Archives for January 2008

Bulgaria is an industrial country with a population of 7.9 million, including a Turkish minority of 746,664 people or 9.4 per cent, a Roma minority of 370,908 people or 4.7 percent and small minorities of Russians, Armenians, Jews etc. Almost 83 per cent of the population are East Ortodox Christians.

The area of the country is of 111 000 km2. 69 per cent of the population live in urban or semi-urban municipalities.

The share of the aged population is increasing –9 per cent is in the age group from 0 to10 years, 13.4 per cent from 11 to 19, 14.7 per cent from 20 to 29, 41.8 per cent from 30 to 59 and 22.7 per cent are over 60 years old. ((National Statistical Institute – Bulgaria))

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Germany
Brief history of Germany:
Germany was ruled by the Romans until the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century. The Francs, a Germanic tribe, ruled the area of Germany and France for the next three hundred years until it was divided into East and West Frankish Kingdoms, which roughly correlate to the areas which are now France and Germany.

In an attempt to create a new Roman Empire, The Holy Roman Empire was established in 800 with the blessings of the Pope. An Emperor of the land was elected by dukes, kings or leaders of the kingdoms or territories of Germany and crowned by the Pope in Rome. This first German Empire ended in 1806 when the mighty Napoleon I conquered Germany. The German Confederation, an association of 39 independent states, most of them monarchies, was established in 1815 to fill the void. These states consisted of all of the current German bundeslands, Austria, Belgium, the North of Italy and others. In 1866, the war between Austria and Prussia, two of the largest states in the union, caused the German Confederation to dissolve and left the kingdom of Prussia, the largest and most powerful kingdom in Germany, in control of the much of the area of Germany. In 1870, a coalition of German states, led by Prussia united in war against Napoleon III and defeated France (Franco-Prussian War). In 1871 some German states (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg and some other territories) unified to form the (second) German Empire which lasted until 1918 and the end World War I. From 1919-1933 Germany was held together by the Weimar Republic, Germany’s first attempt at a democracy.

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Rugged, remote, romantic and rare - Scotland's famous Highlands make up one of Europe's great wilderness areas. Return to an era when Sunday was sacred, explore a Stone Age village, spend time with the local wildlife or meet the people that history has failed to humble.

The region boasts Britain's highest peaks and most spectacular glens, fascinating archaeological sites, mysterious loch monsters and massive seabird colonies. It's the place to get your heart pumping by scrambling over dramatic ridges, or slow the pace down by strolling along peaceful waterways.

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Amsterdam is one of the world's best hangouts, a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves; BMWs give way to bicycles; and triple-strength monk-made beer is drunk in gleaming, minimalist cafes.

The city seems to thrive on its mix and, despite hordes of tourists, still manages to feel quintessentially Dutch. The old crooked houses, the cobbled streets, the tree-lined canals and the generous parks all contribute to the atmosphere.

When to go

Amsterdam peaks with people around Easter and July-August but both of these times have their pros. April to May sees daffodils and tulips come to life through the cracks in the crowds. The beautiful summers are a great time to grab a bite and a drink alongside a canal. While winter can be a bit bleak it's rarely extremely cold, and sheltering in the cosy-hearthed pubs will give you a chance to meet 'real' Dutch. Also around this time accommodation is cheaper (except around New Year) and the best sights are all but deserted.

Techno and house music have millions of fans in Switzerland and Germany, where you're far more likely to hear the driving electronic beat of synthesized music than alphorns or oompah bands--unless you're at Oktoberfest or a nightclub that offers tourist shows.

Each year during August, hundreds of thousands of techno and house aficionados join a pilgrimage to Zürich for the Street Parade: an event that turns Switzerland's largest city into "the capital of the techno world." The parade, which features dozens of floats called "Love Mobiles," is meant to be "a demonstration in support of love, peace, and tolerance" to the beat of house and techno. It even has a broadcasting station, Radio Street Parade, which operates around the clock Mhz during the week leading up to the festivities. And when the parade is over, dozens of house and techno parties take place in and around Zürich, ranging from large festival-style events to underground raves for the cognoscenti.

Parade organizers recommend wearing earplugs (available at the parade) and emphasize the parade's policy of "no drugs, no dealing, good feeling!" If you get thirsty or hungry, head for an official refreshment stand. Proceeds from refreshment sales help cover the cost of the parade.

The Great Vine in the Hampton Court Palace Gardens is the oldest and largest known vine in the world. Here's what the palace staff have to say about this remarkable grapevine:

The Great Vine is more than 230 years old and 36.5 meters (120 feet) long. It is believed to have been planted by Lancelot "Capability" Brown around 1768, during his time as Surveyor to George III's Gardens and Waters. The vine is also the oldest plant in the palace gardens, having come from a small cutting at Valentine's Park in Essex (which no longer survives).

The Great Vine was first planted in a glasshouse built to house Queen Mary's collections of exotics from the tropics. Its roots were planted outside, and its branches were trained inside the glasshouse, which measured 18 by 4 meters (60 by 13 feet). By the 1790s, the vine was thriving so much that the glasshouse had to be lengthened by a further 3.5 meters or 11½ feet.

In 1800, the girth of the trunk was 330 mm or about 1 foot. In 1887, it was already 1.2 meters or 4 feet around the base; today, it measures 3.65 meters or 12 feet around the base. Its longest rod is 36.5 meters or 120 feet.

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Norway is a ruggedly beautiful country of mountains, fjords and glaciers. The 'Land of the Midnight Sun' has delightfully long summer days, pleasantly low-key cities, unspoiled fishing villages and rich historic sites that include Viking ships and medieval stave churches.

Norway prizes its stunning natural wonders and retains a robust frontier character unusual in Europe. It's not all frozen tundra, either. The temperate south includes rolling farmlands, enchanted forests and sunny beaches as well as the dramatic Western Fjords.

When to go

Norway is at its best and brightest from May to September. Late spring is a particularly pleasant time - fruit trees are in bloom, daylight hours are long, the weather is mild and most hostels and sights are open but uncrowded. Summers are marked by the phenomena of the midnight sun, especially north of the Artic Circle. At Nordkapp, in the far north, the sun stays out from 13 May to 29 July, but nowhere in the country - even the far south, experiences true darkness between late May and late July.

Unless you're heavily into winter skiing or searching for the Aurora Borealis of the polar nights, Norway's cold, dark winters are not the prime time to visit, and many hostels and camp grounds outside of major cities close.