Sunday, January 31, 2010

Dolmabahçe Sarayi - Istanbul ( Constantinopole), Turkey



Dolmabahçe Sarayi - The Guard, originally uploaded by spdd.
The Dolmabahçe Palace was built between the years 1843 and 1856, ordered by the Empire's 31st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of gold. Fourteen tonnes of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings of the 45,000 square metre monoblock palace, which stands on an area of 110,000 m².
Hacı Said Ağa was responsible for the construction works, while the project was realised by architects Garabet Balyan, his son Nigoğayos Balyan and Evanis Kalfa.

Dolmabahçe Palace
The Dolmabahçe Palace was home to six sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924: The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. A law that went into effect on March 3, 1924 transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a presidential residence during the summers and enacted some of his most important works here. Atatürk spent the last days of his medical treatment in this palace, where he died on November 10, 1938.
The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is in the center hall. The chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tonnes. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has bannisters of Baccarat crystal.
The site of Dolmabahçe was originally a bay on the Bosporus which was reclaimed gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans; it is from this garden that the name Dolmabahçe (Filled Garden) comes from, dolma meaning "filled" and bahçe meaning "garden." Various summer palaces were built here during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Piwnica Świdnicka, Wrocław, Poland



Piwnica Świdnicka, originally uploaded by Klearchos Kapoutsis.
the Polish restaurant "Piwnica Świdnicka" at Wrocław... is one of the oldest restaurants in Europe...
more info at:

http ://www.piwnicaswidnicka.com/

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

Friday, January 29, 2010

The Rise, Burj Khalifa, Dubai U.A.E.


The Rise, originally uploaded by KhayaL.

VISIT THE BURJ KHALIFA
THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD

We invite you to begin your Dubai sightseeing with Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
The Burj Khalifa skyscraper is a world-class destination and the magnificent centerpiece of Downtown Dubai , Dubai's new urban masterpiece.
The world's tallest building is surrounded by hotels , must-visit shopping destinations and a world of entertainment options.



"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Palm Islands, World Islands, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Man-made archipelagos near Dubai, United Arab Emirates are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member on the International Space Station. The municipality of Dubai is the largest city of the Persian Gulf emirate of the same name, and has built a global reputation for large-scale developments and architectural works. Among the most visible of these developments -- particularly from the perspective of astronauts onboard the ISS -- are three man-made archipelagos. The two Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali) appear as stylized palm trees when viewed from above. The World Islands evoke a rough map of the world from an air- or space-borne perspective. Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands are highlighted in this view. Palm Jumeirah (lower left) was begun in 2001 and required more than 50 million cubic meters of dredged sand to raise the islands above the Persian Gulf sea level. Construction of the Palm Jumeirah islands was completed in 2006; they are now being developed for residential and commercial housing and infrastructure. Creation of the 300 World Islands (upper right) was begun in 2003 and completed in 2008, using 320 million cubic meters of sand and 37 million tons of rock for the surrounding 27 kilometer-long protective breakwater. Also visible at the lower edge of the image is another notable built structure -- the Burj Tower (white rectangle at lower right and inset image). The Burj Tower -- or Burj Khalifa -- stands 800 meters high, and is currently the world's tallest structure. The photograph captures enough detail to make out the tapering outline of the building as well as its dark needle-like shadow pointing towards the northeast.

Image/caption credit: NASA

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-22/html/iss022e024940.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/CEO.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/index.html



"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

City´s reflections Aveiro - Portugal


City´s reflections, originally uploaded by mallice.

Aveiro is sometimes called "The Portuguese Venice", because of its canals and boats that remind one of the Italian city of Venice, as the city faced similar problems when it tried to conquer the water.
The city dates back at least to the 10th century when it was known by its first Latin name of Aviarium, literally, "a gathering place or preserve of birds." The Moors invaded and then held it until the 11th century, after which it became popular with Portuguese royalty.
In the winter of 1575, a terrible storm closed the entrance to its port, ending a thriving trade in metals and tiles. The same storm also created a reef barrier at the Atlantic Ocean.

Aveiro is known in Portugal for its traditional sweets, the ovos-moles and the trouxas de ovos, both made from eggs.

====================================================
Aveiro (Portuguese pronunciation: [aˈvɐjɾu]) is a city in Aveiro Municipality in Portugal, with a total area of 199.9 km², a total population of 73,559 inhabitants, and 59,860 electors (2006). It is the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal, after Coimbra. However, the city of Aveiro together with neighbouring Ílhavo, make one conurbation which has a population of 113,908 inhabitants, making it one of the most important by population density in the Centro Region.
from Wikipedia..

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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facade El Albayzin, Granada Andalusia, Spain



fachada...., originally uploaded by maria...( slowly).

El Albayzín (also Albaicín or El Albaicín) is a district of present day Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, that retains the narrow winding streets of its Medieval Moorish past. It was declared a world heritage site in 1984, along with the more famous Alhambra.
It rises on a hill facing the Alhambra and many tourists journey into the Albayzin primarily for the spectactular views of the Alhambra from the viewing point by the church of San Nicolas.
Highlights within the area include the remains of an Arab bath complex, Granada's archeological museum, and the church of San Salvador, built on the remains of a Moorish mosque. The Albayzin also contains some original Moorish houses and a wide-range of restaurants, including several streets whose eateries are inspired by North Africa.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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Iglesia de San Marcos-León, Spain



Iglesia de San Marcos-León, originally uploaded by davizoom.


The convent of San Marcos in León, Spain, currently a luxury parador hotel, also contains a consecrated church and museum, and is one of the most important monuments of the Renaissance in Spain. It is one of the greatest architectural jewels of León, together with the Cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidoro and la Casa Botines. It has a highly ornamental plateresque facade.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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The Dragons of Chesapeke Bay USA

The Chesapeake Bay (pronounced /ˈtʃɛsəpiːk/, CHESS-ə-peek) is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia.
The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers 64,299 square miles (166,534 km2) in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
More than 150 rivers and streams drain into the Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay is approximately 200 miles (300 km) long, from the Susquehanna River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south. At its narrowest point between Kent County's Plum Point (near Newtown) and the Harford County shore near Romney Creek, the Bay is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) wide; at its widest point, just south of the mouth of the Potomac River, it is 30 miles (50 km) wide.
Total shoreline for the Bay and its tributaries is 11,684 miles (18,804 km), and the surface area of the bay and its major tributaries is 4,479 square miles (11,601 km2).
Depth of the bay is 46 feet (14 m) and maximum depth of bay is 208 feet (63 m).
The bay is spanned in two places. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge crosses the bay in Maryland from Sandy Point (near Annapolis) to Kent Island; the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia connects Virginia Beach to Cape Charles.
The word Chesepiooc is an Algonquian word referring to a village "at a big river." It is the seventh oldest surviving English place-name in the U.S., first applied as "Chesepiook" by explorers heading north from the Roanoke Colony into a Chesapeake tributary in 1585 or 1586.
In 2005, Algonquian linguist Blair Rudes "helped to dispel one of the area's most widely held beliefs: that 'Chesapeake' means something like 'Great Shellfish Bay.' It doesn't, Rudes said. The name might actually mean something like 'Great Water,' or it might have been just a village at the bay's mouth."
In contrast with many similar bodies of water, such as Delaware Bay or San Francisco Bay, the Chesapeake Bay is almost always preceded by the article the in usage.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Dubai UAE timelapse

Room with a view: Dubai timelapse tests from Atlantis hotel from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.



"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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Morning Rush Charlotte, N.Carolina USA


Morning Rush, originally uploaded by James Neeley.

Some may get a "rush" from an extreme sporting activity. I got mine from watching a beautiful sunrise progress over Charlotte, North Carolina!


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton UK


The Royal Pavilion, originally uploaded by Tim Wilko.

The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. It was built in the early 19th Century as a seaside retreat for the then Prince Regent. It is often referred to as the Brighton Pavilion. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th Century.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Cir Mhor & Glenrosa Water, Scotland, UK


Cir Mhor & Glenrosa Water, originally uploaded by antsplan.

A very impromptu, last minute trip across to Arran with David. Great day for the soul as its a gorgeous glen but I'm still really struggling to get into the landscape stuff. I shot lots of frames but on review my compositions are sloppy at best, its just not happening for me just now. Perhaps I'm expecting too much, I suspect so. Time to slow down and concentrate on continuing to learn & hopefully improve.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

Stavropoleos Monastery, Bucharest, Romania

Stavropoleos Monastery during the last century when the monastery was dissolved, was an Eastern Orthodox monastery for nuns in central Bucharest, Romania. Its church is built in Brâncovenesc style. The patrons of the church are St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The name Stavropoleos is a Romanian rendition of a Greek word, Stauropolis, meaning "The city of the Cross".


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Empire State NYC, USA


Empire State Of Mind, originally uploaded by Nimo Photography.

The Empire State Building is the world's most famous office building. As an international landmark for more than 77 years, it continues to capture the awe and amazement and curiosity of its visitors. It is only natural to want to learn more about this great skyscraper in order to truly understand its iconic significance in the history of New York City and the United States.

Empire State of Mind-Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Mount Fuji Japan


Mount Fuji is an attractive volcanic cone and a frequent subject of Japanese art. Among the most renowned works are Hokusai's 36 Views of Mount Fuji and his One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji. The mountain is mentioned in Japanese literature throughout the ages and is the subject of many poems.

It is thought that the first ascent was in 663 by an anonymous monk. The summit has been thought of as sacred since ancient times and was forbidden to women until the Meiji Era. Ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a remote training area, near the present day town of Gotemba. The shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo held yabusame in the area in the early Kamakura period.

The first ascent by a foreigner was by Sir Rutherford Alcock in September 1860, from the foot of the mountain to the top in eight hours and three hours for the descent. Alcock's brief narrative in The Capital of the Tycoon was the first widely disseminated description of the mountain in the West. Lady Fanny Parkes, the wife of British ambassador Sir Harry Parkes, was the first non-Japanese woman to ascend Mount Fuji in 1867. Photographer Felix Beato climbed Mount Fuji in that same year.

Today, Mount Fuji is an international destination for tourism and mountain-climbing. In the early 20th century, populist educator Frederick Starr's Chautauqua lectures about his several ascents of Mount Fuji—1913, 1919, and 1923—were widely known in America. A well-known Japanese saying suggests that anybody would be a fool not to climb Mt. Fuji once—but a fool to do so twice. It remains a popular meme in Japanese culture, including making numerous movie appearances, inspiring the Infiniti logo, and even appearing in medicine with the Mount Fuji sign.

In September 2004, the manned weather station at the summit was closed after 72 years in operation. Observers monitored radar sweeps that detected typhoons and heavy rains. The station, which was the highest in Japan at 3,780 metres (12,400 ft), was replaced by a fully-automated meteorological system. As of 2006, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the United States Marine Corps continue to operate military bases near Mount Fuji.



"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Old State House, Boston, Massaschusetts USA

Old State House, Boston

Old State House, Boston, originally uploaded by Kurlylox1.

The Old State House, the oldest surviving public building in Boston, was built in 1713 to house the government offices of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It stands on the site of Boston's first Town House of 1657-8, which burned in 1711. On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed from the balcony on this side of the building, to the jubilant citizens of Boston.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bagenkop Harbor Denmark


Bagenkop Harbor 02, originally uploaded by pixelediting.


Blue fishing cutters chug in and out of the harbour with flocks of seagulls following in their wake. The cutters´ red and black pennants wave in the wind and the old fishermen sit on the benches and discuss life and not least fishing conditions.

Bagenkop, Langeland´s most southern town, is the place if you want to experience the true harbour atmosphere with the smell of tar and salt water.
This is the place to buy freshly caught fish when one of the small pound net fishermen has tied up. It is also popular for visitors to catch fish themselves. You will see this especially in springtime when the many swishing fishing rods are being flicked. Later, during the summertime it is the many white and coloured sails which contribute to a party-like holiday atmosphere in the yacht harbour which has now new facilities including a barbecue. You should not miss out on the harbour festival in the middle of July either.

Not far from the harbour in the old part of Bagenkop you will find a nearly Skagen-like atmosphere with charming old houses. Here the small gardens are more lush and less wind-blown even though this part of town has, as every good harbour town should have, its own "Storm Street".

Near Bagenkop you ought to see the bird life - or at least experience Dovns Klint and Gulstav Mose where they are plentiful. If you enjoy "heights" there are beautiful views from Bagenkop Bjerg and the old light house which stands on one of the so called "hat-shaped hills" of which there are so many in the area. These are large round-shaped hills that were created during the ice age.

Another way you can also have a view of the whole area is to take a trip to the top of Kelds Nor lighthouse which, with its height of 38 m, allows you to see all the way to Kiel.
The courageous can also have a special, historical experience if they crawl into Langeland´s only covered stone dolmen which is not so far from the town.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler



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