My Travelog

Glasgow is the largest, and most lively, city in Scotland with excellent opportunities for shopping and a highly enjoyable night scene. For the more artistic visitor there are countless places to sit and relax in the West End which has cafés, bars, boutiques, tea rooms, clubs and restaurants as well as some upmarket Glasgow bed and breakfast. In the following article I will describe 3 attractions in Glasgow which should be of special interest to those of you who love all things artistic; the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the House For An Art Lover and the Burrell Collection:

The Burrell Collection

In 1944, The Burrel Collection was gifted to the city of Glasgow by Sir william and Lady Burrell and the collection can be viewed at Pollok Country Park in the south of the city This astounding collection of art works is made up of over 9 thousand items. The collection is very diverse containing a selection of modern art sculptures and a superb collection of Islamic art. You will find works of art by artists such as Degas and Cezanne. Besides sculptures and paintings visitors can enjoy the beautiful collection of alabasters, stained glass, tapestries and English furniture. On top of all this, the Burrell Collection also has an incredibly important collection of art from the medieval period and collections from ancient China and Egypt.

House For An Art Lover

The House For An Art Lover is one of the most popular attractions in Glasgow. The Art Nouveau House was originally designed by Glasgow’s most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh who was aided by his talented wife.

Actually the design was an entry for a competition of 1901 to create a design for a ‘House for an Art Lover’, however, the entry by the Mackintoshs’ was disqualified from the competition because it was submitted late. Luckily, more than 100 years later the house is located in Bellahouston Park due to the hard work of the engineer Graham Roxburgh and architect Professor Andy Macmillan. Construction started in the year nineteen eighty nine, stopped for a short time but restarted in nineteen ninety four thanks to the collaboration between the Glasgow City Council and Glasgow School of Art.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

One of Scotland’s finest museums and art galleries, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery is where you will find one of the greatest civic art collections in Europe, but also it has been voted one of the most popular free to enter tourist attractions to be found in Scotland.

You will find Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the banks of the River Kelvin, on Argyle Street, in the West End of Glasgow. The gallery was built in a Spanish Baroque styleusing the traditional Glaswegian material of red sandstone. The gallery was designed by Sir John W. Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen and opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1901. The collections in the museum were originally from the McLellan Galleries and the old Kelvingrove House Museum.

If you are thinking about having a city break in the Scottish city of Glasgow you will discover a large selection of online hotels and guest houses providing Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. You will find a comprehensive listing of Glasgow hotels and guest houses at http://www.glasgowhotelscotland.com/

Madrid Spain is one of the primary tourist destinations in Europe. Not only is this place very beautiful, it is also the home of many interesting historical places. No wonder that the Madrid Spain airport is always busy throughout the year.

If you are visiting Europe for the first time, you should not miss Madrid Spain and its vibrant, colorful and very friendly atmosphere. Moreover, the cost of living in Madrid Spain is slightly cheaper compared to other parts of Europe so if you are on a tight budget, Madrid is a good option for you. This place can offer you a lot of things for less.

Getting Around And Enjoying Your Stay In Madrid Spain

There are plenty of things to see and do while staying in this beautiful city. If you are staying for some weeks, you will have the luxury of time to watch the city at a leisurely pace. However, if you cannot stay long and you only have a couple of days to explore the city, you need to make sure that you visit some of the most interesting places that Madrid Spain has to offer. To be able to visit the most interesting parts of the city, you need to understand the general lay-out of the city of Madrid. It will be easier for you to get around the city if you know where the roads are heading. No, it is not difficult to get to know the general lay-out of the city. Just get a map or a GPS then use this instrument to find your way around.

Exploring Madrid Spain During The Day

When exploring Madrid during the day, you should start with visiting the museums and galleries with the city. Since there are many museums and galleries around the city, you need to narrow your choices to at least two of the most interesting ones. Why only two? Museums in Madrid Spain are huge and they contain a lot of things that are worth seeing. You cannot possible visit more than two of these places in a day without getting worn-out. Besides, if you only have very limited time to explore Madrid Spain, you need to go to places other than Museums and galleries. Remember that Madrid Spain is not just about museums and galleries.
 
Exploring Madrid Spain At Night

Madrid Spain has some of the finest bars and restaurants in Europe. The nightlife in this part of the world is also spectacular. If you love to party, you have to check out some of the bars around Madrid before you leave the city.

Spending the whole of my vacation on the beach has never been my idea of fun. Don’t get me wrong, I often spend time relaxing on a sunny beach, but, I like to travel inland a little too. I like to soak in the atmosphere, I also like to experience the local food and culture. If the truth be known I simply enjoy visiting new places each year and I try very hard attempting to discover something or somewhere one hundred percent different. Most probably this is why I enjoy visits to the island in the Hebrides named the Isle of Harris and why I frequently decide to book a Harris self catering cottage.

The Isle of Harris is a little island situated off the west of Scotland. Harris is one of hundreds of little isles/islands  frequently referred to as the Outer Hebrides, although to be 100% correct the UK postal address is the Western Isles. Known as either the Western Isles or the Outer Hebrides the islands are beautiful in the extreme and fascinatingly unique. For those folk who enjoy spending time on a beach with golden sands the Isle of Harris has countless to choose from and nearly all are wonderful and often deserted. It sometimes feels as though beyond each twist and turn you are met with a truly awesome sight. The Isle of Harris roads are drastically different to those experienced on the mainland of Scotland single track roads are very common and you will have to know how to use passing places to allow oncoming traffic to pass but also to let traffic from behind to pass. Just remember to stop on the left of the road. However, if it is a large vehicle wishing to pass and the passing place is to the right hand side of the road you can carefully pull over into to it to let the said vehicle pass more easily but take great care not to end up off the road too much.

One of the most common factors in attracting visitors to the Isle of Harris is to enjoy the islands landscape and culture. The Harris culture has, over time been incredibly influenced by the Scottish, English, Norse and Celtic races. These days Gaelic is the most widely spoken language and though many talk in English, it is more often than not their 2nd language. The Harris people are amongst the most friendly on the planet earth and the hospitality is well known across the globe. The Harris folk are incredibly proud of the breathtaking beauty of the island and try very hard to keep the island tidy and clean so it is crucially important to minimise your own mess.

Dotted along the south west coast of the Isle of Harris are to be found some of the most incredibly beautiful sandy beaches in all of Scotland, and many people believe the whole of the United Kingdom. You will notice that the waters are very clear and it is true to say that the Isle of Harris beaches are lovely and clean. Unfortunately it is impossible to avoid debris washing up from ships in the Atlantic ocean but thankfully there isn’t much.

If you are in the process of deciding about taking a vacation Harris the why not give some thought to staying in an Isle of Harris self catering house please visit http://www.isleofharrisselfcateringhouse.co.uk/

Rome, the Winter Olympic Games , Wine, Ferrari, pretty beaches – Italy has it all. If you are considering traveling to Italy, here are some things you must know.

An helicopter view of Italy for Travelers

From a ECU viewpoint, there’s little doubt that Italy is the foundation of modern society in the West. This is conclusion is basically due to 2 facts, the reign of the Romans and the Roman Catholic Church.

In more modern times, Italy changed into a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, together with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor Emmanuel II. An age of parliamentary central authority came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship. His catastrophic coalition with Nazi Germany led to Italy’s defeat in WWII.

A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and business revival followed. Italy was a charter member of the ECU Business Community. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification. Determined issues include illegal immigration, arranged crime, corruption, high unemployment, slow industrial expansion, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared to the prosperous north.

If you are going to Italy, these are some basic things you must know.

1. Northern Italy is well off whilst the south is not. 

2. Italy is slightly larger than the state of Arizona.

3. Italy’s climate is generally Mediterranean with Alpine in far north and hot, dry areas in the south.

4. Vatican Town in Rome is considered an independent country.

5. You cannot get into any area of the Vatican wearing shorts.

6. Rome had the first paved streets in 170 B.C. Vehicles needed to be banned due to traffic jams!

7. Roman gladiators were the first athletes to endorse products.

8. Considered one of the oddest Emperors, Caligula appointed his horse to a senate position among other more infamous actions.

9. Roman statutes were very utilitarian. The heads could be removed and replaced to reflect the changes in political climate.

10. When the Roman army lost a battle, they actually took it hard. Commanders would kill each tenth soldier under their command. This act is the root of the word “decimate.”

11. Surprising to many is the fact there were significant time periods where traditional Rome had no Emperor. The senate would rule. In times of threat, the senate would elect somebody as Emperor. He had comprehensive power, giving rise to the term tyrant.

12. Massive percentages of Romans died from lead poisoning. They used is as a sweetener!

13. In the early 1900’s, Prince Piero Ginori Conti invented the geothermal pump. He is regarded the daddy of modern geothermal power.

14. Twenty Italians have won the Nobel Prize.

15. Michelangelo’s real name is Michelangelo Buonarroti.

16. The population of Italy as of 2005 was 58,103,033 people.

17. The flag of Italy was inspired by the French flag brought in 1797 by Napoleon.

18. Lehman Bros owns 7 p.c of Ferrari.

19. Italy trails only Brazil in World Cup wins.

Italy is an amazing country with colorful, animated people. From traditional culture to a bustling modern country, a trip to Italy is tough to beat.

If you find this article useful, you may also visit famouswonders.com to read more about some of the best places to visit and have a look at Italy travel guide.

For such a small total landmass, Japan has left an undeniable stamp on human history. If you are considering Japan as a destination, here is a top level view of the country.

An outline of Japan for Travelers

Extending along the eastern coast of East Asia, Japan is a country composed from a collection of a collection of islands. The mainland, as we think of it, is the island of Honshu. There are 3 other enormous islands, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and roughly 3,000 much smaller islands comprising what we call Japan. Put together, the total land mass is rather smaller than California. The geography throughout the islands is mountainous, best exemplified by Mt. Fuji at 12,385 feet. As you could expect, the island country is intrinsically recognition of a volcanic are and Japan experiences quakes reasonably often, some on a massive scale.

Japan is an highly urbanized country with the majority living in major cities. The 2 distinguished faiths are Shintoism and Buddhism. The belief systems are harmonious and regularly share the same temples.

Per legend, Japan was founded by Emperor Jimmu around 600 BC. The current emperor is a descendent of the 1st.

The first interaction with the West was in 1542 when a lost Portuguese ship landed in Japan. Over the next century more Westerns came, but they weren’t trusted. The Japan shoguns finally banned all foreigners and the country was isolated for over 200 years. Not until 1854 did Japan open its doors to the world under the Convention of Kanagawa with the U. S. Once this occurred, Japan quickly evolved from a feudal state to a more modern approach.

World War I was a boon for Japan. Fighting on the side of the victorious Allies, Japan repeated new respect as an industrial and army power following the defeat of the Axis. Alas, the emperor of Japan went in a different direction after the war, seeking dominance of China and Pacific Rim usually.

In 1937, Japan became a friend of Fascist German. This finally led to its decision to chase an attack on Pearl Bay on December 7, 1941. Following four years of war, the loss of 3 million Japanese lives and 2 atomic bombings, Japan surrendered to the United States On Sep two, 1945. It was stripped of the majority of its territorial holdings and was ruled de facto by General Douglas MacArthur, appointed the Ultimate Chief .

Following World War II, Japan turned to a democratic system thru reforms. The U.S. and allies returned complete control to Japan on April 28, 1952 thru the Contract of Peace. Though its days as an army power were over, Japan once more became an industrial giant. Notwithstanding its comparatively little land mass, Japan has the second largest economy in the planet.

Modern day Japan covers 145,902 square miles. The capital is Tokyo. The terrain is most fittingly described as rough, mountainous islands with varying temperatures.

The people of Japan are called “Japanese.” The total population is just over 127.4 million folk, but the population is decreasing a little in size. Eastern is the essentially language spoken and literacy rates are 99 percent. Japanese males have a life outlook of 77 years while women live to 84 usually.

With its mountainous island landscape, Japan is a hot destination spot for travelers. It is expensive, but a visit to Mount Fuji alone makes a trip worthwhile.

For more information about travel and useful tips for tourists, visit famouswonders.com and check out places to visit in Japan.