Handing out tax money to get people to buy cars was nothing more than robbing from our children to postpone the inevitable for the auto industry. But it was easy to sell: just make it a “green” program. Conserving energy! Stopping global warming! Saving the polar bears! And the flock of sheep we’ve become as a nation says, “Baaaaaa.”
Not only did “cash for clunkers” enable gas-guzzler motorists to buy new gas guzzlers, but the program was also rife with fraud. Much like the first-time homebuyer handouts, which are now going to be made permanent and extended to existing homeowners who want a new house. Just keep printing dollars, America. Party on.
Written by Travel News on November 5th, 2009 with no comments.
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The immortal city of Rome is never more stunning than at night when all of its incredible buildings, fountains, and piazzas are artfully lit. My girlfriend Kristin and I have explored several walks throughout the city at night, but we keep coming back to one in particular, which takes us past many of Rome’s most impressive sites. If you have a good map and are willing to go on an adventure, this walk is perfect for you.
After the sun has set, we make our way toward the Ponte Sisto, the bridge that spans the Tiber River near the Spada Gallery. After catching a glimpse of the ancient river, we head to the nearby piazza, Campo dei Fiori. Usually filled with college students and 20-somethings, the piazza is full of nighttime revelry. I like to buy a beer at a nearby convenience store and sit on the obelisk in the center of the piazza to take in the spectacle.
From Campo dei Fiori, walk along Via dei Baullari to the main street of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Crossing Via Vittorio Emanuele II, walk through Piazza S. Pantaleo and along Via della Posta Vecchia until you reach the fountain-filled Piazza Navona. Though refurbishing work is often being done on the fountains, there is always at least one fountain on display. The finely carved gods, horses, and mermaids reflect the light off of the water. Its wonderful!
Leave Piazza Navona by the street that goes through its center. Take the 
short side street to Corso de Rinascimento. Turn left on Rinascimento, then take your first right. This street takes you straight to the Pantheon. There is something unbelievable about the Pantheon at night. It seems even more massive, even more gargantuan. Its dome, made from poured concrete, is the largest of its kind. I am not architecturally inclined but the dome never fails to make me stare with amazement.
The next bit of navigation takes a little cunning. Leave Piazza D. Rotonda on Via d. Seminario and try to continue going straight. When you cross Via del Corso, you can look to your right and see the beautifully lit Museo dei Risorgimento in the distance. Do not turn right however, continue going straight. If you can navigate the slightly winding streets well, you will come to Via Vincenzo where you will see signs for the Trevi Fountain. Turn left on Via Vincenzo and you will run right into it. The beautiful fountain, usually overrun with people, is peaceful at night.
The Trevi Fountain is the last stop on our walk, though there are plenty of places to go to from the fountain. The entire walk—from Ponte Sisto to Trevi Fountain—should take about one hour if you walk quickly. I find it nearly impossible to finish in this time however, because there are so many great stops along the way.
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Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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Any tourist who visits Transylvania (western/central Romania) and asks “where’s Dracula?” is likely to be directed to Bran, the home of a medieval building that many tourist brochures call “Dracula’s Castle.” The 
problem: Bran actually has no connection with Dracula, whether you’re looking for the fictional Transylvanian count or the factual Wallachian prince. The consolation: Bran Castle is a stunning and spooky edifice whose true history is an interesting tale in itself.
As you approach the castle, you will encounter dozens of stalls that exploit the supposed Dracula connection by selling vampire-themed T-shirts, mugs and masks, as well as specimens of folk craft and musical instruments. So Bran is, among other things, a great place to buy a goofy souvenir.
If this commercialization seems a shame, it is worth bearing in mind that the real story of this castle, first constructed in the 14th century, has a lot to do with trade. Situated on a major road that linked the principalities of Transylvania and Wallachia, the castle was a customs point as well as a place where mercenary soldiers guarded the border. The castle, located atop a cliff, was erected by the citizens of nearby Brasov, the most southeasterly of the major cities of Transylvania. It would retain the function of Transylvanian border checkpoint until the 1800s.
Like the castle in Hunedoara, Bran Castle saw two particularly intense periods of physical development: during the era of Transylvanian ruler János Hunyadi in the 15th century, and during the time when Gábor Bethlen governed the area in the 17th century. The tallest part of the castle – the spindly tower with the lookout post at its peak – was added in 1622.
The castle started serving a different purpose after World War I, when there ceased to be a border here because Transylvania became a part of Romania. Owned by Brasov city until that point, the castle was donated to the royal family of Romania. Queen Maria adopted it as a summer residence during the 1920s and a small chapel in the castle grounds contains her heart.
A lot of what you see in the castle now, as you follow the designated tourist route around its four floors, dates back to Queen Maria’s period. You can see the bedrooms for the different members of the royal family, as well as their dining room, library and music room. Some furnishings reflect the fact that the queen – who was born in England – was a fan of Romanian folk crafts. But in addition 
to her touches, some artifacts from the frontier days are also on display, such as weapons and medieval traded goods.
The castle can be visited from 9 am till 5.30 pm, every day except Monday. Having wound around the different chambers, the route finally leads you to the pretty courtyard at the castle’s center.
Next to the castle, there is a “village museum” containing peasant buildings that were transferred here from villages in the surrounding area. The houses were originally constructed between the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century. You can look inside to get a 
taste of typical peasant interiors – as opposed to the royal version of them found in the castle itself.
Heavily tourist-oriented, the town of Bran has plenty of restaurants and hotels. Hanul Bran, with an extensive covered terrace that looks right up to the castle, is quite a pleasant restaurant. Try its “Castel” cutlet, a slab of pork topped by a big chunk of liver and slathered with melted cheese.
Related posts:
- Hunedoara: a True Gothic Transylvanian Castle …
Related posts:
- Hunedoara: a True Gothic Transylvanian Castle …
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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Sabina Lohr visited Salalah, Oman, just after monsoon season. While there, she got a unique taste of the region.
In Salalah, Oman, the annual khareef, or monsoon season, brings cool relief from the oppressive summertime temperatures felt throughout the rest of the country. Each year, many Middle Easterners travel to this town of 180,000 in the Dhofar region of Oman, on the Arabian Sea northeast of Yemen, from late June through September, when its desert skies fill with a drizzle that turns its brown landscape a temporary green. But after the khareef, during the autumn and winter, when the skies dry out and temperatures hover in the low- to mid-eighties, this little part of the earth becomes an ideal escape for Westerners craving a wintertime respite.
For my first visit to Salalah I wait until just after the end of the monsoon season, arriving in late September to find rolling hills blooming with grass, flowers, and foliage. The desert, starkly beautiful itself, is still visible through the greenery. My guide, Ali Amer Al-Mashani, leads me to a roadside stand where strips of camel meat hang to dry before being wrapped in foil and cooked over coals (above). I eat some, tangy and delicious. We make our way to another stand where we buy coconuts, drink the fresh milk inside and peel and eat the soft, wet and sweet coconut meat.
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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There’s so much going on here at National Geographic headquarters that it’s hard for us to keep track. Here’s a roundup of events happening in November.
Terra Cotta Warriors, National Geographic Museum
Our eagerly anticipated special exhibition opens November 19 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC, and will run through March 31, 2010. The crated warriors arrived the other night and the museum staff is getting the statues in place right now. Timed tickets are required and they’re going fast. You can buy them here. Save your ticket stub to get 20% off in our newly redesigned and expanded National Geographic Store. For directions on how to get to the museum, click here.
Glimpse Correspondents Program
If you plan on working, studying, or volunteering abroad, apply for the Glimpse Correspondents Program. Each semester, the Glimpse Foundation picks a team of talented young writers and photographers between the ages of 18 and 34 and rewards them with a $600 stipend, career training in writing or photography, and publishes their work on Glimpse.org. All entries are due by November 8.
National Geographic Expeditions
Want to go on a warm-weather trip? National Geographic Expeditions is hosting a free online webinar on Monday, November 9 at 8 p.m. about its upcoming expeditions to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. To register for the webinar click here, or learn more about the expedition here. Best of all, those who book a trip between January 1 and March 31, 2010 will get a $500 airfare credit.
National Geographic Image Collection
Stop by our DC headquarters and take a stroll around our courtyard to see LED lightboxes showcasing some of the best (and some never-before seen) National Geographic photography. The exhibit is free to the public, and is based on our new book, National Geographic Image Collection (hint: makes a great present!). A video preview of the book is here. The New York Times recently profiled Bill Bonner here, the keeper of our photo archives, which contains more than 11.5 million images.
National Geographic Channel
Admit it: you love IKEA and all of its fashionable, cheap goodness. On November 5 at 8 p.m., National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Factories series takes viewers inside IKEA’s largest plant in Zbaszynek, Poland, and shows just how IKEA makes its wood furniture. Here’s a video preview of the show.
All Roads Film Project
On November 4, the Society will hold a special screening of Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of one Apache Family, a documentary about Native American art and traditions. There will be a discussion with the director, producer, and Allan Houser following the screening. Tickets are $8.
National Geographic Traveler Seminars
Our fall-winter schedule is available now, and lists one-day seminars in travel photography taught by National Geographic photographers. The next seminar is December 6 in Seattle, with our lively team of Jim Richardson and Catherine Karnow, who share with you their secrets on how to make photos “that tell a story.” Video preview here. For more info and online registration, click here.
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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Travel review website TripAdvisor has announced that it is buying Kuxun.cn, a Chinese flight and hotel search engine, as it taps into a burgeoning tourism market buoyed by China’s resilient economy.
TripAdvisor chief executive told media that the company plans to invest more than USD50 million in China by the end of 2011. The budget includes [...]
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The Eden Valley is a beautiful, yet little known area in Cumbria, which lies between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
To the North of the Eden Valley lies Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall, whilst to the South you will find the fabulous Yorkshire Dales.
There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbrian cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District self catering cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. Whatever your eating requirements are, they are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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Two cases of the explorer’s drink of choice have been discovered under a hut at Cape Royds, apparently left behind after a failed 1909 polar expedition. The question now, of course: What will happen to the excavated bottles? If they do go to auction, maybe the lucky buyer will want to BYOB on Shackleton’s ship-turned-restaurant.
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Double-decker buses pass through the diagonal crossing at Oxford Circus in London. The new design was inspired by Tokyo’s Shibuya crossing.
Written by Travel News on November 4th, 2009 with no comments.
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Along with Halloween, autumn leaves, and a looming season of gift-buying, flu season is upon us and there is no point in ignoring it. If you haven’t had a flu shot yet, airports are making it easier than ever to…
Written by Travel News on October 31st, 2009 with no comments.
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