Hampi Festival: 500 years of great Hindu empire

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Travel Info

The century-old temples in this village south of India celebrate the anniversary of the Vijayanagar Empire with a folklore festival of elephants and brimming with color and life.

Is held each year in November, invariably between 3 and 5, but this time the Hampi Hampi Utsav and Festival has been postponed to January 2010 to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the enthronement of Sri Krishnadevaraya, King more splendid than ever had the Vijayanagar kingdom that between 1336 and 1565, lit the last great empire that saw India to the arrival of the British.

Hampi, a small village now in the southern state of Karnataka, was the epicenter of this powerful alliance of Hindu villages with army achievement organizadísimo stops the advance of the Muslims, then masters of almost the entire north of the subcontinent. The Vijayanagar also extolled the literature and the arts, and became immensely rich through trade in textiles, gemstones, spices and merchandise Arabian princes and regents were brought from the ports of the Indian and to China.

From this wealth, for 15 miles around the village are scattered the ruins of hundreds of temples that Unesco was pleased to recognize more than twenty years as a World Heritage Site. And in some of the shrines that have come in better shape to take place today where many of the celebrations of this festival which every year attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims from across the south.

On this occasion, its ‘great days’ will be the 27th, 28th and 29th January, with dance, theater, music, puppetry, fireworks, crafts, horse soldiers in their dress imperial pomp and processions of decorated elephants that conspire to recreate the grandeur of the Vijayanagar empire in an extravagant setting that brims with life and bustle and monumental this dusty little village on the river Tungabadra.

Visitors come to be so many that the guest-house hosting for the year to the thousands of foreigners who come to Hampi to house are not at all. So, at night, thousands of families to literally track installed for a few days inside the main temples, providing a spectacle almost more amazing than that during the day have given their unconditional renowned artists each year joined in the celebrations of the festival.

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Istanbul Cultural Capital 2010

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Travel Info

Neither is a capital or even considered being left Europe, but has been designated European Capital of Culture 2010 by the EU itself. Under the guise of understanding the riddle, do not resist the gorgeous big year in this megalopolis.

Although Ankara is real, nobody doubts that the unofficial capital of Turkey is Istanbul: Byzantium ancient Greeks, Persians and Macedonians in Constantinople to resist the Eastern Roman Empire and, until into the twentieth century, the darling of the Ottoman sultans, who spared no time to decorate the fabulous palaces and mosques of this bewitching city channel starting in the Bosporus Strait, bounded by the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara, and then split in bud more monumental by the sparkling water pit dubbed the Golden Horn

With around ten million souls, Istanbul is not only the largest city in Turkey, in addition to the epicenter of political, economic and cultural development. It is also one of the most vital megalopolis, disconcertingly contradictory and beautiful course around the planet. With one foot resting on the other in Europe and Asia, none like her to officiate as a bridge between East and West and promote cultural exchanges at European level, which is the aim that this vibrant city with so many centuries behind him is set for, at least the next twelve months.

A city in love and not need major excuses to go to his respects. Even if you need some, surely find it among the many and good that have been prepared under the slogan Istanbul, a city of four elements. This is the axis on which the programming revolves orchestrated by the flamboyant European Capital of Culture 2010, which was officially launched on 16 January.

To live in style its great year Istanbul has a new concert hall, a new library and a handful of new museums and art centers. And also to keep up has restored many of its monuments, including the walls or scaffolding permanently flooded church, then mosque now museum of Hagia Sophia.

Also been given a facelift to the old kitchens of the Topkapi Palace, home to a superb collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, but will be in the museum grounds where it opens a major exhibition in February around the Persian civilization and another, which runs until August, about the treasures of the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, in the halls of the Archaeological Museum between March and June coincide tribute to the mosaics in the Italian city of Ravenna and exposure The Assyrians in Istanbul, while the City Library will host throughout the year countless EnCuentos and activities around the woman in Istanbul from its role in Byzantium or in the Ottoman Empire until its important transformation in our time.

Among the museums that will put out to coincide with the cultural capital stands dedicated to the expansion of Sinan, the most glorious architect of the Ottoman Empire or, from July, the inauguration of the Museum Island Istanbul on one of the islands of Princes, and the Museum of Innocence that, inspired by the eponymous novel nobel Orhan Pamuk of Turkey, shows the evolution of the daily life of the city from the ’50s to today.

Photography, film, visual arts and video installations by international artists-including a remarkable contribution in the Catalan Antoni Muntadas Kadirga Art Center during the first two months of the year “dot an agenda distributed by the many sites that will host demonstrations from folk to dance and theater festivals such as puppets, to be held in March and May, the poetry, in this last month, or street art as it prepares for September. In nearly all the concerts, with some such as the first rockers U2 will offer Sept. 6 at the Istanbul Ataturk Stadium.

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Apres-ski in the French Alps gastronomy

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Travel Info

If you do not have plan to start the year, here’s the suggestive proposal of some stations in the neighboring country, combining to cuisine skiing high. Not everything was going to be snow and raclette!

The offer apres-ski from some stations in the French Alps not forgets the renowned cuisine of the neighboring country, nor of their wines. This is the case of Les Menuires, where Reyes Week celebrates the IX edition of the Semaine des Vignerons. Between 2 and 9 January thirty winegrowers from all regions of France have their products on some evenings in which, after enjoying a day on the slopes, you can regain strength wine tasting and many other delights of the land, including cheeses, sausages, and artisan breads.

Through the Tourist Office of Les Menuires may, from 236 € per person booked on the dates of the Semaine des Vignerons 7 nights accommodation in a studio for four, six-day ski pass for entry to the evening – tasting.

In Val d’Isere, however, the large gourmet of the year will take place towards the end of the season when the 15 to 21 March, a handful of chefs crowned with a Michelin star for the event to meet culinary Tracks gourmandes, la cuisine pure. Something like “Tracks greedy, pure cuisine.

Competitions, debates, lectures, demonstrations and even cooking classes for adults and even children will be among the highlights of this match where nothing but remove the skis start to enjoy the best cuisine, build new recipes and learn more about ethical and authentic products with which to feed better.

On the dates of the event, the tourist office of Val d’Isere offers packages with 7 night’s accommodation, ski pass for 6 days in the Espace Killy, Val d’Isere & Tignes-and an entrance to the pool at the new sports center the station. All this from 349 € per person in an apartment for four occupants, or from 775 € if you will stay in a hotel.

This meeting of gourmandes Tracks can also be an opportunity to pamper yourself with a dinner at the restaurant level Table D’Ours, the only one with a Michelin star around Val d’Isere. Also with a star under his belt, the Chabichou or La Table du Kilimandjaro, in the elegant station of Courchevel, the Flocons de Sel in Megeve or Albert 1er in Chamonix.

And if you have the whim to book a table at Michelin star restaurant with highest in Europe, then we must move towards the Oxalys l’Val Thorens. In an incredible view at 2,300 meters, its chef, Jean Sulpice, even taught Sunday afternoon cooking classes for, like him, good skiing enthusiasts and best eating.

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The best views of the world

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Travel Info

We chose a single view by continent of those breathtaking, often with a restaurant or bar to enjoy unique moments on the top.

At the top of the Eiffel Tower
Who could have told that the controversial Eiffel poor hulk of 324 meters up in the heart of Paris for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 would eventually become the symbol of the capital and up throughout France, not to mention the most visited monument planet. “Scrap Pile” or “hollow candlestick” was some of the nice things in those years she devoted to the scandalized Parisian Eiffel Tower, which avoided being dismantled thanks mainly to their heights, were appropriate for all types of antennas placed.

Today, converted rather in “the great iron lady”, offers unbeatable views of the capital of the Seine from its three floors open to the public. Inside, in addition, the lavish budgets can reserve a table the legendary Le Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor. And if the book is not for so many joys, the brasserie of the first 58 Tour Eiffel, proposed far more moderate prices to some views too precious. And at the top, champagne glass in his bar.

The Big Apple from the Empire State Building
Normal to Rio de Janeiro, with the splendid parorámica of the bay and the Cidade Maravilhosa who spend the heights of Christ the Redeemer, can not agree with this selection. But like it or not, New York is the capital of the world, and views of the Empire State Building, in the middle of Fifth Avenue are moving around the world since even before King Kong climb to the summit back in 1933.

It is no coincidence that this giant art-deco style and is 443’2 feet in the retina of all. His ‘Majesty’ has appeared, among many others, in films such as Superman, Coogan’s Bluff, Independence Day, Kramer vs. Kramer, Taxi Driver, New York Stories, With North by Northwest, On the Waterfront and whether, also was where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were found in the most famous scene from Sleepless in Seattle.

This skyscraper built in record time in the early 30’s again officiates as chief of New York after the attack on the Twin Towers. It rises almost a mile above the heart of Manhattan, with a veranda on the ground 86 and another in the 102-particularly romantic evening, because close at two o’clock, and three restaurants, cafes and even a post Post for mailing postcards from as top friends.

The mother of all cities from the Cairo Tower
A city with the vibrancy of Cairo must be lived from the road: the very close of the bazaars of Khan el Khalili or mosques and mansions adorned with decadent called Islamic Cairo, the Coptic neighborhood, studded with ancient churches, or choked stricter traffic of downtown. But occasionally there is also a stop at the crowd and the noise and give the soul a little respite. To do this, nothing better to hire a felucca for a few hours sailing down the Nile or, again, climb the 187 feet of the Tower of Cairo for, incidentally, wore one of the most breathtaking views of this “mother of all cities.”

Built in the 60s on the island of Gezira, one of the most modern and elegant neighborhoods of downtown, offers as high a restaurant surrounded by windows, very slowly rotates so that the diners are not lost or one of the angles, a bird’s eye view of the city are exhibited. While not required to dine there to admire the view. One can simply upload the picture to spot or have a drink. The witching sunset when the lights begin to twinkle from Cairo, is the most desirable.

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Travelling to Gijon

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Travel Info

On the eve of Christmas, you go through downtown Verdú and Coppelia and buy some of their candies, which are justly famous, as its ice cream in summer time. And if you keep trying sweets, you can choose one of two proposed routes Gijón greedy. For a price of 7 € you have the opportunity to taste the specialties of the city in the five stores of your choice or link between the two routes proposed for 13 €. Do not miss the yolk princesses’ confectionery and candy La Playa La Fe or Helguera. Tickets can be purchased online at the offices of Infogijón.

Neighborhood Cimadevilla
Get lost in the plazas and streets of this ancient district of fishermen, shellfish and cigarette. Start at the church of San Pedro, at the back of Campo Valdés and ends at the Plaza del Marqués. Along the route will pass through the museum of Roman Baths, the Palace of Valdés, Jovellanos Birthplace Museum, the Chapel of the Remedies, the Casa de Nava, the Clock Tower, the Place de la Corrada, sculpture Praise Horizon, the Palace of Revillagigedo-day International Contemporary Art Center-the rula and marina.

He finishes the fall in the Botanic Garden
Before the autumn comes to an end, the walk through the Botanic Garden, located two kilometers from downtown, is more than recommended. It offers all the charm of unspoiled nature and a repertoire of nearly 30,000 plants and up to 2,000 different species. This year there is one more incentive: one Sunday a month, the garden becomes a real movie scenes in which discover the different offices of the art of cinematography.

Education City of Culture
Installed in the ancient craft of the Technical College, this space is dedicated to modern art exchange, a center for interaction and dialogue between art and industrial design. You can visit one of the exhibitions that welcomes, attend an art show in the renovated theater and then enjoy the view from the balcony open to the public on top of its tower. A 74 meter high panoramic Gijón is unforgettable.

With children in the Aquarium
If traveling with family, the Aquarium is one of the essential parts of your route. Salmon, eels, otters, trout, sturgeon, penguins, turtles and sharks almost three meters are some of the 5,000 animals that live in it. A recreational area that offers a journey of about two hours for 60 tanks of freshwater and saltwater to know in detail the flora and fauna of the seas. In addition to an area “Toca Toca” in small pools where they can touch starfish, small fish or sea cucumbers, has audience-which includes a giant aquarium and shop.

Get on the lookout in the park of La Atalaya
Elogio del Horizonte, the powerful sculpture of Eduardo Chillida, has become the emblem of Gijón. Located on the hill of Santa Catalina in an environment of meadows by the sea, this volume of concrete that seems to contain the winds and waters of the Cantabrian Sea is not only an excellent viewpoint of the environment, if you put inside you can enjoy a particular sound of the sea. If you want to continue enjoying sculptural, streets and city parks have become a veritable outdoor museum. Of interest are Galileo Galilei and Landscape Germinador XV, in the park of Cabo San Lorenzo, all shades of light on Earth Mayán, Casablanca, or the Tower of Memory in the park Moreda.

Winches and cider
That the council of Gijón is one of the most wineries has everything Asturias noticeable especially on a walk through certain areas of the city. Winches as it is called here the cider, Cimadevilla abound in the environment of the Plaza Mayor or Begoña.

Afternoon coffee
This city has an unusual number of cafes. Many of these places stand out as having a personality, almost always expressed by the decor or the activities they offer: music, exhibitions, jazz, film … Highlights include the Dindurra, the Gijón, the antiquarian or the Amber Cafe.

A very artistic evening
The night can start with a symbolic representation in the theater Jovellanos. Opened in July 1899 preserved, after an extensive renovation, all the taste of the big arenas. Located on the promenade and also revamped Begoña Park has at Dindurra coffee, a perfect complement to any artistic evening.

Gijón, a real sailor
Because of the close relationship the city has with the sea is clear from the San Lorenzo beach, this lively area at any time of day is the great showcase of Gijón, but also has other urban and rural beaches. But also give a good account of this bond or other spaces, like the west, the lighthouse of Cape Torres, the Coastal Path …, and cuisine, where fish and seafood are the stars of its seafood.

Trilogy of flavors
This weekend is your chance to enjoy the ‘Gastronomic days of callus’ on any of the participating restaurants. The menu is priced at 18 €, drinks separately. At the cocktail hour, be sure to go through the House of Coffee and prove his trilogy of flavors on a bed of peppers, which has won this month at the ‘II Championship Gijon Skewers’. After that, keep the route on the premises that have been finalists and compare oysters! Of Cucurrabucu, the filling calabación seafood and mussels in cider jelly and hollandaise for Dist & Tinto or the Salad anchovy lasagna in the Bellavista .

The benefits of the sea
Enjoy the effects of the marine environment Talasoponiente, a modern Thalassotherapy Center on the edge of the sea. The day should begin with a stroll along the beach and precede with the first marine and seaweed baths. Later, a little exercise and beauty treatments, after passing through the dry sauna or steam bath. After taking forces mealtimes, baths await sailors to stimulate the body.

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