Travel blog
Pamukkale is a strange geological formation found in the Aegean region in Turkey. At first glance are a number of full terraced water with high calcium content of incredible beauty: «The tectonic movements that took place in the depression of the failure of the basin …
Udaipur is a city that deserves a special mention in the Rajasthan. Known as the «City of Dawn» and characterized by ivory-colored buildings, it is the ideal place to spend a few days and recover from the stress that often cause the traveler in other …
One of the most beautiful places in the world, whose landscapes may serve as a reason for postcards, is the Finnish region called Lapland. An extraordinary phenomenon occurs during the winter, the trees are covered with ice and snow in such way that adopt shapes, which giants who take care of the land north: the sentinels of the Arctic.
The Italian photographer Niccolò Bonfadini traveled to Finnish Lapland in winter and endured temperatures up to -40°C to obtain these images that seem to be from another world. Perhaps as that will send a future probe exploring a planet with traces of intelligent life.
The armor of ice, or cloud texture of coral, are actually frozen trees, patiently awaiting the end of winter for greening in a silent dream. Bonfadini titled these beings «Sentinels of the Arctic», and a couple of years ago one of these images was chosen as the image of the day on the popular NASA APOD website.
Haunted these trees of ice beauty is enhanced by the soft colors of dawn, blue light, roses, violets and the sunlight that spreads like a divine foam.
At dawn, all crops against sky of soft blue tones, hollyhocks and roses, which produces a fascinating spectacle. This phenomenon is called Belt of Venus and is another of the attractions of the region that makes contrast with the Arctic infinity. It is so named because it occurs when Venus shines and can be seen clearly.
Although the Finnish Lapland weather conditions are so extreme, the truth is that after those layers of ice seem to live fish and marine mammals whose evolutionary mechanisms have allowed them to remain there. The white giants are their guardians, which on the surface ensure that it is only a matter of waiting a few more months to return to its plant origins.
Lappish traditions have turned these trees ice cream in magical creatures who watch these Nordic landscapes. However, with spring, breaks the spell, the ice melts and the sentinels of the Arctic become simple green trees that also embellish this amazing place on the planet.
Calakmul is one of the largest and oldest discovered Mayan cities. Calakmul is located in the region of Campeche, just 30 km from the border with Guatemala, this city was inhabited during the years 500 BC and 1000 AD, and was «rediscovered» in 1931 by …
Shibam is the name of a beautiful location in Yemen, whose Antigua and Walls city were declared a World Heritage Site in 1982. It is a spectacular mini-isolated city in the desert, whose characteristic «mini-skyscrapers» of between 5 and 11 live about 7,000 homes. The …
The Acropolis is the most important archaeological site of the city, the watchword of Athens in particular, and Greece in general. The meaning of the word ‘Akropoli’ city high, do honor to his name, as the site on which it stands is 156 meters above sea level.
All ancient Greek cities had an acropolis, the highest part of the city, which served as a place of defense against possible attacks and sanctuary for the local gods.
Conceived as a fortified and a place of worship, the Acropolis housed inside some of the most representative buildings of ancient Greece, the Parthenon as the most significant temple, considered even today as the ‘crown jewel’ of the Greek architecture. The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Erechtheion and the Theater of Dionysus, on the southern slope are the main structures currently completing the archaeological site.
In the Athens of Pericles during the second half of the V century BC, an exceptional group of artists transformed under the direction of Phidias, a rocky hill in an extraordinary architectural and artistic ensemble that ancient Greece bequeathed to the world.
The Acropolis of Athens’ sacred rock «is a limestone plateau 270 meters long and 85 wide, situated 156 meters above sea level, which contains the most famous monuments of classical Greece: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion , the Propylaea and the temple of Athena Nike and represents the universal symbol of the spirit and classical civilization. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The Propylaea
The entrance to the Acropolis is via a monumental gate called «Propylaea». A large bronze statue of Athena, built by Phidias, stood at the center of campus. To the right of this statue the Parthenon that housed the statue of Athena Parthenos crisoelefantina also Phidias stands. On the left the Erechtheion was available.
They were built on ancient Propylaea from the time of Pisistratus by Mnesicles Athenian architect who had to deal with important functional and architectural problems of the terrain and available space as the Propylaea were at the edge of the upper concourse Acropolis, at the boundary between the slope of the ascending pathway and the horizontal plane of the Acropolis.
The Propylaea included a rectangular central building of 18.12 meters wide and 12.96 meters deep and two side wings.
The central body had an exterior facade and indoor formed two six Doric columns that marked five-door access to the Acropolis, the being wider in the center (4.13 meters wide and 7.38 meters high) that was where ran the sacred way that roamed the Panathenaic procession.
These two hexástilas facades were too far apart to hold the roof composed of marble coffered ceilings so they were used in more slender Ionic columns inside the Doric to maximize space. The building mixed by both Doric and Ionic orders as in the Acropolis.
Of the two buildings that formed the side wings, located north housed the Pinacoteca art gallery where paintings on wooden plates were exposed. The south, smaller wing consisted of a hall, leading to the west, the temple of Athena Nike.
The Parthenon
It is the greatest monument of the Athens of Pericles and the architecture reflects the extraordinary cultural flowering of the arts and thought that reached Athens during the V century. C. culminating in the establishment of democracy.
The temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena, protector of Athens. The Ictino and Calícrates architects, led by the Athenian sculptor Phidias, designed a building to house the giant statue of Athena crisoelefantina, Phidias, who would guard the cella of the temple.
The entire temple project was conditional on the presence of the great statue of Athena, twelve feet high, so a cella of 19 meters wide was designed.
Work began in 447 B.C. and completed in just nine years, 438 BC This is explained by the economic power of the Athens of Pericles. Lasesculturas the pediment designed by Phidias were placed six years later, 432 BC
The temple was built on the unfinished Hecatompedon, Temple took some materials.
The Erechtheion
The Erechtheion is a masterpiece of the Ionic order. It was built between 421 and 406 a. C. to replace the old temple of Athena Polias that had been destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. C. during the Persian Wars.
Its name means «he who shakes the earth,» one of the penthouses epithets of Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes.
It housed the oldest religions in the city, was consecrated to the gods Athena Polias, Poseidon and Hephaestus and the legendary king of Athens, Erechtheus, who had been struck by Poseidon and was buried there.
It is located on the site of the Acropolis where the dispute between Athena and Poseidon held by the patronage of Athens. In a rock shows marks left by the trident of Poseidon and the grounds the sacred olive tree, a gift from Athena to the Athenians is.
Temple of Athena Nike
The small Ionic temple of Athena Nike (Victory), built on a tower of the Propylaea commemorates the victory over the Persians at the Battle of Salamis (448 BC), although the works began in 420 BC The architect who designed the project was Callicrates.
The temple housed an image of Athena Nike, symbol of victory for the wings (Nike wingless or without wings) were cut so you never could leave Athens.
The visit to the Acropolis is a unique and unforgettable experience for any traveler must pass through Athens.
Palouse falls are a huge leap that gives the river of the same name. This splendid precipitation is 4 miles (6.4 km) stream above the confluence with the Snake River, Southeast of Washington, United States. They were created during the flooding of an ancient glacial …
Dead Vlei, also known as «the frying pan of clay», is located in the reserve of the Namib-Naukluft Park, in the Namib desert, considered the world’s longest desert, because it already existed during the tertiary Era, the period in which the dinosaurs became extinct. Namib, …
Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, is a secret underground river called Cenote Angelita, which can be located after 10 to 15 minutes drive by car to the south of Tulum. It is relatively difficult to access as there is to walk at least five minutes through the jungle to reach him. There is nothing in the place.
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It is probably the most unusual formation of its type. Salt water has a high amount of hydrogen sulfide and an apparent opacity, highlighting the fresh water above it, allowing divers swimming along this underwater creation, which has the same appearance as a river of the surface. There are even trees and fallen leaves on both sides of their «margins», which makes this even more surreal landscape.
The cenotes are deep-well natural characteristic of Mexico, resulting from the collapse of limestone layers, exposing the groundwater beneath them. They are full of water and are connected to a marine cave.
This cenote is vertical, flooded with crystal water of a beautiful turquoise blue, which brings us the impression of floating in the air when we are immersed in it.
It is not a good place for snorkeling or bathing. This place is recommended for specialized divers, since the cenote consists of a vertical tray up to 195 ft deep, with about 100 ft of perfect visibility; starting from there should be using artificial light.
Entering the Cenote Angelita, we find ourselves with a given unique phenomenon that, halfway through the tunnel, mixing fresh water with salt; 80 ft of water top are fresh water above and 105 ft of water below are saltwater, these solutions have been separated by a sour cloud of dense character with a thickness of 3 ft.
The place is composed of rock formations and trees that make reality this natural wonder, an incredible show of unique features for those who enjoy scuba diving and are travel in Mexico.
There is no life in this cenote, or if you want the cat fish that abound in others. That ever has been a small caiman on the surface, but some time ago is not.
This cenote is far from the tourist areas. According to some travelers, it should accord with the owner surveillance cars, or let someone in them. On the other hand, the journey through the jungle can be hellish because of mosquitoes. Even so, don’t know of anyone that has given up diving once there.
On July 7, 2007 Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro was named as a winner in the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the New Open World Corporation through an open online vote in which participated, according to the organization, …