Mystical, Magical & Magnificent Monasteries in Meteora (20 Pics) The caves in Meteora, Greece, had inhabitants for fifty millennia, but due to raids, “hermit monks” moved to the safety of sandstone rock pinnacles in the 9th century and began building monasteries. More monks and nuns came, building more monasteries perched high upon the cliffs. Wikipedia reports, “Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith — the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only ‘when the Lord let them break.’” UNESCO World Heritage says, “The net in which intrepid pilgrims were hoisted up vertically alongside the 1,224 ft. cliff where the Varlaam monastery dominates the valley symbolizes the fragility of a traditional way of life that is threatened with extinction.” Photo #1 by Vaggelis Vlahos A view of Meteora monasteries in Greece. Photo #5 by Gabriele Quaglia The Holy Monastery of St.
Apartments & Bed and breakfast - Wimdu 50 Strange Buildings of the World This is the original list of 50 strange buildings which has been and is being copied (stolen) by many bloggers. If you wish to post it on your blog or website, feel free to use up to 20 buildings from this list and give a proper link to our website ( as the source article. Ok, now enjoy this weird, odd, bizarre and incredible looking arcitechture! After reading it, don’t forget to check Part II and Part III. 1. Construction of the building started in in January 2003 and in December 2003 it was finished. Image via: brocha 2. The Hundertwasser house “Waldspirale” (”Forest Spiral”) was built in Darmstadt between 1998 and 2000. The structure with 105 apartments wraps around a landscaped courtyard with a running stream. Image via: Kikos Dad 3. Image via: manuelfloresv 4. Image via: Mélisande* 5. The Longaberger Basket Company building in Newark, Ohio might just be a strangest office building in the world. Image via: addicted Eyes 6. Image via: jonathan_moreau 7.
Paulista Avenue Residence – Sao Paulo, Brazil Paulista Avenue Residence – Sao Paulo, Brazil When it comes to city living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it’s hard to find better than this. The Paulista Avenue Residence is a refurbishment of a modern classic, updated by the group at Piratininga Arquitetos Associados. The new design maintains much of the modern character of the Abelardo de Souza classic, with a geometric hive-style ceiling and cool concrete columns. A tile floor and contemporary furnishings give the home a high-style treatment, fit perfectly for the father-and-son singles that live within. While the private rooms are locked away in the back, the entertainment section of the home features an open loft floor plan and wide, unrestricted views of the Sao Paulo streets.
Places to Visit in France - the most Interesting and Beautiful Regions of France and Best Places in France Almost every region in France has something interesting to discover - quiet villages, stunning scenery, historical buildings lost in the countryside, beaches...so before rushing to visit the most popular regions why not think about somewhere else for a change? You can avoid the crowds and still have a great time discovering the 'real' France! Our France regional travel guides feature hundreds of the most scenic, interesting and picturesque places to visit in all parts of France to help you better plan your visit. The most popular French regions with visitors include Brittany, the Dordogne and the Cote d'Azur (along with the rest of Provence), and of course and many tourists like to visit Paris. Plan your visit Explore Places in France Select here from the 1000's of places we have reviewed To help you better plan which part of the country you would like to visit there are several ways below to start exploring: Explore the regions of France Forgotten your French geography? Alsace Auvergne Brittany
20 free attractions in London Who cares if London's hotels and restaurants tend to be on the expensive side? No city in the world has more free stuff to do. In addition to world-class museums without a ticket admission, you get the parks, canal walks, super markets (Portobello Road Market at Notting Hill Gate, Camden Market at Chalk Farm Rd, wonderful Columbia Road Flower Market at Gosset St in East London etc) and maybe some royal-spotting, and you can fill a life. London, thank you! Here's the mere start of the free list: 1. Around, more or less, since the 13th century, the Borough Market is stuffed with food-lovers and all you need for a memorable grab-and-go breakfast or lunch. 2. Hidden under Waterloo Bridge, the institute features four cinemas (not free) and the fun Mediatheque, where you can peruse DTV/film archives and watch for free. 3. Unreal; one of London's top attractions, and absolutely free. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Those Victorians sure liked to 'c & c' (collect and catalogue). 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Jade Mountain, St Lucia's Most Romantic Luxury Resort Top 10 Interesting Ghost Towns Around The World There are many reasons why cities are abandoned, because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as a flood, government action, uncontrolled lawlessness or war. Some abandoned ghost towns are now tourist attractions, while others might be dangerous or illegal to visit. Anyone else here fascinated by them? 10 - Bodie, California Founded in 1876, Bodie is the authentic American ghost town. Dwindling resources proved fatal however, and although greatly reduced in prominence, Bodie held a permanent residency through most of the 20th century. Today, Bodie is preserved in a state of arrested decay. 9 - San Zhi, Taiwan More of a modern choice this time. After this the whole thing received the cover-up treatment. 8 - Varosha, Cyprus Varosha is in the Turkish occupied city of Famagusta in Cyprus. 7 - Gunkanjima, Japan 6 - Balestrino, Italy In the late nineteenth century, the North-West coast of Italy was struck by numerous earhquakes.
Fascinating and Luxurious: Pimalai Resort & Spa in Thailand Freshome readers, here’s a post that we believe will raise your spirits. For today we decided to showcase this impressive resort and spa located in the beautiful Thailand. Found on adelto, the luxurious 5- star Pimalai “refuge” blends with the natural environment creating unforgettable experiences for the tourists who decide to spend their holidays here: Peace, Serenity, Solitude. Five Of The Best Non-Tourist Places To Eat In New York City When taking into consideration that there are literally thousands upon thousands of places to eat in the Manhattan area of New York alone, from cafes and delis to Michelin starred restaurants ran by world famous chefs, there really is a gastronomic delight for everyone. With millions of people visiting New York on a regular basis, everyone is looking for something different in term of places to eat. Although the main tourist spots are packed full of restaurants to suit the vast majority of tastes, it is the places that the local New Yorkers head to that are so often looked for and the following are some of the most popular non-tourist eateries in the whole of Manhattan. Lombardi’s Located at 32 Spring Street (the corner of Spring and Mott Street), Lombardi’s is a institution in Manhattan, for the simple fact that it claims to be the very first pizzeria not only in New York, but the whole of America. Grimaldi’s The Spotted Pig Located in the West Village (N.B. Bamn Katz’s Deli
Brittany, France: readers' tips, recommendations and travel advice Auray is the next delightful stop. Stroll down the hill to Saint-Goustan. A 17th-century bridge leads you to wooden medieval houses that surround a small port where Benjamin Franklin landed to obtain support for the Americans in the War of Independence. Enjoy the atmosphere while you take refreshments at one of the restaurants on the quayside. You can also take a boat trip on the Gulf of Morbihan from here. This will allow you to stare in wonder at the prehistoric standing stones that are underwater and are part of the amazing site of more than 3,000 stones and tumuli that cover the area around Carnac. C Darch, Somerset One of our best holidays was cruising on the canals in Brittany, which we booked through Hoseasons (0844 847 1356; www.hoseasons.co.uk). Fantastic fresh produce to buy at the locks we passed, beautiful scenery and a quiet, unhurried holiday with lovely towns and villages to visit. Dinan is a lovely medieval town but very crowded. What to avoid