An Ancient Rock City

Are you someone who is fascinated by ancient cities? Here is one - Petra, Jordan

Petra, an ancient rock city in present-day Jordan, known to the Arabs as Wadi Musa because of the stream that flows through it, was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom until its defeat by the Romans in AD 106. It then became part of the Roman province of Arabia. After several centuries as a flourishing trade centre, it declined with the shifting of trade routes away from the city. It was captured by the Muslims in the 7th century.

Its ruins were rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveler Johann L. Burckhardt. Excavations since the mid-20th century have revealed many rock-cut monuments, including tombs with elaborate facades carved in the rose, crimson, and purple sandstone of the surrounding hills.

A narrow winding pass between towering walls leads to the open plain upon which stood the ancient city, while the plain is surrounded by hills in which tombs have been carved in the pink sandstone. Throughout Petra every available rock surface has been worked into a vertical face and in many cases sculptured into the façade of a temple, shrine, palace, or dwelling. The site includes some 800 structures, the best known of which is the Khazneh el-Farun (or so-called Pharoah's Treasury), a mausoleum, monument, or temple with a two-story facade and Hellenistic split pediment.

Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Photo Credits: Google Images

Antartica: The White Desert (A Unique Experience)

Some men are excited by isolation and are fascinated by the wide expanse of snow covered land. That is why some men are fascinated by Antarctica, the seventh continent, dubbed as the White Desert. It is a landscape unlike anywhere else on the planet ­ so rarely visited, yet utterly beautiful.

White Desert is also a company, in fact the only company in the World that can take you into the interior of Antarctica in luxury and comfort. Wow! Never thought there is one travel offer like this. Anyway, if your trip is not lazing around in sparkling turquoise-colored warm beaches, maybe you will be interested in what White Desert can offer. It is a luxurious and highly ecological camp that offers not only superb food, but also breathtaking views and adrenalin pumping activities like kite-skiing over frozen horizon, climbing icy caves and virgin summits. But wait - the price? is a whooping 24,000 Euros/person. (Ugh!)

Reference: White Desert.com

What Inspires A Visit To Spain?

What inspires a visit to Spain? Take a look at 4 of its most visited cities…

Madrid is the capital of Spain, and its largest city. The one thing that is impressive about this city is that it has been able to preserve old world charm by maintaining its artistic heritage (the legacy of centuries of fascinating history), and blending them with the new urban infrastructures to become one of the world’s most vibrant modern cities and a popular travelers’ destination. It is also likely to be most people's starting point for a Spanish vacation (the other likely starting point being Barcelona).

Some of the famous landmarks:

Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Plaza de Oriente, the Opera House and the modern Almudena Cathedral. This ensemble of monuments is completed by the Puerta del Sol, and the "Paseo del Arte", not forgetting the Bank of Spain building, the Palacio de las Telecomunicaciones (currently home to the Spanish Post Office) and the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains.

Visitors can also partake of gourmet experiences and exotic rituals that Spain is famous for, like "Going for tapas" which is an essential part of life in Spain. Tapas are little dishes of food that you have with a drink (beer, wine...). Another is Bullfighting which is certainly one of the best known Spanish popular customs.

To be able to truly enjoy Madrid, one should find an accommodation that is conveniently located and easily accessible. Check this online reservation service provider which can provide a good listing of (Spain) hotels that will suit anyone’s budget.

Sagrada Familia

Barcelona, on the other hand is the capital of Catalonia, and Spain’s second largest city. It is most famous for the architecture of Antonio Gaudi, whose building are scattered all around the centre of the city. However the most impressive of Gaudi´s works is arguably the Sagrada Familia, the huge, still unfinished temple. In addition the city has beautiful urban beaches, marinas, and seafront golf courses.

Aside from Madrid and Barcelona, there are two other cities worth visiting – Alicante and Benidorm.

La Explanada is the largest and most beautiful park in Alicante and its most visited site too. It is located just next to the sea promenade and is a very nice place for walking or enjoying the coastline view. There is another important tourist attraction, the Castillo de Santa Barbara (a castle built by the Arabs). Benidorm is famous for its Peacock Island and Playa Poniente.

La Explanada

To find good Barcelona hotels, Alicante hotels, and Benidorm hotels - check the site of this online reservations services for good deals. It offers last minute and year round accommodation at hotels, apartments and hostels in Spain at prices generally less than direct, with free inclusions.

Credits: Google Images

Rain Showers

Wishlist...

Create a new shower experience with these new trends in bathroom fixtures – the Rain Showers! Create a soothing symphony of color within the privacy of your own shower, and transform your bath into a stress relieving revitalizing ritual that soothes mind and body.

Signorini Shower Head

The Signorini Shower head has ultra slim metallic blocks, studded with rows of tiny nozzles, to create rain brilliant colored water. Two central lights illuminate the free flowing water with color choices in a warm yellow, passionate red, mellow blue or green earthy light.

Jaclo Dream Light

The futuristic design of the Dream Light rain canopy features a thin stainless steel sheet complete with LED lights, which illuminate the falling water. The lights can be programmed to turn on manually with the flip of a switch or they can be encoded to start automatically whenever the shower is turned on.

Credits: trendir.com

A Chilling Experience !

There is a hotel in Sweden that is built in winter, disassembled, and then reassembled again on the following year. The hotel when reassembled each year comes fresh with a different new design. The reason – it is totally made of ICE! Because of its gaining popularity, quite a number of rooms are made. It even boasts of an Absolut Bar, and a chapel! The Ice Hotel near the village of Jukkasjarvi, in Sweden, is the first and perhaps the most popular among the ice hotels. In tribute, some hotels in different cities of the world like London, Stockholm, and Tokyo have Absolut bars totally made of ice too.

For someone like me who has been born under hot sunny skies, a stay here is going to be one unique and novel experience. And if this experience is coupled with a view such as this one below. WOW! what a big Chill!

Photo credits: Google Images