of the most recognisable sights in the small Maltese town of Mosta is the magnificent dome that covers the Parish Church of the Assumption. It holds a special place in the town.
 
On 9th April 1942, as 300 people sat in the church waiting for mass to begin, a bomb dropped by the German Luftwaffe pierced the dome, bumped into the wall, and rolled across the floor until it came to a stop. It failed to detonate, and so did two other bombs that had fallen outside.
 
Bomb experts dismantled the explosive and disposed of it in the sea. The Maltese people viewed the escape as a miracle, and today a replica of the bomb can be seen in a sacristy at the back of the church. This lucky event spared the the parishioners as well as the neoclassical structure, whose dome, commonly called the Rotunda of Mosta, is inspired by Rome’s Pantheon and is one of the largest unsupported domes in the world.
 
In the 1830s, Mosta’s residents raised the funds for the erection of a new church on the site of the existing one, which was carried out such that the newer structure came up around the old one which was later demolished. This ensured that there was always a church to pray at.
 
Designed by Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, it is beautifully decorated in shades of blue, gold, and red. After 27 long years of construction, the church was  officially dedicated in 1871. 
 

 

Where in the World Malta

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Malta:

Which harbour is this?

The Grand Harbour, also known as the Port of Valletta, Malta
 
Whether sailing a private yacht or enjoying a walk along the coast, Malta’s marinas are beautiful spots at which to spend a sunny summer’s afternoon.
 
The archipelago is one of the most important maritime hubs of the Mediterranean Sea and the islands are lined with natural and manmade ports. Follow our guide to the most beautiful harbours in Malta and discover the charms of Valletta’s Grand Harbour, the colourful Marsaxlokk, Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour, and many more.
 
Grand Harbour is not only one of the most spectacular harbours in Malta, it’s one of the most impressive in the world.
 
An important hub of Maltese maritime history, the harbour is flanked by the striking capital of Valletta on one side and the historical towns of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua on the other. Fort St Elmo and Fort Ricasoli stand guard the head of the port, while its mouth is guarded by the commanding Fort St Angelo, a historic defence fortress.
 
The harbour has many berths catering to yachts, visiting cruise liners and cargo vessels, with Vittoriosa Yacht Marina home to the super yachts of the rich and famous, making it a popular attraction for boating enthusiasts.
 
 

Where in the World Ireland

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Ireland:

Where is this beautiful castle situated?

For over 700 years, Ashford Castle and its 350 acre private estate have offered a myriad of ways to enjoy the hospitality of a 5 star Irish Castle Hotel in Ireland on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, Ireland.

Dating back to 1228, the castle now enters a new chapter in its history, as part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, and has been recognised as a prestigious Forbes five-star hotel and former home of the Guinness family.

The extraordinary characters of the Castle passionately care about each and every guest, while our spectacular surroundings, exquisite interiors, delicious cuisine and unique local partnerships bring this corner of Ireland to life in the most beautiful way.

We were so proud to be voted “Best Of The Best” by Virtuoso and to be recognised with countless other awards that pay testament to our remarkable team and their tireless efforts to create unforgettable experiences.

With 82 guest rooms, a wealth of activities and thoughtful touches, enjoy acclaimed Irish hospitality on a grand scale.

Travel to Ireland

 

 

Amazing travel fact Ireland

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Ireland:

There are beaches so stunning, that they are Unesco World Heritage sites. This special beach thanks its name to a legend, where giants crossed from one country to another and has over 40.000 dramatic basalt columns.
 
Amazing, right?
 
Located on one of Europe’s most magnificent coastlines, the Antrim coast of Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is stunning.
 
The symmetry of the rock columns that make up this stretch of landscape are a natural curiosity that intrigues and amazes.
 
Giant’s Causeway earned its name from the legends of an ancient roadway, once used by giants to cross between Ireland and Scotland.
 
The reality is no less fantastic though: the 40,000 dramatic basalt columns were actually formed by an ancient volcanic eruption.
 
Regardless of its origins, you can visit the UNESCO-listed site year-round; it’s generally quietest first thing in the morning and late afternoon in the summer months.
 
If you have the foresight check the tide times too, as it is most visible and explorable at low tides.
 

Amazing travel fact Hungary

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Hungary:

Do you know The Gombos Hills Wine Cellars in Hungary are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites due to their uniqueness.
 
Amazing right?
 
The picturesque cellars of Gombos Hill with their characteristic triangle-shaped doors are true masterpieces of folk architecture.
 
The Tokaj region has been protected since 1737 and the landscape faithfully preserves historical traditions.
 
Visit the five-star hotels for manor-house splendour and you will find Tokaji wines from local producers on the menu. In the heart of the Mád commune – where most of the grapes for the Royal Tokaji Company are cultivated – a 17th-century mansion, has period-furnished suites and a strong organic wine list.
 
The character of the wines of Tokaj comes from the terroir but also from the bizarre way in which it is aged in underground caves, lined with botrytis, a thick black mould. You can hire bikes in Sárospatak and discover the Gombos-hegy: rows of ancient triangular stone facades with doors to Hobbit-like cellars, many of which host tastings.
 
For the comprehensive story and a European perspective, the World Heritage Wine Museum in Tokaj is a must-visit.
 

Where in the World Hungary

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Hungary:

Where is this beautiful castle?

Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary

The historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. It was first completed in 1265, but the massive Baroque palace today occupying most of the site was built between 1749 and 1769. The castle now houses the Hungarian National Gallery and The Budapest History Museum.
 
Buda Castle sits on the southern tip of Castle Hill, surrounded by the touristic area known as Várnegyed (Castle Quarter), which is famous for medieval, Baroque and Neoclassical houses, churches, public buildings, and monuments. The hill is linked to Clark Ádám Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular.
 
The castle is a part of the Budapest World Heritage Site, so declared in 1987. The original Royal Palace was ruined during WWII, it was rebuilt in a simplified Stalin Baroque style during the Kádár era.
 
Near the Central (main) facade of the Palace overlooking the Danube river, is the so-called Palace of the Danube terrace of Buda or terrace, which offer stunning panoramic views of the Danube river, district of pest, including Vigado concert hall, Gresham Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the remarkable Hungarian Parliament building which is one of characters and one of the main attractions of Budapest.
 

Amazing travel fact Germany

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Germany:

Do you know there’s a city where you can surf on a river?

Amazing Right?

Munich, Germany, is a long way from the ocean and it can get rather cold in winter, but that doesn’t stop some hearty surfers from catching a wave.

The Eisbachwelle is a year-round river surfing spot at the edge of the city’s English Garden. Water shoots out from under a street and creates a perpetual wave as the stream runs into the park.

It’s not the sea and sand you expect from beach movies. The water ranges from cold to frigid, so surfers are usually covered in full wetsuits and may have to walk through snow to get to the river.

On the plus side, there’s no paddling around waiting for the perfect wave; you just wait your turn and drop in.
 
The bridge is a great place to watch the action, so the Eisbachwelle is also popular with photographers and spectators. 
 

Where in the World Germany

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Germany:

Where is the “Happiest House on Earth?”
 
Happy Rizzi House, Brunswick, Germany is a day-glo masterpiece of cartoon-inspired architecture set smack in the heart of a staid German historic neighbourhood.
 
Standing in stark contrast to its old world surroundings, the Happy Rizzi House is the vision of New York pop artist James Rizzi (perhaps best known for designing the cover for Tom Tom Club’s 1981 debut album) and architect Konrad Kloster.
 
Representative of Rizzi’s style, the structures are decorated in wild shapes and faces coloured in bright pinks, yellows, and greens reminiscent of an 80’s music video.
 
The psychedelic cluster of buildings was not an instant hit with the surrounding city since the tall buildings’ cacophony of color is in direct visual opposition to both the business district on one side of it and the old world European architecture on the other. However the goofy faces with unevenly spherical eyes (which are also windows) have come to be accepted as a unique and important part of the landscape, acting as the unofficial border between the two portions of the city the site straddles.
 
Unfortunately Rizzi passed away in 2011, but the Happy Rizzi House, as easily his largest piece of work, assures that his off the wall vision of the world will live on for years to come.
 

Amazing travel fact France

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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France:

Did you know that there is a museum housed in a former royal palace that is the most visited museum in the world? In 2019 it had a total of 9.6 million visitors! It would take you around 200 days to see each of the 35,000 works of art on display at the museum if you took 30 seconds to see each and every piece. Not only that, the museum owns roughly 550,000 works, most of which it keeps locked up in storage.
 
Amazing, right?
 
It is indeed The Louvre in Paris
 
On the Right Bank, just north of the western tip of the Île de la Cité, stands the Louvre, one of the world’s largest palaces….
 
In 1546 Francis I, who was a great art collector, had this old castle razed and began to build on its site another royal residence, the Louvre, which was added to by almost every subsequent French monarch. In the 17th century, major additions were made to the building complex by Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Cardinal de Richelieu, the chief minister of Louis XIII, acquired great works of art for the king. Louis XIV and his minister, Cardinal Mazarin, acquired outstanding art collections, including that of Charles I of England.
 
The Louvre ceased to be a royal residence when Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles in 1682. The idea of using the Louvre as a public museum originated in the 18th century.
 
The Louvre building complex underwent a major remodelling in the 1980s and ’90s in order to make the old museum more accessible and accommodating to its visitors. The ground-level entrance to this complex was situated in the centre of the Cour Napoléon and was crowned by a controversial steel-and-glass pyramid designed by the American architect I.M. Pei.
 
In 1993, on the museum’s 200th anniversary, the rebuilt Richelieu wing, formerly occupied by France’s Ministry of Finance, was opened; for the first time, the entire Louvre was devoted to museum purposes. The new wing, also designed by Pei, had more than 230,000 square feet (21,368 square metres) of exhibition space, originally housing collections of European painting, decorative arts, and Islamic art.
 
Three glass-roofed interior courtyards displayed French sculpture and ancient Assyrian artworks. The museum’s expanding collection of Islamic art later moved into its own wing (opened 2012), for which Italian architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti enclosed another interior courtyard beneath an undulating gold-coloured roof made of glass and steel.
 
In 2012 a satellite location of the Louvre in the northern French town of Lens opened to the public. The museum, designed by the Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, was intended to boost the economy of the region and to alleviate crowds at the Paris site.
 
 

Where in the World Prague

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Prague:

Where is this magnificent library?

The library of the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov, Czech Republic, is one of the most valuable and best-preserved historical libraries – its collection consists of approximately 200,000 volumes.
 
The oldest part of the library, the Baroque Theological Hall, was established between 1671 and 1674; the main Classicist vaults of the Philosophical Hall date from 1794 and are two storeys tall. Both halls are dominated by ceiling frescoes by Siard Nosecký and Anton Maulbertsch.

Strahov Library is the largest monastic library in the country, with two magnificent baroque halls dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. 

The stunning interior of the two-storey-high Philosophy Hall was built to fit around the carved and gilded, floor-to-ceiling walnut shelving that was rescued from another monastery in South Bohemia (access to the upper gallery is via spiral staircases concealed in the corners).

The feeling of height here is accentuated by a grandiose ceiling fresco, Mankind’s Quest for True Wisdom – the figure of Divine Providence is enthroned in the centre amid a burst of golden light, while around the edges are figures ranging from Adam and Eve to the Greek philosophers.

Travel to Croatia

 

 

Where in the World Croatia

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Where in the world.

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Croatia:

Do you know what is the location of the famous movie Mamma Mia 2?
 
It is one of our favorite islands in Croatia; farthest from the mainland, away from the crowds to enjoy stunning untouched nature.
 
The mysterious and irresistible island of Vis – a paradise island with one of the world’s finest beaches, Stiniva.
 
An island that has been partly isolated as a military island for almost half a century, something that has been a disadvantage has now become an asset. Vis is an island of untouched nature, a treat for lovers of Robinson tourism, and as such it has not been missed by Hollywood producers.
 
Already, after the first sight at the island, the producers immediately estimated that Vis would perfectly play the role of the Greek island, on which the previous sequel to this global movie hit was filmed.
 
The filmmakers, present at the shootings, were satisfied with the cooperation with the local authorities and the local population, their amiability, professionalism and kindness, which was truly “up to the task”. And everyone was involved, there is no home or family on the island who did not participate in the film, which, in the summer of 2018, was the most viewed film of the season. 
 

 

Amazing travel fact Croatia

Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Amazing Facts.

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Croatia:

Did you know that there is a city in Europe that has an Egyptian Sphinx on display, made of black granite?
Twelve of them were originally brought over to this town 3500 years ago.
 
Amazing, right?
 
Do you know where we need to travel to in order to see this black Sphinx?
 
Emperor Diocletian himself is a founder of Split city; he used to belong to divine rulers, same as pharaohs, and, to unconditionally prove it, he brought twelve sphinxes to Split after Diocletian put down a rebellion in Egypt somewhere around the year 297.
 
Unfortunately, only one survived and is now standing at the Peristyle.
 
The sphinx on the Peristyle is made of black granite. It dates back to the period of pharaoh Tuthmosis III who lived from 1479 until 1425 BC. She holds a vessel for offerings in her hands.
 
Second one is the one that probably stood opposite from the previous one, and is now in the Archeology Museum after being donated in 1875. by one of Split noble families. This one is a little bit smaller, and made probably around 1,400 BC, maybe for one of temples in Thebe.
 
The same museum holds several other fragments. For example, back part of the one made of white stone, or head made of red granite found in Salona.
 
During excavations around Vestibule small black granite Sphynx was found beheaded This one is now in one of the halls of Palace’s substructures. There we can also see the small fragment of front legs and chest made of red granite.
 

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