Athens, Greece, with a whirl of history

Athens, Greece, with a whirl of history Athens is the pre-eminent city of Greece and the arrival of destination. N. city mixes history and a chaotic energy better in Athens. Athens Athens is city with stunning archeological sites, colors neighbors, overcrowding and smog like you? Ve ever seen. For many travelers, the overall impression is that of a poetic chaos. The streets are full, the taxi drivers are nuts and shops seem to pay the sidewalks and in the middle of the road. But in the midst of the chaos you? Find peaceful places like the Acropolis, but with the tourists. The story can be? T Greece talk talk, without the impact on Greek civilization. The city is full of sites of major importance. This is not the place where you? Ll face an old man, and Lord Sir so and so fought so and so to death in a duel that something important set weak. Instead, you? Ll First monument to civilization where a leap forward. The Acropolis is the dominant archaeological site in Athens. It 'one of those rare places where it is possible the large number of tourists not to reduce the impact. High above Athens, the Acropolis has seen better days, until you consider how old it is. The Erechtheion and the Pantheon, the two permanent structures, and both are impressive. During the Pantheon, is that possible? T help, but impressed by the ability of the Greeks, to reach such a height, stone structure, where a large part of humanity still considered a luxury lodge. The Erechtheion is surprising because the famous caryatids, the columns form elements in the form of female figures. Standing on the mountain, you? Ll look at Greece, showing the chaos and a feeling of age in the city. Athens has much to offer besides the Acropolis. Books on this subject. Great books. I? M is not to try to do here, but you must show, in Tower of Winds, where the Whirling Dervishes Machines has its beginning. A walk through Athens is like walking into history. They say that time travel is impossible, but Athens seems to suggest otherwise

Lapland Polar Dreams in Finalnd

Lapland Polar Dreams in Finalnd This capital is a cosmopolitan and friendly to everyone. Everyone speaks English, what? S and safe? M said, the city cleaner air for Europe. E 'virtually no graffiti as elegant Esplanade promenade. This is the avenue of shops and cafes. The sidewalks are heated. The culture here with 7 symphonic orchestras, opera and a library in every coer. The fins are large in the design and big names have left their distinctive mark in the world with the style vanguard. I am grateful to be here at the invitation of the Finnish Tourism a site inspection of conferences and travel. After checking into a hotel, gave me a tour of the city by Irene, a local guide with sincere passion for his city. There are 560,000 inhabitants and 43% are single! What a place for a creative jouey AFS. Finland is 10% water with 187,000 lakes and 584 islands. This is a high-tech capital of the world. The fins have an extreme appreciation for innovation and love their toys. The daily activities are preformed on their Nokia phones Imaging. With it you can buy a tram ticket, pay a parking fine or his program to tu on the lights before coming home. This is also? Sauna World? where almost every house has a sauna electricity. There are over 2 million, and are also a few restaurants. Caf? Tin Tango is a place where you can make clothes, lunch and enjoy a beer in a sauna with a discussion on how to solve the world? Problems. The commercial is a great designer of knitwear, jewelry and glassware. Even though prices are high deductible, but they told me to Oslo is much more expensive. At night, the local clubs that offer some Nordic countries, as a rarity? Gay karaoke?, Sauna and ice bar. Sunday, the Polar Express to fly 600 miles north Roveneimi, the gateway to Lapland, where the fun begins. People here ride bikes snow, swimming in ice holes and do arctic picnic. The hottest activities happen in winter. Last month, the city of 35,000 has received 20,000 visitors. This is 2? Fahrenheit feels exceptionally hot and we are a group of 22 tour operators from around the world and check into a cozy lodge. Each room has a private sauna. Dinner is presented in a rustic hostel with traditional candles tued the lights. Glow-fried salmon was prepared over an open heart, along with mushroom soup and blackberry mousse. After we gather to bake in a wood smoke sauna. Monday moing with head to toe Gortex Arctic suitable for a full day safari in the snow. Each of us mount our super Skidoo and head out of the woods. By the lakes that reach speeds of 50 mph! First stop is a husky farm with 200 dogs to greet us. Seven blue-eyed husky are elected sled dog sled for our adventure. The cacophony of yelping, howling and barking is almost deafening as the dogs anxiously await their tu to run. So strong, so sweet and they love their work. After the release of string, which? New way as a bullet and the jouey is exciting. Come and see 9 new puppies. After a thousand lame, I hate to leave. We stop at a farm lunch saut? And Reno, potato and goat cheese cranberry ice cream. Back on our snowmobiles, we traverse a snowy paradise. Cross the Arctic Circle, the northemost land of all my travels. Parallel to Siberia, and only 40 miles from the border with Russia, but first I want to defect to a stop reindeer farm to be received by Custom Lapp boys. Carrying out normal? Lappish baptism? and give us an official certificate of entry, as well as a driver of reindeer? s license. Then, enjoy a sleigh ride deer docile yet powerful. This is the land of the indigenous Sami. We lea the fascinating culture of these semi-nomads who live on the top of the world. Reindeer husbandry is the most ancient way of life. Possess a true love of this frozen land. We had 4 hours of daylight today. How to change back into my jeans, I remember that I have never cold, even my fingers. We Luosto buses to the north, a town of 40 residents and check into a beautiful ski resort. Outside my balcony is a scene of wildlife. The purity of nature is displayed through a forest of birch trees backlit by the moon. Snow listen. White silence surrounds me. I was entranced by the tranquility. This is a romance in which all is forgotten in a hurry. It 'simply spectacular. Here I was expecting. Here on Earth, the Aurora Borealis presents its most impressive performance. Maybe? Ll take a look. A peaceful sleep overcomes me completely after a hard day. The day after we dine on a breakfast of smoked fish and tu to the area. An account with 310 log cabins, each with a private sauna. We made amethyst mine, the largest working mine in Europe. With peaks in the hand is a treasure hunt to dig out the brightest purple gemstone. In the small town of skiing Pyhä, where a lunch at the largest in the world access to the cabin. There is a snow chapel here entirely sculpted from snow and ice. Weddings are conducted regularly. Ice shelves, the sermons are short. Another highlight was the visit to the village of Santa Claus. I have to comply? Real? Santa. He lives here and speaks a dozen languages. His elves are busy at the post office to answer the annual letters to 40,000 children throughout the world. Back at the airport, our plane takes off from a runway of ice solid. I miss the polar darkness and yet long to retu for a visit in the summer with 24 hours of sunlight. The following day is spent productively for the travel fair for contemporary art in Helsinki. I leaed a lot of land that has exceeded my expectations. Never had the opportunity to stay oveight in the ice hotel in Kemi, ride Sampo Ice Breaker or swim in the Baltic Sea survival suit floating. But I? I am grateful for the taste of Lappish adventure. During my last night, a flickering of northe lights dance in the sky. What? Sa perfect place for my bid farewell and said good luck. I hope the luck I may be permitted the opportunity to share this adventure with a group before. It 'like no other place where I? I was. Everyone should experience a warm atmosphere in the heart in winter.