Once the bridge from the mainland is crossed, the change in pace is noticed immediately. There is much less traffic and people just seem more relaxed in the Florida Keys compared to the mainland. Key Largo is the main scuba diving town with many dive shops. There is even an underwater hotel with two guestrooms for adventurous types. This was a former marine research unit that was converted to the hotel. Islamorada and Marathon located more west are also top scuba dive locations. For those who are not into diving, there are numerous shops with colorful local arts and crafts. One collection of shops has a giant statue of a spiny lobster out in front. For more fun, there are two dolphin centers, one in Key Largo and another near Marathon where visitors can interact with captive dolphins. Dolphin programs should actually be booked well in advance since they are extremely popular

There are sign markers along the main US number 1 highway that mark each mile along the 120 mile route. Most addresses in the Florida Keys along the main highway will actually refer to which mile marker they are located near. It’s a very efficient way to navigate. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Key Largo to the far end at Key West but more than likely, visitors would want to stop off at numerous locations along the way for shopping, photo opportunities or just admiring the scenery. The scenery gets better as one heads out more west, especially near the bridges that connect the islands. A common sight to see are locals fishing off the bridges and numerous pelicans standing on the posts like permanent fixtures. One of the most spectacular sights is the seven mile bridge which is the world’s longest segmented bridge.

The Florida Keys are not really known for its beaches with the exception of Bahia Honda Park which is even further west in the lower keys. The snorkeling in this area, especially Looe Key, is among the top sites in North America. The city of Key West at the far end of the Florida Keys is the largest community in the islands and a stay here for a night or two is well worth it. The downtown area full of restaurants, bars, boutiques and shops is a funky, fun place to be. There are hotels along the water as well as numerous B&Bs inland.

We stayed at the Quality Inn near the entrance of the city and had no problem getting downtown since there is a very convenient bus system that runs throughout Key West. We chose to leave our car at the hotel and use the buses because parking can be limited in the downtown area. A very neat way to tour the city is to rent scooters which are very common in the streets here. With the scooters, we criss-crossed the city and saw the wonderful colonial houses in the residential streets including Ernest Hemmingway’s house.

The seafood is predictably very fresh in restaurants everywhere in the Florida Keys. Some local specialties not to be missed are conch, local spiny lobster and a few varieties of the local fish including snapper and grouper. Of course, one must try the real, authentic key lime pie that originated in the area. Each restaurant has a slightly different recipe but in general, the authentic key lime pie here is not as sweet as the commercial brands sometimes found in the rest of North America.

Hotel accommodations suit every budget in the Florida Keys from simple motels to top notch resorts. The last town back in the US mainland is Florida City and it has some very affordable hotel accommodations with well known chains such as Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn and Best Western. This is another option for some travelers, especially those who are scuba diving in Key Largo as Florida City is only about 20 minutes away if hotels in Key Largo are fully booked or at high season rates.

The Florida Keys has a way of enticing visitors back during return visits to south Florida. Its slower pace helps balance things out against the crowded and crazier styles of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. I have been to the Keys three times and will definitely return there again.

On arrival in Oudtshoorn some 5 ½ hours (430km) later I checked into the lovely Thorntree Lodge 12km outside Oudtshoorn on the road towards the Cango Caves. Louis, the lodge owner, greeted me with a warm welcome and then checked me into my cosy luxury cottage in the rose garden.

I took some time to freshen up and then headed out for some adventure. The Cango Caves was a further 17km out of Oudtshoorn and I decided to join a 90 minute guided adventure tour taking me through the depths of these world-renowned caves. Dripstone caverns, vast halls and towering formations of stalagmites and stalactites fascinated me. The tour took us through narrowing moist chambers where the air was heavy and our nerves started churning. The passage way forced us to a crawl as we made our way through “the tunnel of love”. We ended up on our stomachs crawling head first through “the devils postbox” only 45 cm in height only to pop out into large chamber, which eventually lead us out into the welcoming sunshine. With cave grime all over me, I returned to the lodge for a quick shower and then pre dinner drinks in the cosy fire lit pub and a fantastic dinner in the lodges’ restaurant.

The following day after breakfast I tried my hand at riding an ostrich. The Cango Ostrich Farm just down the road from Thorntree Lodge is a great place to experience ostrich riding and to learn all about the ostrich farming industry, which made Oudtshoorn famous. My ride was entertaining to say the least and meeting the family special, a very friendly female ostrich by the name of Betsie, was a pleasure!

It was another beautiful sunny day in the Little Karoo. The perfect day for a scenic drive. From the ostrich farm I headed up and over the Swartberg Pass enjoying magnificent views of the little Karoo and continued to the quaint little town of Prince Albert and then on through the breathtaking gorge of Meiringspoort. At a waterfall, I enjoyed a tasty picnic lunch kindly packed for me by Thorntree Lodge. Towering cliffs with fascinating sandstone rock formations surrounded me. A 25 km tarred road winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Each crossing, or drift, has its own name and story and this is depicted on a plaque at the Waterfall information site. After spending time exploring the area, I continued via De Rust and returned to Thorntree for the night. Dinner was enjoyed at a very popular little restaurant in town called Jemimas.

Knysna –

After packing my gear and saying my farewells to all at Thorntree, I headed off to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, a wildlife sanctuary and endangered species breeding facility – a fascinating stop recommended for all. They offer a very informative guided tour of the ranch (45 min to 1 hour) where one can see and learn about crocodiles, alligators, tigers, jaguars, lions and cheetahs. The Cheetah research sanctuary offers a cheetah encounter program, which enables one to touch the cheetahs. It’s a humbling experience with these incredible animals. After my encounter with the cheetahs, I took a quick look at their snake farm before heading out of Oudtshoorn towards the Garden Route.

I travelled over the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains into George then along the coast past the Wilderness lakes and on to the quaint little town of Knysna (approx 125km and 1h40 min drive). I drove down to the popular little Quays Waterfront to find some lunch and stopped in at 30 Degrees South for a tasty seafood dish. After a stroll around the Waterfront I made my way to another stunning lodge situated right up on the hill looking over the Knysna Lagoon across to Belvidere Estate and the Outenique Mountains in the distance. Elephant Hide Lodge is a favourite of mine, its lovely luxury suites all boosting spectacular views. The Utermark family welcomed me in and made me feel at home. Ryan, his brother Craig and good friend Mark took me out dining at a great Italian restaurant called Mama Persello’s and then we proceeded to check out Knysna’s nightlife. Knysna is rich in excellent restaurants but not so great when it comes to nightlife – pubs with live music and entertainment. It happened to be a good night of the week and we found some entertainment at Harry B’s with some locals playing good dancing music. Much fun was had!

The following day I was off to discover Knysna! I joined a 4-hour Eco-Experience to Featherbed Nature Reserve, a South African Heritage site. This included a return ferry trip across the Knysna Lagoon, a nature drive and guided walk through the reserve ending with a scrumptious buffet lunch at the Food Forest restaurant. Your local guide on board will share fascinating tales about the Lagoon, the early shipping industry and oyster cultivation. Featherbed Nature Reserve is home of a breeding programme of the rare Blue Duiker – one of the smallest antelope species in the world – the beautiful Knysna Loerie and the endangered Knysna Sea Horse. Visitors have the rare opportunity to view these creatures on the Reserve. The ferry returned home in the early afternoon.

More fun and adventure was to be had today! The Garden Route is renowned for its beautiful indigenous forests and spectacular coastal fynbos vegetation. It is imperative to get out and enjoy it! My afternoon was spent quad biking through the Featherbed Nature Reserve – a bit of an adrenalin rush mixed with some awesome views. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Back at the lodge, I prepared for another evening out with the Utermark brothers and friends. Dinner was enjoyed at a top class restaurant on Thesens Island called Sirocco. Great food, superb views and good service was enjoyed by all!

Plettenberg Bay –

Snug and warm in my cosy bed, I lay awake planning my day. After my choice of a healthy breakfast of the best muesli in town, topped with tasty Greek yoghurt and drizzled with honey, I headed off to Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay to enjoy a 2 hour hike. The Robberg peninsula is covered in rich fynbos vegetation and boosts spectacular views out to sea and across the Robben beach to Plettenberg Bay 8km away. The bird life is great and one gets a chance to spot a large seal colony.

There is such a myriad of things to do in this area that I struggled for choice. After my hike, I settled for lunch at a popular restaurant overlooking the Bitou River Valley. Emily Moon is beautiful lodge with 8 separate private suites decorated in contemporary African style. The same style flows through to their lovely restaurant with cuisine to die for! After a relaxing superb lunch out on the deck, I continued to the Elephant Sanctuary out at the Crags where I enjoyed some interaction with a family of 6 well cared for African elephants. A guided program took me on a 1 hour “trunk in hand” walk with the ellies followed by an elephant back ride of about 15 min always accompanied by experienced trainers and a qualified guide who constantly shared interesting facts, their passion for the ellies obvious – an experience I would recommend to anyone of any age!

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden are right next door to The Elephant Sanctuary and are also well worth a visit. Monkeyland is the worlds first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. It is an enclosed indigenous forest area about 26 rugby fields in size and has numerous primate species from all over the world. Accompanied by an experienced qualified ranger, I joined an informative 1-hour guided tour through the sanctuary.

Birds of Eden is the largest free-flight aviary in the world and is home to about 150 species from various parts of the world. After buying a booklet from the ticket office listing the bird species, I then roamed around the aviary on the raised wooden walkways that took one through the canopy of the indigenous forest. A little tea garden on a lake looked attractive so I sat down for a cup of tea while watching swans and ducks of all kind peacefully sail past me.

It was a busy day for me and I looked forward to a bit of quiet time. Just across the valley from Monkeyland was my overnight stop. The Hog Hollow Country Lodge staff welcomed me cheerfully on my arrival and check my in to my luxury suite with its own private deck and stunning views across a valley of dense forest with the Outeniqua Mountains in the distance. Peace and quiet! Aaah!

Pre-dinner drinks were served from about 19h00 out on the main deck around a large bon fire and a superb 5 course dinner served from 19h30. All the guests sat at the same table and had a chance to mingle and chat about their days’ activities. Each course served was delicious, tantalising our taste buds! In retiring to my room I was welcomed back to a heated room, with a bed time story to read, my bed turned down and a small chocolate with a note saying “Good night, see in you in the morning”. This left a smile on my face!

After a good nights sleep, I joined the breakfast table and was pleasantly surprised at the large variety of things on the cold buffet. There was even champagne on the table! I didn’t even get to the hot breakfast! I looked forward to another night at The Hog.

Booked for a boat cruise at 09h30 but rough seas called it off. It was pity! It would have been great to enjoy some dolphin encounters in the bay. Anyway I enjoyed a scenic drive along the old passes road via Natures Valley along the R102 to Tsitsikamma National Park. The road gently meanders through dense indigenous forest covering deep river gorges and steep mountain slopes. Storms River mouth in Tsitsikamma offered wild seas and a dramatic rocky coastline. I took at stroll to the waterfall on the first section of the famous 5 day Otter Trail which starts at Storms River Mouth. The waterfall dropped into a lovely big pool of coke coloured water before falling away into the sea. There was a chilly wind blowing in from the sea and a storm brewing so there was no swimming for me today. I scanned the coastline for the elusive Cape Clawless Otter endemic to this area but they were hiding today. Having enjoyed some fresh sea air and a bit of exercise I returned to my car to return to my lodge. En route, I stopped at the Bloukrans Bridge on the N2 to watch some extreme adrenalin junkies throw themselves off the bridge! Bloukrans Bridge offers the highest bungi jump in the world at 216m. Their screams said it all and made me feel happy to be standing where I was, watching.

The Hog offered a different menu tonight, but just as delicious! Another great evening was enjoyed.

After an early breakfast I departed on my long journey back to Cape Town (approx 6 hours). Work was calling and my holiday was over!

Who built it and why?

The history of this famed monument is as fascinating as its architectural brilliance. The story goes that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, reigning over India in the fifteenth century, was married to Begum Arjumand Banu, better known as the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. It was a match made in heaven and the emperor, smitten by true love, never let the queen out of his sight. He even took her on all his military campaigns! She bore him fourteen children, but, to his grief, died during childbirth. Emperor Shah Jehan was devastated and wished to preserve the mortal remains of his everlasting love for posterity.

The monument he built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal was of such exquisite beauty and elegance that today it is counted amongst the seven wonders of the ancient world. As a mausoleum, it remains unmatched upon this earth; few mortal remains have ever been enshrined in greater grandeur.

How was it built?

This architectural marvel, designed by the Iranian architect Ustad Isa, was not built overnight. With no machines, modern tools or transport, it required a hard labor of over twenty thousand workmen and master craftsmen to carve it out of stone and pure white marble. This top grade marble, brought from all over India and Central Asia, required a fleet of over thousand elephants to transport it to the site. Little wonder it took twenty-two years to build this marvel! The aesthetic sense of its creators and the skill of its stone carvers is a testimony to the great culture of Ancient India.

Why is it so great?

The moment you step inside the main sandstone gateway into the premises of the complex, you are likely to stop dead in your tracks, awestruck as you first behold the Taj. This glistening virgin white structure, with its bulbous white dome mounted like a crown jewel, along with its tapering minarets, is sure to take your breath away. Though it looks small and faraway, it actually stands only a little over nine hundred feet at the other end of the main entrance. This clever optical trick is no coincidence, but deliberately designed to enhance the appeal of the monument. The path from the main gateway to the monument is adorned with well laid out gardens on both sides and a long water channel in the middle that reflects the Taj Mahal in all its glory.

As you approach the mausoleum, it appears to grow in size. The dome, especially, seems to expand, almost as if it were being slowly inflated. You realize the actual size of the building only when you reach the base. And what a colossus it turns out to be! Towering almost two hundred feet in air, it looks majestic. The four minarets, each over a hundred feet tall with elegant windowed cupolas, rise up from the corners of this plinth, giving the monument its characteristic look that continues to endear it to the world.

The entry to the marble mausoleum is through its south-side portal. And as you approach it, you cannot help but notice its rich embellishments and detailed craftsmanship. The arches of the portal are worth a look. The floral arabesques, fashioned from gemstones and inlaid in white marble stand in stark contrast to the inscriptions from the Koran, impressively inlaid in the black marble. For the Muslims, these inscriptions are the word of God as revealed to Prophet Mohammad. Those with a discerning eye would be amazed to find the letters of the inscription maintain a consistent size from the bottom to the top, although the top of the arch is over hundred feet tall! How? Well, it is another optical trick that ancient calligraphers have performed with amazing expertise. They created this illusion by gradually increasing the size of the letters in relation to the distance from the eye. This ingenious trompe l’oeil effect is to be seen to be believed!

On crossing the portal, you immediately step into a spacious central chamber, octagonal in shape. All around this chamber are two stories of eight interconnected rooms. In the days of yore, mullahs or the Muslim clerics chanted the Koran and royal musicians played soft melodies from these rooms. At first glance, everything inside the domed mausoleum looks deceptively simple, an epitome of matchless purity and simplicity. But, on closer inspection, the elaborate design slowly reveals itself.

The central chamber houses two tombs. In the center is the jewel-inlaid tomb of Queen Mumtaz Mahal and to its side is the casket of Emperor Shah Jehan. The emperor’s casket is out of alignment because it was not catered for in the preliminary design, being an afterthought. The two tombs, though impressive, are not original. The actual ones are right underneath in the basement and you can see them. This was probably done to provide privacy to the enshrined. The refined inlays and rich surface details seen on the tombs and surrounding structures, echoes the fine quality of this monument. However, it is the superb manner in which all the elements blend together and harmonize that most clearly brings to fore the great skills of its creators.

To get an idea of the aesthetics and fine craftsmanship of the Taj’s interiors, you just need to look at the marble partition that encloses the two tombs. This fine mesh partition, carved out of a single piece of marble is inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. To show its full magnificence, the tour guide usually places a flashlight on one side of this mesh and makes the inlaid gems gleam in myriad hues, spreading a surreal radiance all around. Little wonder this monument is said to have been ‘built by Titans and finished by jewelers’!

What is its magic?

The Taj Mahal mesmerizes. And it is not only the alluring design and its interiors that appeal, but also its magnificent backdrop that manifests the varied moods of the monument. The backdrop, provided by the vast plains of River Yamuna, and the colors of nature give this monument an enchanting look. It acquires a pinkish hue under the first rays of the morning sun; appears milky white under the glaring afternoon sun; and is set ablaze in golden tints by the setting sun. However, it is the moonlight that brings its real beauty to the fore, making it sparkle like a diamond, as the embedded precious stones catch the glint of the moonlight.

This monument of eternal love continues to inspire lovers and poets down the ages. According to the poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, “the Taj Mahal is not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones”.

10. Take a Boston Harbor Cruise

There are a few companies that do Harbor Cruises and have several options for you to choose from. It all depends on what type of amenities you want, whether its dinner and dancing, a daytime tour, or even a 4th of July fireworks show. Pricing is dependent on the time of year and what you want to do.

9. See Sparks at the Museum of Science

The Museum of Science, home of the world’s largest Van de Graaff generator, gives you an incredible view into the science of electricity. Through this show, you will learn about lightning, electric charge and storm safety through demonstrations with the generator, Tesla coils and Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite experiments.

8. Take a walk through Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is the most prestigious section of Boston. It is a quiet here, filled with brick buildings, hidden gardens and gas lighting that line the streets. The houses are mostly in Federalist, Greek Revival and Victorian style, making it a very scenic area. Be sure to walk through Louisburg Square, where the wealthiest Boston residents of history have lived. It is still an address with privilege, since people such as Senator John Kerry live here

7. See a show at the Wang Theater

The Wang Theater is the most prominent theater in Boston. Located on Tremont Street in the theater district, this gilded venue looks like something out of the era of Louis XIV. You will be able to see a variety of shows here, from a Boston Ballet to a comedy.

6. Walk down Newbury Street

Newbury Street can be compared to 5th Avenue in New York City. Here you will find stores like Armani, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and more. If stores like this are not in your price range, it is still a beautiful street to walk down and window shop. There are also many restaurants and cafes along this street, where on a nice day you can sit outside and watch the people pass by.

5. Have a Cappuccino in a North End Cafe

The North End is known for its great Italian restaurants and ties to Paul Revere. As you walk around this area, make sure to have a cappuccino at one of the many cafe’s in this area. Some also sell pastries and gelato to snack on while you enjoy the rich culture of this area.

4. Wander through the Emerald Necklace

As you get to know Boston, you will notice that there are many gardens around the city. One of these is the Emerald Necklace, which wanders its way around the Fenway area, into Brookline and into Franklin Park. When living in a city, greenery such as the Emerald Necklace is difficult to come by, making these gardens a Boston treasure.

3. Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Just steps away from the Emerald Necklace, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum sits on The Fenway. Gardner was a wealthy socialite who collected about 2,500 works of art from all over the world. The museum has been unchanged since her death, because she wrote in her will that if anything were changed, the museum would be donated to Harvard University. But what you do not see in this museum makes it very interesting as well. The curators of this museum have stuck to Gardner’s wishes, so that when two men dressed as Boston Policemen walked into the museum in 1990 and stole several priceless works of art, the curators left the empty frames on the walls. Make sure that when you are on the second and third floors, look down into the Venetian-style courtyard below. After walking through the gift shop and back toward the entrance, look too your left, next to the courtyard hangs El Jaleo, an incredible painting by John S. Sargent of a flamenco dancer.

2. The Skywalk Observatory

The Skywalk Observatory is located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Building in Boston. You do have to pay an entrance fee, but once inside, it is worth every penny. Walk around and you will see Boston from a totally new perspective. The Skywalk Observatory has a few exhibits on immigration into Boston, as well as interesting facts about Boston sports and famous people from Massachusetts. This is an excellent adventure during the day or at night.

1. See the Skyline from a Bridge

After seeing the city and surrounding area from atop one of the tallest buildings in New England, make sure you take some time to see the skyline from further away. The view of Boston from the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge is spectacular. On a nice day, it is a great photo opportunity.

Muslim Spain, Al-Andalus, for over 700 years was a land of enlightenment during the Dark Ages of Europe, and Granada was its last jewel. While the rest of Europe lived under a medieval pall of ignorance and tribal warfare, Islamic Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and Seville were home to vast libraries of sophisticated scholarship, to philosophers and astronomers, and to an advanced society that prided itself on religious tolerance.

The Muslim Spanish or Moors had brought the theories of advanced mathematics like Algebra with them. They had explored the movements of the stars and planets in the heavens. They taught the Crusaders Chess. They traded in rare spices and silks, some the likes of which Europe had not seen before.They introduced new arts, dance, metalworkings, story telling, all which became incorporated into the culture of the Crusaders, as apparent in clothing, jewelry and literature.

The Christian armies of conquest that would finally claim Granada in 1492 for Catholic Spain had waitied eight centuries to take the city. Even after such a long wait, they paused at the gates of the Alhambra, for they understood that the keys to the secrets of the Alhambra lay in the city that surrounds it. In modern Granada, it can seem as if Boabdil, the last Muslim king in any part of Spain, and his people have never left, as if the peoples of the world – students, pilgrims, travellers – have again brought alive the exotic past.

A Spanish legend has it that when Boabdil was forced to flee Granada in 1492, he turned from his retreat into exile for one last look and wept. His mother, upon seeing her son’s tears, admonished him with the words, “Do not weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man.” His mother’s harsh words notwithstanding, it is not difficult to understand why Boabdil wept. His former home was the extraordinary Alhambra, which remains to this day the most enduring symbol of Al-Andalus with its pleasure palaces, exquisite gardens and turreted walls.

The name is of Arabic derivation like many Spanish words, means red maybe derived from the colour of the sun-dried tapia, or bricks made of fine gravel and clay, of which the outer walls are built. Some authorities, however, hold that it commemorates the red flare of the torches by whose light the work of construction was carried on nightly for many years; others associate it with the name of the founder, Mahomet Ibn Al Ahmar (Mohammed II); and others derive it from the Arabic Dar al Amra, House of the Master.

Granada is the richness of the Orient grafted onto Spanish soil and the narrow lanes are alive with lanterns and smoke and street markets. Along Calderia Vieja and Calderia Nueva, twisting laneways of antiquity that climb the hill into the heart of the old Muslim town, the Albaicin, Arab shops proffer handicrafts from Morocco, sweets from Jerusalem and the spices of Arabia.

Along each thoroughfare, high white walls conceal expansive villas surrounded by gardens. Church spires, once the minarets of the city’s mosques and from which the faithful were called to prayer, rise from amid the labyrinth that is Old Granada. Remnants of the 11th-century city walls prop up old Muslim bathhouses, some of which have reopened to offer the sensory pleasures of steam baths and massages under pleasing domes.
Softly lit tea houses promise mint tea and water pipes, evoking the hospitality of ancient Persia.The aromas wafting through the laneways could be Damascus. The sounds and street cries could be the medieval bazaars of Egypt.Across from th Alhambra on the next hill is the old Moorish area where lanes lead up the hill to the Mirador San Nicolas. This popular spot in Granada often host street musicians, gypsy fortune-tellers and street markets, Across the valley, the Alhambra still guards the city under the backdrop of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

The majority of the Alhambra palace buildings are quadrangular, with all the rooms opening on to a central court; and the whole reached its present size simply by the gradual addition of new quadrangles, designed on the same principle, though varying in dimensions, and connected with each other by smaller rooms and passages. In spite of the neglect, vandalism and sometimes ill-judged restoration which the Alhambra has endured, it remains the most perfect example of Moorish art in its final European development, freed from the direct Byzantine influences which can be traced in the Mesquita cathedral of Cordoba, and more elaborate and fantastic than the 300 foot Minaret tower of Seville.

The Interior of the Alhambra

The Moorish part of the Alhambra resembles many medieval Christian strongholds in its threefold arrangement as a castle, a palace and a residential area.

The Alcazaba or citadel, its oldest part, is built on the isolated and precipitous foreland which terminates the plateau on the north-west. Only its massive outer walls, towers and ramparts are left.

On its watch-tower, the Torre de la Vela, 85 ft. high, the flag of Ferdinand and Isabella was first raised, in token of the Spanish conquest of Granada, on January 2, 1492. Access from the city to the Alhambra Park is afforded by the Puerta de las Granadas (Gate of Pomegranates), a massive triumphal arch dating from the 15th century. A steep ascent leads past the Pillar of Charles V, a fountain erected in 1554, to the main entrance of the Alhambra. This is the Puerta Judiciaria (Gate of Judgment), a massive horseshoe archway, surmounted by a square tower, and used by the Moors as an informal court of justice.

A passage leads inward to the Plaza de los Aljibes (Place of the Cisterns), a broad open space which divides the Alcazaba from the Moorish palace. To the left of the passage rises the Torre del Vino (Wine Tower), built in 1345, and used in the 16th century as a cellar. On the right is the palace of Charles V, a cold-looking but majestic Renaissance building, out of harmony with its surroundings, which it tends somewhat to dwarf by its superior size. The intricate designs of the Moors’ Alhambra stand in stark contrast to Charles’ palace, which consists primarily of white walls with no particularly striking features. Many architectural scholars are thus disgusted by Charles V’s preference for simplistic Renaissance styling, which they believe detracts from the Alhambra’s architectural magnificance. Construction of Charles’ palace, begun in 1526, was abandoned about 1650.

The celebrated Patio de los Leones (Court of the Lions) is an oblong court, with a pavilion that projects into the court at each extremity. The square is paved with coloured tiles, and the colonnade with white marble; while the walls are covered 5 ft (1.5 m) with a border above and below enamelled blue and gold. The columns supporting the roof and gallery are irregularly placed, with a view to artistic effect; and the general form of the piers, arches and pillars is most graceful. Some believe the sculpted lions in the patio were most likely sculpted by members of the Caliphate’s Christian or Jewish community, as making such representational sculpture was not considered allowed by the followers of Islam.

The Sala de los Embajadores (Hall of the Ambassadors) is the largest in the Alhambra, and occupies all the Torre de Comares. It is a square room, the sides being 37 ft. in length, while the centre of the dome is 75 ft (23 m) high. This was the grand reception room, and the throne of the sultan was placed opposite the entrance. There are nine windows, three on each facade, and the ceiling is admirably diversified with inlaid-work of white, blue and gold, in the shape of circles, crowns and stars.

The Sala de los Abencerrajes (Hall of the Abencerrages) derives its name from a legend according to which Boabdil, the last king of Granada, having invited the chiefs of that illustrious line to a banquet, massacred them here. This room is a perfect square, with a lofty dome and trellised windows at its base. The roof is exquisitely decorated in blue, brown, red and gold, and the columns supporting it spring out into the arch form in a remarkably beautiful manner.

The Villa de los Martires (Martyrs’ Villa), on the summit of Monte Mauror, commemorates by its name the Christian slaves who were employed to build the Alhambra, and confined here in subterranean cells. The Torres Bermejas (Vermilion Towers), also on Monte Mauror, are a well-preserved Moorish fortification, with underground cisterns, stables, and accommodation for a garrison of 200 men.

Several Roman tombs were discovered in 1829 and 1857 at the base of Monte Mauror.Of the outlying buildings in connection with the Alhambra, theforemost in interest is the (the Moorish Jennat al Arif, “Garden of Arif,” or “Garden of the Architect”). This villa probably dates from the end of the 13th century, but has been several times restored. Its gardens, however, with their clipped hedges, grottos, fountains, and cypress avenues, are said to retain their original Moorish character.

In the construction of the Alhambra, the Moors had no depictions of people at all excluding the human hand. Of course, there were plenty of depictions of people on the Renaissance building.

It is all too much, too exquisitely conceived for just one visit. It could easily require days of close examination. For some, a lifetime is not enough.
Amid all the wonder at large in this enchanted place, it is not at all difficult to understand why poor old Boabdil wept as he departed. For him and for so many other visitors who cannot bear to leave, he was leaving paradise itself

The Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin of Granada are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

Many people conceive of Alaska as a barren land where it snows constantly in massive amounts and where everyone lives in igloos. Such a concept makes Alaska sound like a cold and white land.

In reality Alaska has more lakes, rivers, and green trees than does any state in the U.S. The state is intensely green and rich much of the year. But the rainfall total and the snowfall total may be much less than you may think.

Alaska Snowfall Totals

Here are some average annual precipitation and snowfall totals for a cross section of Alaska.

Anchorage –– 15.37” precip –— 69.0” snowfall

Barrow ——- 4.67” ———– 28.0”

Fairbanks —- 10.37” ———– 68.0”

Homer ——- 24.93” ———– 58.0”

Juneau —— 52.86” ———– 101.0”

McGrath —– 16.18” ———– 93.0”

Nome ——– 15.64” ———– 56.0”

Valdez ——- 61.50” ———– 320.0”

By comparison Buffalo, N.Y., receives an average of 80” to 100” of snow per year. Some sections of upstate New York, similarly affected by their proximity to the Great Lakes, receive an average of 150” to 200” of snowfall yearly. Hooker, N.Y., received 466” of snow during the winter of 1976-1977.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, received their heaviest seasonal snowfall total of 98” during the winter of 1983-1984.

As you can see from the Alaska totals above, most of Alaska is relatively dry, receiving less that 20” of precipitation annually. The southcentral and southeastern coastal areas receive far greater precipitation.

Far northern Alaska receives precipitation totals typical of a desert. Notice Barrow’s annual total of only 4.67” of moisture. Of course, most of that total falls in the form of snow. Due to the ice beneath the soil and the lack of intense drying sunshine runoff and evaporation are minimal. That’s why northern Alaska is not a dry desert despite the small amounts of precipitation.

Alaska Snowfall Records

It’s always interesting to hear about extremes and they can certainly be found in Alaska. For example, Thompson Pass, a popular extreme ski and snowboard area north of Valdez, once received a record 974.5” of snow during the winter of 1952-1953.

Thompson Pass recorded 62” of snow during one single 24 hour period in December, 1955. During February, 1953, Thompson Pass received a record 297.9” of snow. That’s almost 25 feet of snow in just one month!

The deepest recorded snow pack in Alaska, and the deepest in all of North America, occurred at Wolverine Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula during the winter of 1976-1977. The depth was 356”. That’s packed, condensed snow. Almost 30 feet deep!

By comparison, Barrow, in the dry north, received a record minimum amount of snow during the winter of 1935-1936 of only 3”.

Here are a couple of other extremes for total precipitation. Montague Island in 1976 received a record 332.29” of precipitation. That’s almost an inch of rain per day! On the other hand, Barrow received only 1.61” of precipitation during all of 1935.

Alaska stores an immense amount of fresh water in its glaciers. An amazing 75% of the world’s fresh water is held in glaciers worldwide and Alaska holds more than its fair share.

Alaska has more than 5,000 glaciers, covering in excess of 100,000 square miles. Alaska has more glaciers than the entire rest of the world combined, excluding the ice fields of Antarctica and Greenland.

Valdez, the Switzerland of the North

Valdez lies on the southcentral coast of Alaska and receives an average of over 300” of snow yearly. Typically, there are 6 foot drifts of snow on city rooftops. The canyon a few miles north of Valdez is home to several frozen waterfalls and makes Valdez a world-class destination for ice climbers.

Thompson Pass, further north of Valdez, boasts some of the best helicopter accessed extreme skiing and snowboarding terrain in all of North America. No wonder Valdez has been called “the Switzerland of the North.”

Each year Valdez holds a Winter Carnival. During the period of the 1990 Winter Carnival the year’s snowfall passed the 500” mark. As part of the winter celebration the city showed the movie “Back to the Beach” on a 20 foot by 18 foot “screen” which they had carved from a snow bank. Talk about an outdoor drive-in theatre!

What is Snow?

Snow is crystalline frozen ice and the size and shape of the crystals depend on the temperature of their formation and the amount of water vapor present during formation.

Pure snow crystals are hexagonal, six sided. The basic water molecule consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen and forms a triangle of three equal sides. During crystallization each new ice crystal bud is formed at a 60 degree angle. Crystallization continues until 6 of these triangles are complete. As the crystal falls through the atmosphere it becomes bigger and bigger and its six sided structure becomes the framework for more complex snowflakes.

Common forms of snowflakes include stars, needles, flat planes, columns, capped columns, dendrites, and irregular groups. Some snowflakes can be as large as 1” in diameter.

For one of the most interesting human stories about snowflake research, consider that of Wilson Bentley. He acquired the nickname, “Snowflake” Bentley because he was the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885. He studied over 5000 snowflakes and declared that no two snowflakes are exactly alike, a quote that has been passed on from generation to generation anonymously ever since.

In 1931, the year that Snowflake Bentley died, he published a book entitled, Snow Crystals. The book contained over 2400 of Snowflake Bentley’s images.

How Many Eskimo Words Are There For Snow?

It has been said that there are 52 words in the Eskimo, Inuit, or Yupik language for snow. It’s also been said that there are 21 words, and it’s also been said that there are over 400. Where does the truth lie?

The idea that since snow is so important in the lives of northern native peoples that there must be a multitude of words to describe it has attained the level of a myth. The truth of the matter is that there are probably about as many Eskimo words for snow as there are English words for snow.

Alaska Climate Changes

According to  Ted Stevens, “Alaska is harder hit by global climate change than any place in the world.” Global warming has been a trend for many years, but very few places show as many consequences of the trend as does Alaska. The average temperature has risen nearly 7 degrees in the past 30 years.

The changes due to a warming climate mean, for example, that the permafrost in Fairbanks and other towns is no longer permanent. Land has been slumping due to the melting permafrost and hydraulic jacks are needed on many buildings to keep them level. Further north, in Barrow, there are now mosquitoes where there once were none.

At the coastal village of Shishmaref increasingly higher water has been eroding away the land beneath the village buildings. The village may have to relocate further inland.

Spruce bark beetles have killed 4 million acres of white spruce forests on the picturesque Kenai Peninsula, the largest devastation due to insects ever experienced in North America. The beetles have been able to reproduce at twice their normal rate due to the higher summertime temperatures. The dead trees represent a huge fire hazard around numerous populated areas and prime recreational sections are threatened.

Glaciers have been receeding at an incredible rate. Portage Glacier, south of Anchorage, has retreated so much in the past 20 years that it is no longer visible from the visitor’s center. Columbia Glacier on Prince William Sound is currently the world’s fastest moving glacier, retreating 80 to 115 feet per day. It has receeded more that 6 miles since 1982.

There are still plenty of glaciers and significant snow in Alaska, but changes are occurring at an increased rate and will have worldwide effects.

The pint-sized pooch — a mere 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) in length from tail to nose — was awarded the record for world’s smallest dog in length by Guinness World Records on January 31 2005. Weighing only 2 pounds, Brandy still holds on to her crown, as she hasn’t grown a fraction since she won her title nearly 3 years ago.

With legs the size of lollipops, the 4 year old canine’s lungs are so small she can’t even bark.

Owner Paulette Keller Florida got Brandy when she was only 9 months old. “When I got Brandy, I had just lost my previous Chihuahua who was 14 years old.” she says.

“I spoke to a breeder who I had met at a dog show the year before and she told me about Brandy. She said that she was so tiny that she wouldn’t be bred but when I saw her, I just fell in love with her.”

“With a dog like this, you have to be very careful. She can’t jump on to or off anything because her legs are so tiny.” says Paulette. She doesn’t allow the dog on the furniture for fear she’d jump off and break a leg. And to keep the precious pooch warm, Paulette carries her around in a sheepskin-lined purse.

“Walking her is OK but when there are kids around, all they want to do is pick her up and she can get frightened.”

“I have even managed to take her on domestic flights without being noticed. I have a small bag that she can slip into and, because she doesn’t make a sound, no one notices her. I have taken her to Seattle, Chicago, New York, [and] Nevada. When we are on the plane, I just take her out and place her underneath my seat. No-one has any idea she is there.”

Brandy may have free reign of the house, but she also shares the abode with Tyson, a 1 year old boxer. “She has a kennel and a bed that she shares with Tyson, and they get on great.” says Paulette.

“She is so small, she can fit through the small gaps in a wire fence but she knows to stay where she is. She is really lively and she will run around the house. Sometimes I can’t find her and I get very scared but she will often just turn up hiding under the couch.”

Brandy is on strict diet of dry dog food because of her tiny size — the smallest Paulette can get — and mashed up scrambled egg because she can’t fit whole pieces in her mouth.

Bath time is also a sensitive procedure due to her fragile frame. “I have to wash her in the sink and I have to be very careful not to be too rough with her and her ears.” says Paulette.

“Brandy is very healthy — she came from a breeder who breeds show-quality animals. But Brandy was a fluke. She came from a litter of 5 and when she was born, she was just miniature. When she was only 1, she had a rabies shot and she nearly died because of the reaction she had to it.” adds Paulette.

Even though Brandy has made celebrity status appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show, Paulette maintains she had no idea Brandy would become so famous.

“When I first laid eyes on her, I thought ‘wow’ — I had never seen a dog so small.” she says.

“Nine months later, the breeder phoned me and said I should look at the Guinness Book Of Records because she thought Brandy was smaller than the world’s smallest dog. I got the application form and filled it out and then a few months later I got a call from the Guinness people who confirmed she was the smallest.

“Everything changed after that and Brandy and I went on Good Morning America, Oprah and The Jay Leno show. It was amazing but I would have never had picked Brandy to get famous — it was because she was so adorable.”

About Chihuahuas
The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world — named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, where it was discovered in 1850.

Boo Boo, a 4 inch (10.16 centimeter) tall long-haired female Chihuahua who weighs only 1.5 pounds (675 grams) was named the World’s Smallest Living Dog by the Guinness Book of World Records in May 2007. Records are determined by height from toe to shoulder. Boo Boo, who weighed only one ounce at birth, succeeded another Chihuahua named Ducky who stood 4.9 inches.

Their height varies more than within many other breeds, typically between 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) at the withers, though some grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 centimeters).

Chihuahuas are prized for their devotion, ferocity, and personality. They’re often stereotyped as high-strung, though it’s been proven that correct training and socialization can make them an outstanding companion animal.

These dogs aren’t well suited as small children’s pets because of their size, temperament, and tendency to bite when frightened — it’s recommended that children be school aged or older before bringing in a Chihuahua as a pet.

Many Chihuahuas focus their devotion on one person, becoming overly jealous of that person’s human relationships — however, it can be diminished through socialization. They have a ‘clannish’ nature, often preferring the companionship of Chihuahuas over other dogs.

Chihuahuas seem to have no concept of their own size and may fearlessly confront larger animals, which can result in injury.

This breed requires expert veterinary attention in birthing and dental care. They’re also known for their moleras — a soft spot in their skulls. Chihuahuas are the only breed of dog to be born with an incomplete skull. The molera does fill in with age, but great care needs to be taken during the first 6 months until the skull is fully formed.

Although figures often vary, the average lifespan for a Chihuahua is between 8 to 18 years.

The housing market here is over-inflated. A typical 3 bedroom
1.5 to 2 bath home with 1500-1700 square feet that should sell for $140,000. to
$160,000. now sells for $230,000. to $250,000. The people that are buying these homes
and the high rise Condo units are the wealthy who use them for their second or third
homes or investors who rent them out.

2. WATER

The majority of the water used in Las Vegas comes from Lake Mead.
The lake is currently 50 to 55 feet BELOW the level it was at 6 to 7 years ago. The
population of Las Vegas is up around 2 million people. There are swimming pools in
a large amount of the homes. You see an awful lot of people tearing out their grass and
putting in Desert Landscaping which consists of colored rocks and a few plants. What is
going to happen in the next several years as the population grows even more?

3. TRAFFIC

Sure, every city has it’s traffic problems. In Las Vegas it is magnified
even more because of the poor freeway systems and the fact that the majority of the
population lives in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges. Vegas has some of the most
aggressive drivers in the United States. Some of the problem is a shortage of police out
on the streets patroling. Most cities have their normal RUSH HOUR traffic in the mornings
and the late afternoons. Vegas has RUSH HOUR all day long because of the 24 hour work
environment due to shifts stopping and starting all 24 hours. Also, because of the boom in
construction, massive amounts of construction workers help clog the streets. Gasoline
prices are among the highest in the nation.

4. SUMMER HEAT

It is dry heat! In the summer when it stays over 100 degrees every
single day it is really HOT! It drains you if you are out in it for very long. No thunderstorms
popping up for a little relief. No rivers or creeks nearby, just one big lake 25 miles away!

5. SCHOOLS

The school system is having big problems. They are building new schools
to catch up the the rising population which is good. The problem is finding teachers to
fill the vacancies. The starting salary of a school teacher is around $27,000. per year. Along
with the teachers being underpaid is the fact that there is no affordable housing for them
to relocate here. If you were a teacher, why would you want to move to Las Vegas and lower
your standard of living?

6. EMPLOYMENT

There are plenty of jobs, mainly in the casinos, and the main reason
there are plenty of jobs is because the casinos don’t treat you very well at all. When you
apply for any job at all, you must account for the past ten years of employment and you must
have good credit. Their attitude is that you can be replaced at a minutes notice by someone
else. On 9-11 the massive layoffs that occurred were unnecessary. The casinos were
worried about their BOTTOM LINE. Many management people were laid off and their job
title eliminated so that even though they had worked there for several years, they reapplied
and had to go through everything that a brand new person did and held no senority.

7. GAMBLING

No matter where you live in the world right now, the lure of gambling
will never be as great as it is here in Las Vegas. Casinos, grocery stores, gas stations, and
most bars have gambling. When you live in Las Vegas gambling becomes an addiction. Sure,
there are shows and fine dining but where are they mostly located? In the casinos! Normal
activities that you might think of such as cooking out with family and friends and going out
with friends to dinner are very hard to do because everyone works all kinds of shifts and
have different days off. It is very difficult to get together with other people even once a month.
You can only stay home and watch television or movies so much, especially when you see and
feel the presence of gambling all around you. Another problem that goes hand in hand with
gambling is ALCOHOL. When you are in a casino for any length of time at all, you usually
have a few drinks. Why, because they are free! The dollar or two that you tip the coctail
waitress still makes it very inexpensive. Alcohol clouds your judgement and you end up
making gambling decisions that you regret later. Gambling starts to take over your life.
Your money is spent on gambling instead of other things like vacations, nice clothes etc.
Like many others who live here, you tend to feel trapped. WORK, SLEEP, GAMBLE,
DRINK! What a viscious cycle that is very hard to escape!

8. MULTI-CULTURAL

If you are a caucasion natural born american citizen, you are a
minority among the population here in Vegas. There are people here from Korea, China, Israel,
Bulgaria, Mexico,The Felipines, Romania, Pakastan, Iran and Eithopia. Is this a negative aspect
to a city? It is an awful lot like living in New York city and San Francisco. You find it hard to
trust people when they don’t speak english because you don’t know what they are talking about.
Some of the cultures of people are naturally agressive. You are constantly watching your
place in any type of line you’re in wether you’re at the grocery store, gas station or a fast food
establishment for fear you’ll lose your place. If you like the big city atmosphere such as in
New York or San Francisco then Vegas is for you! If you are used to friendly people who say
Hi and speak english and are not overly aggressive, then Vegas is NOT for you!

Please think twice about moving to Las Vegas!

By Jeff Cardenell ]]> http://www.spuzo.com/8-major-reasons-not-to-move-to-las-vegas/feed/ 0