Dedicated to Nefertiti’s 100 Year Anniversary. Nefertiti was the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Owing to her Bust, a 3,300-year-old painted limestone, Nefertiti has become one of the most famous women of the ancient world, and an icon of feminine beauty. The work is believed to have been crafted in 1345 BC by the sculptor Thutmose. A …
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The Pantheon (Rome, Italy) was built almost 1,900 years ago in times of the great Roman Empire. For about 500 years the Pantheon served as a temple to all the Gods. The temple was converted into the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs in 609. The Pantheon now contains the tombs of the famous artist Raphael and several Italian …
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It was so much fun to watch joyful faces of the visitors of Salzburg’s (Austria) 400 years old Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn). One of the attractions here is a water garden where for an admission fee of 9.50 Euros (Children- 4.50) you can get soaked by trick fountains hidden everywhere- in the benches, statues, pathways… If you like to get …
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How great the robe of liberation A formless field of merit. Wrapping ourselves in Buddha’s teaching, We save all beings. [Dogen. Kesa Kudoku] I have been thinking that Buddhist monks wear orange or maroon robes and shave their heads as a symbol of simplicity. But, it is not that simple! Working on this post, I have found an article which …
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85 years ago the numbered highway system was born in the United States. One of the first numbered highways was Route 66 – a highway from Chicago to Los Angeles, the US Mother Road. Today my Friday Flashback is from the place where “End of the Trail” sign is installed – Santa Monica pier, the ending point of Route 66. …
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According to a legend, Rome, Italy was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, who were raised by Lupa (a she-wolf). It’s hard to imagine what would happen to our Civilization if Lupa didn’t rescue the twins from the Tiber River. It would be no Roman Art, Sculpture, Latin literature, Music… Simply no Colosseum, no Piazza Navona, no Trevi …
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This is another Memory Flashback of Paris. The photos have been taken all over the City,- literally from Rue de Rivoli to Montmartre. Happy Friday! Rue de Rivoli is one of the most famous streets of Paris, a commercial street whose shops include the most fashionable names in the world. It bears the name of Napoleon’s early victory against the …
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Moscow, Russia was the last city on my trip so called “From Russia With Love”, which included three major cities of the former Soviet Union- Minsk, Grodno, and Moscow. During an entire trip I was really looking forward to explore the capital of Russia. My only concern was the weather (it might get really cold and wet in spring). Fortunately, …
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Edinburgh is my favorite city in the United Kingdom so far. I have found it as a very cozy old city with amazing skyline, beautiful architecture, friendly people, fun nightlife, fresh sea-breath, and, of course, with Edinburgh Castle! Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was one of the major centers of the Enlightenment, led by the …
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Cancun is my preferred “All-inclusive vacation” destination in Caribbean. Besides the Bright Sun, White Sandy Beaches, Colorful Underwater Diving, and Caribbean Cocktails there is always an opportunity for exploration of Mayan / Mexican culture. Cancun is located on the Yucatan Channel that separates Mexico from the island of Cuba in the Greater Antilles. The Cancun region is sometimes known as …
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Pittsburgh is located on the Allegheny Plateau, where the confluence of the Allegheny River from the northeast and Monongahela River from the southeast form the Ohio River. The Downtown area between the rivers is known as the Golden Triangle, and the site at the actual convergence, which is occupied by Point State Park, is referred to simply as “the Point.” …
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New York City, with a population of over 8,000,000 people, is the most populous city in the United States. It is known for its status as a financial, cultural, transportation, and manufacturing center, and for its history as a gateway for immigration to the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, it is also a destination of choice …
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