379 Search Results for "help"

• webcreditreport

  • Points:652
  • Views: 13
  • Since: 1 day ago

• Grey Crowned Crane Grey Crowned Crane

  • From: rschoeff
  • Description:

    This is a photo of a female Grey Crowned Crane taken at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo Wisconsin. This wonderfully beautiful bird and its interesting antics is available for viewing along with numerous other species of cranes on the foundation grounds. The International Crane Foundation was organized to protect and create a 'species bank' of endangered cranes and to help the public become more aware of the important role cranes play in wetland-grassland environments. The Grey Crowned Crane is a native of eastern and southern Africa. The foundation is a wonderful place to visit if you are in the area or visit online at http://www.savingcranes.org/.

  • 2 days ago
  • Views: 19

• highmigh

  • Points:652
  • Views: 23
  • Since: 5 days ago

• Preservation Hall New Orleans Preservation Hall New Orleans

  • From: gabrielleflawless
  • Description:

    They said no photos, but I could not help it....... it was right there, in front of me !!

  • 6 days ago
  • Views: 35
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• Sandpiper Sandpiper

  • From: lous22
  • Description:

    This photo was taken on a recent trip to Panama City, Florida.  The warm Gulf waters were crystal clear, displaying various hues of blue and green.  As I sat on the white sand, I couldn't help but notice the active sandpipers along the shore.  This particular one caught my eye as he hungrily searched for an afternoon snack.  

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 136

• A child in the fishing A child in the fishing

  • From: marina68
  • Description:

    Venezuela.Anzoátegui state.This child was in a day of fishing in Lecheria.Every saturday, some fishermen fish in the morning.They go with their families and they help with the work.

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 46
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• slowcomputer25

  • Points:652
  • Views: 33
  • Since: 3 weeks ago

• Beautiful Bliss Beautiful Bliss

  • From: kates0486
  • Description:

    After waking up to a beautiful sunrise with my toes slightly submerged in the Persian Gulf, I could not help myself from jumping.  (Al-Wakrah, Qatar)

  • 3 weeks ago
  • Views: 60

• tomijarrye

  • Points:652
  • Views: 36
  • Since: 3 weeks ago

• anthonysparks

  • Points:652
  • Views: 41
  • Since: 4 weeks ago

• gregryan05

  • Points:652
  • Views: 45
  • Since: 4 weeks ago

• ianblackwel

  • Points:652
  • Views: 30
  • Since: 1 month ago

• Petřín Observation Tower Petřín Observation Tower

  • From: evbk
  • Description:

     

    What a glorious day for a stroll through the park.  Petřín anyone?

    

     

    Petřín is a hill in the center of Prague that rises some 130 km above the left bank of the Vltava River.  The hill, almost entirely covered with parks, is a favorite recreation area for Praguers.  I'd like to go to the Petřín Lookout Tower...yes, that's the one that resembles the Eiffel Tower! 

    

     

    I like to take the Petřín funicular to the top of the hill.  Not because the walk is steep, that I don't mind at all.  Actually, the walk is quite nice... passing through gardens and even an apple orchard.  I just want to ride the  funicular because I find it to be fun!  Let's pick it up on Ujezd Street...

    

     

    ...And get on board!

    

    The funicular has three stops:  Ujezd at street level; Nebozizek is the middle station and there's a great restaurant there where you can kick back and enjoy the views; and Petřín at the top of the hill.  Since we're going to the tower, we'll go straight to the top.  

     

    Interesting tidbit:  According to Czech legend, the name of the middle station stems form an incident in which Emporer Charles IV, requesting food, was unable to properly pronounce the Czech words "nebo řízek" (meaning, "or schnitzel").  Mmm, řízek...

    

     

    The funicular was originally opened in 1891, but closed with the start of the First World War in 1914.  The current longer track opened in 1932, and operated through the Second World War.  In 1965, Earth movement caused suspension of the service, and it did not resume until 1985.  At that time new cars were provided and the track was reconstructed, but the original machinery remained.  

     

     I'm terribly afraid of heights, but apparently the view is spectacular.  So I'm going to look my fear in the face and head on up the tower... gulp!

    

     

    Petřín lookout tower is 60 meters high (that's 196.85 feet), which makes it five times smaller than the Eiffel Tower.  Although it's much shorter than the Eiffel Tower, it stands atop a sizable hill, thus the top is actually at a higher altitude than that of the Eiffel Tower.  The tower was built in 1891 and was used as an observation tower as well as a transmission tower.  

     

    Ready to climb its 299 steps?  Or you can take the elevator, but I'm climbing...see you at the top!

    

     

    The beginning of the climb wasn't so bad because the stairs are walled in.  No pics of the rest of the climb because, well, let's just say my fear of heights got the best of me.  

    Alex on the other hand has no fear...

    

     

    There are two viewing platforms... here's the view from the first one

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

    
    

    
    

    Can you believe we were just down there?

    

    
    

    Some commie looking stuff...

    

     

     

    And here's the view from the very top.  

    Well worth the climb (299 steps seems like a lot, but it took maybe 5 minutes and wasn't bad at all!)

    

     

    They said it would be spectacular, and it truly is!  

    

     

    Apparently, on a clear day you can see Snezka, the highest peak in the Czech Republic, which is 150 km from the tower

    

     

    

     

    I did it, I conquered my fear of heights!  Errr, well not really, but I climbed, I saw, and I survived!

     

    Right next to the tower is this cute castle-like building.  Can you guess what it holds?  A labyrinth!  

    

    Built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition in Prague

     

    The exhibition was meant to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the first industrial exhibition in Prague in 1791.  It comprised a showcase of Czech industry and acquainted visitors with the monuments and notable sights of our country whilst promoting the development of tourism.

     

    This pavilion's main attraction was a dioramic picture entitled "Battle with the Swedes on Charles Bridge", which took place ion 1648.  This recalled events at the end of the Thirty Years War when the Swedish army invaded Prague

    

     

    After the exhibition ended, this pavilion was transferred to Petrin Hill in 1892.  The following year, it was turned into a mirror labyrinth along the lines of the Prater in Vienna.

     

    Not a difficult labyrinth by any stretch of the imagination...I was hoping for one similar to that in The Shining, but fun nonetheless...

    

     

    The Hall of Mirrors rocks!

    

     

    

     

    Hahahha that was fun and good for a laugh!  Shall we stroll through the park and make our way towards the Strahov Monastery and Hradcany?  The views along the way are magnificent!

    

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    

     

    Now that we've had a nice, leisurely stroll through the park, let me show you one last thing before we head off for a pivo and a bite...

     

    Hunger Wall (Hlavova Zed)

    

    Dating back to the 14th century, this wall stretches from Strahov across Petřín Park to Ujezd.  You can see it from the observation tower we were just in, but alas I don't seem to have a photo of it (I blame that damn fear of heights!).  

     

    The Hunger Wall was built by order of the Holy Roman Emperor and Czech King, Charles IV, between 1360-1362.  It is said that Charles IV built this wall to help the poor in Prague during time of terrible famine.  The poor working on the structure received food for themsleves and their families, and although old records prove that the Czech lands did indeed suffer from great famine in the 1360's, building the wall was probably only a strategic act.  

     

    This wall used to serve as the fortification of the southern part of Lesser Town and Prague Castle from the west or south for more than 500 years (1362-1848).  Today, only about 1200 meters have remained from the original length of the wall, which is about 6 meters high and almost 2 meters wide.  Its inner walkway is protected by battlements and a platform for marksmen.   

     

    I hope that you enjoyed our day in the park!!!

    
    

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
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• crystaranilla44

  • Points:652
  • Views: 41
  • Since: 2 months ago

• The Oxford Experience The Oxford Experience

  • From: espe
  • Description:

     

    29 July 2010

     

    When people think about going on vacation, I'm sure most imagine blissful days of mindless pursuits – leisurely sightseeing perhaps, souvenir shopping definitely, mostly unplanned relaxation for sure. There are some of us, however, who quickly become rather bored of non-stop mindless pursuits no matter how vehemently we insist on leaving behind our work for a few days. Sometimes, rather than 'vegging', a person just needs to expend his/her mental energies on other things.

    When my sister forwarded me the link to The Oxford Experience, I was of course daunted by the idea of applying to a very prestigious university for summer school. And why would I willingly go back to school anyway, let alone a school that makes its students learn dead languages like Latin? I half-heartedly perused the website, thinking that there was no way someone like me would ever walk through the University of Oxford as a student of any sort.

    The first thing I looked at was the course listing, and immediately one thing struck me: no prerequisites. Further investigation revealed that none of the courses in The Oxford Experience Programme can be counted towards any degree – i.e., no exams and no papers. I could go to class and just learn about something new, learn for the sake of learning. There are classes focused on works of literature (by Jane Austen and George Eliot, for example), classes on history, relics of the past, art, music, and science. There is even a class on enjoying the Cotswolds, which is essentially the countryside just outside of Oxford. These aren't serious classes at all. These are classes retired people take because they're bored with retirement. These are facilitated discussions and light, informal instruction.

    I was sold. Why not, I asked myself. Why not apply and see if 1) the University of Oxford takes me on and 2) I actually enjoy the experience.

    As it turns out, all I needed was a willingness to pay upfront for the course plus room and board and also not mind taking up dorm life once again. I was enrolled in a matter of minutes.

     

    When I arrived at Oxford, my preconceived notions of a quaint university town were quickly dispelled. Oxford is an old, dignified city besieged by tourists. Everywhere I looked there were gaggles of French, Spanish, and Italian adolescents loudly crowding the streets behind their energetic tour guides. Tour buses dominate the main thoroughfares. The only escape is to be a student of the University and to hurry off into the areas the tourists are restricted from entering.

    In retrospect, I suppose that dealing with tourists is an integral part of the Oxford experience. Imagine being a real student and having to put up with droves of strangers taking pictures of your living quarters and college halls and snatching up the good spots in the meadows where you'd like to relax with your friends. This is part of the cost of attending the oldest and perhaps most well-known university in the western world (and being stuck there during summer break).

    Fortunately, I can assure you that there is more to the experience than that.

    For the first time in my life, I found myself in an academic setting where I wasn't expected to sit quietly taking notes. In my class, there were eleven students, and during lecture we sat on chairs and couches arranged in a loose circle in our tutor's wood-paneled office. Lecture started at 9:15 a.m., coffee or tea break was at 10:45 a.m., and lecture resumed at 11:15 a.m. Our tutor invariably started our morning lecture with background information on the day's subject, but by the time we adjourned for lunch our lecture had long since evolved into an interactive discussion. I don't know whether or not this was because our class was particularly inquisitive and talkative, and I honestly can't remember if our tutor asked probing questions. All I know is that we held lots of truly interesting, currently relevant conversations that week, and I still somehow learned a lot about the Cotswolds area, the housing and economic issues in the countryside, and the difficulty in preventing the decay of tradition and the disappearance of historical awareness. I was never bored.

    There were no lectures after lunch, and we were free to sign up for guided excursions or to explore the city by ourselves. The kitchen was happy to help us pack lunches that we could take with us as we ventured outside the college gates. Breakfast and lunch, which started at 7:45 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. respectively, were both informal affairs – i.e., shorts and flip flops not unwelcome – but dinner was served, and we were expected to dress accordingly, stand while grace was recited in Latin by the Programme Director, and behave ourselves in general.

    All meals were served in what I cannot stop calling the Harry Potter Hall, for the Hall at Christ Church College is J.K. Rowling's inspiration for the dining hall in Hogwarts. Portraits of important people line the walls (Henry VIII and Elizabeth I loom over High Table), and above those portraits that grace the longer walls are beautiful stained glass windows. The ceiling isn't enchanted but comprised of graceful wooden arches darkly stained and set off with gold accents. The tables are long, wooden, and heavy. The food is o.k. in the mornings and afternoons and quite good in the evenings (excellent desserts!).

    I found out later that all the colleges in the university each house and feed their students, so all the colleges have their own dining halls. For the students of The Oxford Experience, intention to miss dinner at the Hall has to be reported beforehand.

    The rooms we stayed in were practical. As far as I can tell, we all had cots with fairly decent mattresses, comfortable duvets, and two good pillows. Each room has a sink, but you have to pay extra and apply early if you want to have your own bathroom. If you can afford it, I recommend that you do because the shower stall on each floor is in a separate room as the toilet, and there's only one of each per floor. (Each floor has maybe four occupants.) Don't expect romantic old furniture in your dorm room. Some of the furnishings are indeed old, but they're not antique. Be content that you have exclusive use of a mini-fridge.

    Beyond room and board, however, what really makes The Oxford Experience worthwhile other than the classes are the people that you meet and share the experience with. Of about 111 students, there were perhaps five of us under the age of 35, but the age difference hardly mattered at all once I started getting to know my classmates and some of my fellow students. Rather than a host of differences that I was afraid would alienate me, I found instead (and focused on) the fact that those who opt for this experience hunger to continue learning, yearn for a bit of adventure, and are fond of traveling beyond the familiarity of home. With such things in common, how could I not enjoy my Oxford companions?

     

    Leisurely Sightseeing

    A true vacation can't be restricted to the classroom exclusively, and the program is designed so that it isn't. A variety of excursions are offered in the afternoons from museum and university tours to a general Oxford tour to treks into the countryside. These are all led by knowledgeable guides, and you can learn as much or as little as you like. Some classes have one planned excursion that replaces one day of lecture, some classes have two that replace two days of lecture, and some classes have none at all.

    During the week that I was there, a practical thatching lecture was offered as an option for those who didn't necessarily want to do a tour that day. A professional thatcher brought his former apprentice (who only recently completed his apprenticeship) and not only showed us how proper thatching is done – picture a bail or two of hay, a big bag of tools, and a wooden structure that looks like the skeleton of part of a roof – but also identified the merits of thatched roofing as an environmentally and economically smart alternative. When I toured the Cotswolds with my class later that week, we saw his company's handiwork on one or two dwellings which were actually quite pretty.

    Coincidentally, the program also offers evening lectures for those who crave more learning, but I confess that I never attempted to attend one for fear that I wouldn't be able to stay awake.

     

    Souvenir Shopping

     

    You cannot fail to miss the extensive amount of shopping that can be done at Oxford. I'm sure the subject is covered in all the guidebooks, and while I don't like spending my vacations hunting for bargains, I am not above buying souvenirs for my family. The University Shop on High Street is where all the official university items can be found, so if authenticity is important to you, buy your Oxford hoodies and t-shirts there.

    If you still crave more shopping, you'll probably find things to buy in all the little towns visited during the Cotswolds tour. None of the tours offered by the program are meant to be shopping sprees, however, and with the Cotswolds tour in particular the guides want to show you as much of the Cotswolds as possible, so you will likely have very little time to browse the shops. That's not meant as a challenge to the hardcore shoppers.

     

    Mostly Unplanned Relaxation

     

    There's a lovely meadow near Christ Church College where you can relax with a book or some friends; at least, that's what I heard. I never actually attempted it because of all the tourists.

    The program may also sometimes offer punting excursions, but these aren't official offerings. It all depends on who in The Oxford Experience staff knows how to punt and if they're willing to take people out for a ride. If you're fortunate enough to be able to go punting, keep your eye open for the enterprising young man selling Pims from his red boat. No need to stop for him; he can catch up with your boat very easily and offer boat-side beverage service.

    As for the nightlife in Oxford, I'm not sure that you'll find it very exciting, but I can't speak with much authority on this subject because I never felt the need to explore it. The program does offer a guided pub crawl one night after dinner, and no one stops you from staying out late at night if you wish.

    Some music courses may occasionally hold recitals, but these weren't mentioned during the daily announcements at lunch while I was there. So if listening to music is your idea of relaxation, then either take a music course to begin with or seek out the students and/or the tutors of a music course to find out when you can attend a recital.

    Also, Evensong is held every Wednesday at the Christ Church Cathedral right before dinner. You don't have to be Anglican to attend or even be particularly religious. The beautiful music created by the choir transcends all differences.

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
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• fatcatseo

  • Points:652
  • Views: 50
  • Since: 2 months ago

• Images of Pompeii Images of Pompeii

  • From: bevandlee
  • Description:

    If you visit Pompeii during the off-season, you may be lucky enough to have the whole escavated site nearly to yourself as we did. It is a facinating place that, with the help of the ruins, lets your imagination paint a picture of life in ancient Italy.

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 140

• Images of Pompeii Images of Pompeii

  • From: bevandlee
  • Description:

    If you visit Pompeii during the off-season, you may be lucky enough to have the whole escavated site nearly to yourself as we did. It is a facinating place that, with the help of the ruins, lets your imagination paint a picture of life in ancient Italy.

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 129

• Images of Pompeii Images of Pompeii

  • From: bevandlee
  • Description:

    If you visit Pompeii during the off-season, you may be lucky enough to have the whole escavated site nearly to yourself as we did. It is a facinating place that, with the help of the ruins, lets your imagination paint a picture of life in ancient Italy.

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 149
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• Making Silk Making Silk

  • From: thelastmangoinparis
  • Description:

    This woman is making silk outside of her shop in Yang Shuo, China, to help prove that her silk is authentic.  She seperates the silk worm from it's cocoon, and then stretches the cocoon over the arch on her table. Unfortunately, millions of silk worms die every month to produce enough silk to meet demand.

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 78
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