Prague, Czech Republic

205-PASEO FLUVIAL-(Praga)HDR, originally uploaded by -MARCO POLO-.

Prague (/ˈprɑːɡ/; Czech: Praha pronounced [ˈpraɦa] ) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fourteenth-largest city in the European Union.

It is also the historical capital of Bohemia proper. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million.
The city has a temperate oceanic climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.
Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was not only the capital of the Czech state, but also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.
It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire and after World War I became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.
Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe.
Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits.
A modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, it is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University.
Prague is classified as a Beta+ global city according to GaWC studies, comparable to Berlin, Rome, or Houston.
Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009. In 2011, Prague was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe.

Crete: Incredible Beaches

Official Crete Region Promotional Video 2013

For more information on using Crete for your next production, visit the official Crete tourism portals:
www.incrediblecrete.gr 
www.twitter.com/incrediblecrete
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www.scoop.it/t/incrediblecrete

Directed by Theo Papadoulakis, IndigoView Productions 
Edited by George Pada
www.indigoview.com


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

Northwestern Greece from space

Northwestern Greece, originally uploaded by europeanspaceagency.

The northwestern part of Greece is pictured in this image acquired on 28 April by the Landsat-8 satellite. The Ionian Sea dominates the left side of the image, with the Ambracian Gulf near the centre. In the upper-left corner we can see the Paxi islands. Paxos, to the north, boasts beautiful beaches mainly along its eastern coast, with dramatic cliffs and caves dominating the west side. The smaller island to the south, Antipaxos, is also known for its beaches as well as its traditional vineyards.

This image is featured on the Earth from space programme: spaceinvideos.esa.int/Videos/2013/07/Earth_from_Space_Pea...

Credit: USGS

#Kastellorizo island, #Dodecanese, #Greece

Kastellorizo waterfront and ferry, originally uploaded by Marite2007.

Waterfront with neoclassical architecture and ferry.

Along the cliff side path, #Crete #Greece

Along the cliff side path, originally uploaded by Spyros Papaspyropoulos.

When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one,

When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one,, originally uploaded by Christolakis.

#Plaka, #Monastiraki sq., #Acropolis, @ #Athens #Greece

IMG_4833, originally uploaded by Vaskik.

Richtis Gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι του Ρίχτη) Crete, Greece

Richtis, originally uploaded by macropoulos.

Richtis Gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι του Ρίχτη, Faraggi tou Richti) refers to a gorge in Crete, Greece (Map of Richtis Gorge here). It is a state protected park near Exo Mouliana, Sitia, eastern Crete (Greece) that starts at the traditional village Exo Mouliana, which is located on the national road between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia and ends at the secluded Richtis beach, just east of the village Kalavros. The hiking trail is about 4 km in length of easy (spring/summer/autumn) to moderate (winter) difficulty. Rich vegetation (mainly platanus trees, wild berries and local flowers and herbs) and animal life (mainly local species of butterflies, small reptiles, birds and small mammals) can be observed along the way, as well as old stone bridges and water mills before it culminates with the Richtis Waterfall and beach, making Richtis gorge trail one of the most diversified hiking experiences in Crete

Freezing the waves

Freezing the waves, originally uploaded by Chris Ntardis ΦΩΤΟgraphy.

@ #XyloKastro #Peloponnese #Greece

The Pirate Ship, #Rethymno port, #Crete, #Greece

The Pirate Ship, originally uploaded by Spyros Papaspyropoulos.

Greek Salad & Alfa Beer

Gerek Salad & Alfa Beer , originally uploaded by pelince.com.

Pournari Lake, Arta, Greece

Pournari Lake, Arta, Greece, originally uploaded by TheVRChris.

λίμνη Πουρναρίου-Τζουμέρκα

Στα ορεινά Τζουμέρκα και στο δήμο Αθαμανίας σχηματίστηκε η τεχνητή λίμνη Πουρναρίου. Το φράγμα Πουρναρίου, ολοκληρώθηκε το 1997. Το τεράστιο χωμάτινο φράγμα, δεύτερο σε μέγεθος στην Ελλάδα μετά του Μόρνου είναι χωμάτινο, πλάτους βάσης 450 μέτρων και ύψους 107 μέτρων.
Αναπτύσσουμε στις όχθες της λίμνης τα διθέσια και μονοθέσια kayak έτοιμα για να επιβιβαστούμε και να αρχίσουμε την εξερεύνηση μας. Μετά από μια σύντομη ενημέρωση πλοήγησης από τους συνοδού μας αισθανόμαστε τα σκάφη μας να σκίζουν τα γαλαζοπράσινα νερά της λίμνης. Όταν το φράγμα είναι ανοιχτό και η στάθμη της λίμνης έχει πέσει έρχονται στην επιφάνεια τα παλιά σπίτια, το παλιό δημοτικό σχολείο, δεντροστοιχίες από το παλιό χωριό της Κάτω Καλντερίνης, που με τη δημιουργία του φράγματος του Πουρναρίου, εξαφανίστηκε. Μπορούμε να περιηγηθούμε ανάμεσα από τις σκεπές των κτιρίων και να εξερευνήσουμε τις όχθες της λίμνης με όμορφους καταρράχτες.
Η λίμνη φιλοξενεί πολλές ποικιλίες ψαριών, όπως κυπρίνους, μπριάνες, άγρια πέστροφα, χέλι. Καταφύγιο βρίσκουν και πολλά πτηνά όπως πρασινοκέφαλες πάπιες αλκυόνες, ποταμοσφυριχτές κ.α.

Byzantine Bridge, #Arta, #Greece

Byzantine Bridge, Arta, Greece, originally uploaded by newmansm.

The Bridge of Arta (Greek: Γεφύρι της Άρτας) is an old stone bridge that crosses the Arachthos river (Άραχθος) in the west of the city of Arta (Άρτα) in Greece. It has been rebuilt many times over the centuries, starting with Roman or perhaps older foundations; the current bridge is probably a 17th-century Ottoman construction.
The folk ballad "The Bridge of Arta" tells a story of human sacrifice during its building. From the ballad, a number of Greek proverbs and customary expressions arose, associated with interminable delays, as in the text of the ballad: "All day they were building it, and in the night it would collapse."

Icelandic rainy sunset

Icelandic rainy sunset, originally uploaded by Gunnar Gestur.

Iceland is located at the juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island of Grímsey off the main island's northern coast. The country lies between latitudes 63° and 67° N, and longitudes 25° and 13° W.
Iceland is closer to continental Europe than to mainland North America; thus, the island is generally included in Europe for historical, political, cultural, and practical reasons. Geologically the island includes parts of both continental plates. The closest body of land is Greenland (290 km (180 mi)). The closest bodies of land in Europe are the Faroe Islands (420 km (260 mi)); Jan Mayen Island (570 km (350 mi)); Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, both about 740 km (460 mi); and the Scottish mainland and Orkney, both about 750 km (470 mi). The mainland of Norway is about 970 km (600 mi) away.
Iceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second largest island after Great Britain. The main island is 101,826 km2 (39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is 103,000 km2 (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is tundra. There are thirty minor islands in Iceland, including the lightly populated Grímsey and the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface; only 23% is vegetated.
The largest lakes are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km2 (32.0–34.0 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km2 (31.7 sq mi); other important lakes include Lagarfljót and Mývatn. Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake, at 248 m (814 ft).
Geologically, Iceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new oceanic crust. This part of the mid-ocean ridge is located above a mantle plume, causing Iceland to be subaerial (above the surface of the sea). The ridge marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plates, and Iceland was created by rifting and accretion through volcanism along the ridge.
Many fjords punctuate Iceland's 4,970 km long coastline, which is also where most settlements are situated. The island's interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand, mountains and lava fields.
The major towns are the capital city of Reykjavík, along with its outlying towns of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and Garðabær, nearby Reykjanesbær where the international airport is located, and the town of Akureyri in northern Iceland. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.

Iceland has three national parks: Vatnajökull National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park.[36] The country is considered a "strong performer" in environmental protection, having been ranked 13th in Yale University's Environmental Performance Index of 2012.

rural house courtyard, #Litohoro. #Pieria, #Macedonia , #Greece

May pretty horses come to you as you sleep, originally uploaded by ~Lily_Sandrita~.

'May pretty horses come to you as you sleep'