Royal opera House in London

Architecturally grand Royal Opera House at the London Covent Garden , which was built in 1858, today is a residence of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera. Only the main auditorium has remained since the original building, the rest of the complex was redeveloped in 1999.

The Royal Opera House in London has been a place to host every major performance by the classic music star since the opening and today is an attractive venue to opera and ballet admirers. For finest opera and ballet experience the Royal Opera House in London is a must.

The London Royal Opera House offers an insight into the building itself and the activities that take place inside it. The glass Floral Hall is one of the highlights as it is now restored and used as a reception area for the opera house.

One of London's most spectacular concert venues, the Royal Opera House in London is worth visiting as a part of your London experience, whether you like opera and ballet or simply want to explore the grand architecture.
No visit to London is complete without a visit to Covent Garden, a most atmospheric London institution.

In addition to an arts and crafts market, outdoor street performers who would do the Royal Albert and lots more.Hall proud, perform on the sidewalks for free (Well there is always a hat passed around at the end!)

London Covent Garden's restaurants, bars, shops and street entertainers make it the ideal location for a great day or night out. The London Covent Garden is world famous for its jugglers, musicians and mime artists.

In the Arts and Crafts Market hall, you will find you will find 120 craftsmen selling their original handmade Arts and Crafts, Ceramics, Knit-wear, Pottery, Silk Screen Printing, Etching, Chinese Art, Hand Painted House Plaques & House Signs, Heraldry, Coats of Arms, Hand Painted Crests & Shields, Board Games, Enameling, Jewellery, Wooden Toys, Goldsmiths, Doll Houses, Silversmiths, Glassware, Hobo Dolls, Calligraphy, Lace-ware, Mohair Sweaters, Cardigans and Coats, Soft Toys and Dolls, Luxury Bathrobes, Wood Turning, Karum game boards

When tourists check into a hotel, many often ask for London map and two locations: the hotel's and Covent Garden's. It is easy to understand why - it is one of the most popular areas not only to shop, dine, but also one of the most favourite place to 'go out'. Entertainment varies from the street entertainment and the long-standing tradition of the Punch and Judy show to performances at the world famous Royal Opera House. The range of restaurants is great - from cheap take aways to fancy dinners - London Covent Garden is a popular choice among Londoners and visitors.

The London Hyde park

Hyde Park is the largest park in central London with 390 acres of land, famous for its Speaker's Corner. In the 19th century the London Hyde Park had become a popular place for meetings and Speaker's Corner was established to create a dedicated area to anyone who wishes to speak about anything. This popular place is near Marble Arch corner and attracts many curious visitors. You can hear something completely ridiculous or very serious. Sunday is the best day to visit Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park as it is always the busiest day and entertainment is guaranteed.

The Hyde Park in London is vast and has a children's playground and plenty of space to play. Divided in two by the Serpentine Lake, the park often hosts concerts and open air music concerts.

Originally owned by the church, Hyde Park in London has been a royal park since the 1530's when Henry VIII seized it.

The London Hyde Park is also a very vibrant place for both active and passive retreat. Rollerblading, rowing, wildlife watching, Hyde Park stables for horse riding, eating out and playgrounds are just a few of many activities available at the Hyde Park in London.

Nearest Hotel : Quality Crown Hotel Hyde Park - This elegant Victorian Town House hotel is situated in a quiet London garden square just 15 minutes from London Heathrow by Heathrow Express. It is close by Marble Arch, Paddington and London Oxford Street. wifi and a range of rooms includes Traditional 4 Poster Rooms and luxurious Studio Suites. A quality airport hotel in the centre of London.
Horse Riding in London Hyde Park
Hyde Park Stables in London
Many would argue that the most natural way to enjoy the countryside is on horseback. Hyde Park Stables in London offer horse riding and lessons all year round in one of the most beautiful London parks - Hyde Park. With five miles of bridleways for horse riding in London's Hyde Park beside the Serpentine Lake you will definitely discover the beauty of horse riding. You will also get a chance to exercise in two outdoor riding areas.

Horse riding at London Hyde Park will not disappoint whether you are a professional horse rider or someone with passion for horses. You can do it for fun with friends and family as Hyde Park Stables in London offer special group and private horse rides and lessons. Horse riding is pricy, but it is worth it! Riding in England is a long-established tradition and horse riding in London Hyde Park is a wonderful experience.

Historical sites in Italy

Few countries in the world can boast a collection of historical monuments as great in magnitude as Italy can. As the birthplace of both the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, there is no lack of historical sites in Italy.

First and foremost, millions of people per year visit Rome in hopes of witnessing just a glimpse into the past, a glimpse into the power and majesty that was the Roman Empire. A whole host of notable historical figures in Italy reigned from inside Rome"s walls, from Julius Caesar to Caligula, from Mark Antony to Constantine. It was the combination of Julius plans and Augustus Caesar"s execution that were the critical steps towards cementing Rome

s place in history. Before corruption and inept rulers destroyed it, theirs was the height of the Roman Empire, which left the city strewn with some of the most important historical monuments in Italy. The Roman forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Palatine hill and Circus Maximus, the list goes on and on, spiraling into a cavalcade of so many historical sites in Italy that they have to be seen to be believed.

The Middles Ages brought about a power shift, from the crumbling Roman Republic to the wide-sweeping influence of the Vatican. Suddenly Rome was a quaint reminder of the past, and all the wealth and control centered in the religious capital of the world. All this is on display within the city's current borders. St. Peter's is still one of the most remarkable historical monuments in Italy, and the treasures accumulated within the boundaries of his square, along with the immeasurable treasures kept under lock and key at the Vatican Museum - the crown jewel being Michelangelo's famed masterwork inside the Sistine chapel - are a tangible reminder of the grandeur of another era.

But historical sites in Italy are not limited to this one city - they sprawl unchecked throughout the countryside, with significant treasures located in nearly every town. Florence is decked out with relics and artifacts from the birth of the renaissance movement, their work evident in many of the historical monuments in Italy. The Accademia Gallery holds Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David, and the Uffizi Gallery holds the world's largest collection of art from this substantial period of human growth. The crossroads to some of the most important historical figures in Italy, such as Dante, Da Vinci, and the Medici family, Florence is the prized capital of Tuscany.

Venice includes Saint Mark's amongst its many fortunes and its vast waterways and sweeping renaissance palaces make it one of the most astonishing historical sites in Italy. Genoa displays a wondrous mix of new and old - the city is the proud home of some of the most influential historical figures in Italy, such as Christopher Columbus. Milan was long the home of the fabled Hapsburgs, rulers who helped forge the identities of Northern Italy for centuries to come, helping the city to become one of the most prestigious and dazzling centers for fashion and financial services in the world. And Pisa boasts perhaps one of the most famous historical monuments in Italy, the beloved leaning tower, and its tilt preserved for centuries to come.

Historical place Hampi

Hampi is a laid back village that was the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu kingdoms in India’s history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape.
The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. The most striking monument is the Vittala Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Its main hall has 56 pillars that make musical sounds when struck.
Hampi Location:
Hampi is in central Karnataka, approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Bangalore.
Getting to Hampi:
The closest railway station is in Hospet, around half an hour away. Private buses also operate from Bangalore and Goa, and will drop you in Hospet. From Hospet, take an autorickshaw to Hampi. The fare is around 100 rupees ($2.30).
Hampi Opening Hours:
The ruins can be explored at leisure. The Vittala Temple is open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily, and it’s worth getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds. The Elephant Stables, which once housed the royal elephants, is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Hampi Cost:
There’s no cost to explore most of the ruins. The Vittala Temple and Elephant Stables are two places that do charge an entrance fee of $US 5 each for foreigners. Children younger than 15 years are free.

Hampi Festivals:
If you enjoy culture, make sure you catch the three day Hampi Festival (also known as the Vijaya Utsav) that's held in late January each year. Dance, drama, music, fireworks, and puppet shows all take place against the ruins of Hampi. Be prepared to battle the crowds though! Hampi also holds a Purandaradasa Aradhana classical music festival in January/February each year to celebrate the birthday of Purandaradasa, a poet who lived there. In March/April the largest religious festival in Hampi, the Virupaksha Car Festival, takes place to mark the annual marriage ritual of the gods and goddesses.
Hampi Travel Tips:
An incredible energy can be felt at Hampi. The sunrise and sunset over the village, viewed from atop the central Matanga Hill, are truly magical and are not to be missed. Be sure to have a comfortable pair of shoes with you as some of the ruins can only be accessed on foot and you’ll need to walk quite a distance in order to explore them. Try taking a ferry trip across the river to Anegondi and exploring the relics there. Alternatively, it's a good idea to hire a bicycle to get around. The best time to visit is from November to February. In March it starts getting unbearably hot.

The amajan forest

Many millions of years ago, in the Paleozoic era, all the land was part of a unique continent, the Pangaea. Salt water washed the Amazon region and possibly reached Peru and Bolivia . The end of the Paleozoic marks the incorporation of the Amazon River basin to the continent but only on the Cenozoic period great transformations took place and produced something similar to where the forest is located today. It's in this period that South America and Africa split from each other and started to create the Atlantic Ocean . At this time the Amazon River basin flow was towards the pacific side of the continent. The other great transformation was the appearance of the Andes mountain chain which after great geological processes changed the flow of the Amazon River basin from a western direction to an eastern flow toward the Atlantic Ocean . These two transformations were responsible for the future development of the Amazon rainforest as we know it today.

Later the sea levels lowered, because of the last glacial period, and sedimentation and erosion finished drawing what we see today in maps, creating many lakes and the first river courses.

Mankind first reached the Americas from the north of Asia , in the last glacial era when both continents were linked by a frozen ocean. Facing the new land, not inhabited by any other humans the first comers quickly spread over the north and started to move down to Central and South America .

In South America they split into cultures that started to live in the mountains of the Andes, in the Amazon rainforest and others to the south the Atlantic Forest . The Andes groups and the Amazon rainforest groups, although they developed different cultures, they were in touch with each other.

The Amazon rainforest groups spread their cultures and languages in a wealthy society that had some millions of individuals at the time the first Europeans reach the continent and started the colonization. These societies shared rituals and had commerce with each other in a large social net that would be disrupted with colonization. But, in the Amazon rainforest the impact of colonization remained with low until the second half of the twentieth century when governments started a massive campaign of Amazon colonization. These campaigns, principally in Brazil , were very effective, creating roads, cities and giving benefits for migration. This is where the problems for the Amazon rainforest began, just in the last 50 years from a history of some millions of years. In the last half century 15% of the Amazon rainforest was deforested mostly by fires.

Today the world has come to realize the Amazon rainforest problems and everywhere people are concerned about what they should do to help avoiding its destruction. Public awareness of this subject started slowly in the seventies alongside with the environmental movement. In the nineties, with the World Convention on the Environment the eyes were again on the Amazon rainforest and from that event until today the public is each day more concerned and aware of what happens in the Amazon region. Government policies from the Amazon region countries already started to address these problems, but they usually lack objectivity and resources to fully implement the chosen strategies. Today, there is wide area of protected areas like National Parks, Ecologic Stations and Biological Reserves to protect biodiversity. There are also a number of indigenous reservations to preserve their cultures.Now it is attractive of people. These are great, but if you take a closer look you will see a lack of financial resources to keep these areas really protected, fully equipped and with operational capacity to fight all the threats that are hurting the Amazon rainforest today. Non-profit organizations aid and economic relief (debt related) can help to solve this problem.