Trulli, The traditional dwellings in Alberobello, Italy

Trulli, The traditional dwellings in Alberobello, Italy 

With Regards Dharam Patel

Alberobello — A small town and commune in the province of Bari, in Puglia, Italy. The town is located on two hills divided by the river. On the east stands the modern Alberobello, and on the west - famous for its unique med-evals buildings Trullo, They take their name from the Latin world " Trulla" which means dome. Original structures called " Trulli" of Alberobello give unique uniqueness. These unusual white houses with conical roofs from the whole street. 

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The Trulli in the Apulian town of Alberobello are famous worldwide for their beauty and unique characteristics, and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture. They were built in a particular historical period, when the construction of stable dwellings was highly-taxed; the inhabitants of the region thus boasted a great capacity to adapt, and an exceptional cleverness in coming up with the idea for the Trulli, temporary houses built with the local stone. Trulli di AlberobelloFrom precariousness to stability - the process of transformation and recovery, and the deference to the originality of the work earned the Trulli of Alberobello (in Apulia) their recognition as a World Heritage Site. In the southeastern zone of the Murge Plateau, more precisely in the area of Valle d'Itria, these buildings are scattered throughout the territory, where they stand out with their white walls and famous cone-shaped roofs. 

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Alberobello is universally-known as the capital of the Trulli. Here, each Trullo is of a different shape and size. Unique constructions, they are sometimes combined in a complex of communicating houses, while others are built on two levels. Most of them feature a grey cone-shaped roof that ends with a sphere or hemisphere shape. The interior, arranged as a single chamber, is constituted niches for a fireplace, bed and various furniture. The structure assures excellent indoor climate control: cool in summer and warm in winter! 

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Pyramids of Nubia in North Sudan

Pyramids of Nubia in North Sudan 

With Regards Dharam Patel

Nubian pyramids or Pyramids of Meroe, Sudan were built by the ruler of the ancient Kushite Kingdoms. North Sudan takes the Nile Valley, where the pyramids of Nubia. History of Nubia, this rivalry with the more ancient pyramids of Egypt, are located nearby. At various time in the territory of Nubia were three Kushit Kingdoms —  The oldest, Kerma, appeared in 2600 BC, which existed before 1520 BC; The second was the Kingdom of Napata (from 1000 through 300th BC) and the third, the most famous was the Meroë "300 BC to 300 AD". Nubians have always wanted to become a better and more powerful than Egypt. This led them to the fact that the king Kashta, in 770 BC conquered most of the territory of Egypt, but it was only able to manage his son Phoraoh Pi. This period in Nubia and Egypt is called "Twenty-Fifth dynasty rule." and it ended with the arrival of the Assyrians in 656 BC. At this time there were built the first Pyramid, and the king Kashta was the first ruler to be buried inside the pyramid for the last 800 years years with his tomb and the construction of 223 Nubian pyramids. Constitutions continued for centuries.

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Also Kashta and his son were buried in pyramids some of there successors and fourteen queens. Pyramid in the Pharaoh Taharqa was buried - is the largest of the pyramids, of 52 square meters at the base and more than 40 meters in height. When the body was placed in a grave granite sarcophagi, some of which weighted more than 15 tones. The number of pyramids focused on the Central Sudan, Meroe. Today it is considered one of the largest archaeological sites. Here lie more than 40 kings and queens on every ward in a separate pyramids. Seeking to surpass the Egyptians, Nubians build twice as many pyramids, but ahead of them in amounts, could surpass in quality. Nubians pyramids devoid of beauty and grandeur of its predecessors: they were built in the form of steps of stone blocks, the width of which rarely exceeded eight meres. The average height of the Nubians pyramids is 20-30 meters, there are even six miters high pyramid. Fro comparison, the Egyptian pyramids of the same height had reason to five times more than the Nubian,  and going  up at an angle of 40 - 50 degrees, that is the Nubian pyramids, this angle is as much as 70 degrees.

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Nubain pyramids were built in the shape of the tomb, which established the top bit of the chapel, where religious rites. Wall reliefs preserved images of these ceremonies -  here you can see how the mummified royal personages, as they dressed up and decorated with jewels, and then laid to eternal rest in wooden coffins. And even though they look Nubian pyramids are not see impressive, they buried more royals than their Egyptian predecessors.

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Jungfrau Railway, Switzerland | The Highest Mountain Railway Station in Europe

Jungfrau Railway, Switzerland | The Highest Mountain Railway Station in Europe

The Jungfrau Railway, Switzerland — The most famous mountain railway in the world. Opened in 1912 this cog wheel railway leads to the highest railway station in Europe, the Jungfraujoch at at 3454 meter or 11,333 ft above sea level. From Kleine Scheidegg, high above Grindewald and Wegnen, the route climbs to the Eiger Gaiier station and on through a 45 miles tunnel hewn throug through the rock of the Eiger and Mönch. Two observation windows offer breathtaking view of the Alpine landscape. From the Eiger North Wall Station at 9,400 ft, passengers can look down to the Grindelwald Valley, Kleine Scheidegg and beyond to Interlaken and Lake Thun. From the Eismeer "Sea of Ice" station at 10,368ft, the landscape is one of eternal snow, ice and rock. 

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The summit itself is a glacier and grotto world which lies in the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage. Visitors are afforded excellent views of the Aletsch Glacier, and 14 miles the longest in the Alps. On clear days, views extend even beyond Switzerland's frontiers to the Vosges mountain range in France and the Black Forest in Germany. 

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Schynige Platte Railway Rack Cog — Schynige Platte Bahn mountain railway in the Bernese Oberland area of Switzerland, which connects the town of Wilderswil, near Interlaken with the famous wildflower gardens of the Schynige Platte. Image credit  Matthew Poxon

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Unique Vineyards of Lanzarote, Spain

Unique Vineyards of Lanzarote, Spain

Lanzarote Vineyards — It is absolutely incredible creation of human-hands. Colossal work of people in love with their deserted volcanic island. Lanzarote, the Canary Island, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 120 Kilometers off the coast of Africa. The island was discovered in 1312, by the Italian navigator Malosello Lanselloti, after whom the island was named. Lanzarote was formed after a volcanic eruption 15 million years ago. On its 860 square kilometer in area is three hundred Volcanoes. Over millions of years, their activity has created a unique fantastic relief resembling lunar landscapes. On the island is almost no rain, the weather is dry and hot. The entire island is composed of volcanic rock and sand. But despite this, there is growing grapes used to make great wine. Lanzarote was in fact the last of the Canary Islands to produce commercial wine and since 1775 they have continued to grow the vines in the unique traditional manor. Successfully engaged in agriculture was made impossible, Thanks to incredible ingenuity of the locals, though it cost them a huge labor.

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Totally unique method was devised for the cultivation of grapes and other crops. Each vine is planted in the crated diameter of abut five miters and a depth of about one meter. This well is surrounded by a half-meter wall of stone, lined industrious islanders. The wall is designed to protect the plant from the wind, this wall is called Zocos. But this is not the biggest problem. Vineyards requires a lots of moisture, and thus on Lazarote even light rain — A rare visitors. And as without water, on the slopes, on the rocks almost manages to cultivate a quality of vine? And sometimes unfriendly to farmers island nature provides the necessary perfect natural complex: sea sunlight, mineral-rich soil and natural irrigation system !! Fly-out night dew is well absorbed and retained volcanic soil. Salty sear air created mineral-rich moisture, imparting a unique flavor grown grapes from which produce amazing to taste wines of Lanzarote. 

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Pit located with net precision, create amazing some unearthly landscape. If the soil is brown its look like a planet Mars. Now Lanzarote about 2000 hectares of Vineyards, mostly they are concentrated in the center and south of the island around the natural park of La Geria. From grapes harvested produce about two million liters of wine per year. Given the small area of the island, its not enough. Lanzarote is something to see. So just one day on the island, will brings a lot of positive emotion and leave a lot of pleasant memories.

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San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain | Stepping Stone

Dharam Patel 

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain | Stepping Stone

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is an islet on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo, in Basque Country, Spain. It is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. On the top of the island stand a hermitage the named called Gaztellugatexek Doniene ins Basque, dedicated to John the Baptist, that date from the 10th century, although discoveries indicates that the date might be the 9th century.  The hermitage is accessed by a narrow path, crossing the solid stone bridge, and going up 237 steps, nobody really knows how many exactly According to legend, after the slightly strenuous climb to the top of the crag one should ring the bell three times and make a wish.   The best season to visit are spring and autumn, to enjoy the peace of the setting, as summer s are typically crowded. Etymologically the word Gaztelugatxe comes from the Baxque gaztelu = " castel" and aitz = "rock" or "crag", forming "crag of the castle". Another possible translation of gatxe is bad this would means "bad castle".

The small church, which is usually closed, dates from the 10th century and seems to have come from the Knights Templar. In the year 1053 it was donated, by don Inigo Lopez Lord of Biscay, to the monastery of San Juan de la Pena Near Jaca in Huesca. Medieval burials from the night and twelfth centuries have been found on the esplanade and in the hermitage. In 1593 it was attacked and sacked by Francis Drake. Among other incidents, it has caught fire several times. On November 10. 1978, it was destroyed in one such fire. Tow years later, on June 24, 1980 it was re-inaugurated. The hermitage belongs to the parish of San Pelayo in Bakio. the hermitage also houses votive offerings from sailors who survived shipwrecks. First Image Credit Daniel Zudaire Araiz

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