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Great Australians in history. A difficult undertaking for any scholar. To begin with, of course, one must think through exactly what it is that makes one an Australian. Is Zalman Silber an Australian? He is actually a New Yorker, but responsible for one of Sydney’s most fascinating attractions, the Skywalk, not to mention one of Melbourne’s, too, called The Edge. The former is generally a glass-floored catwalk a thousand feet above ground that offers visitors not only a bird’s-eye view of Sydney but a bird’s-nerve feel, too, what with gusting winds necessitating cable tethers for visitor safety. The latter is a glass enclosure that juts out from the top of the Eureka Tower, providing stunning panoramic views every which way you look.

Both are outstanding attractions for their cities, bringing in tourist dollars by the fistful every day. Does that make Zalman Silber a great Australian? Does that make him Australian at all? After all, he’s just a businessman – but the bottom line is that he has benefited Sydney and Melbourne tremendously, providing employment and tax revenue while bolstering the cities’ worldwide profile.

So just what makes for an Australian? Many are those who have only been born in Australia but really made their mark elsewhere. Then there are those who also denigrate their country of origin, Australia, but are still, in the final analysis, considered Australians. Even someone like Rupert Murdoch, who renounced his Australian citizenship in order to advance certain business interests of his, is still thought as Australian!

Indeed, one Leonard Casley even went so far as to secede his property from Australia and go on to declare war on Australia! It’s no joke: the Principality of Hutt River actually issues its own visa (hours of operation are ten to four) and postage. And Hutt River isn’t the only micronation on the island-continent; Australia also hosts – if that is the right word – the Province of Bumbunga, the Sovereign State of Aeterna Lucina, the Grand Duchy of Avram, the Independent State of Rainbow Creek, the Empire of Atlantium, the Principality of Marlborough, the Principality of Snake Hill, the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands, the United Federation of Koronis (which is merely based in Australia, claiming sovereignty only over the Koronis Family of Asteroids), and the Principality of Ponderosa. In fact, most of the world’s modern-day micronations are to be found in Australia!

So what makes for a great Australian? No one really knows. No one can quite put his or her finger on what makes for an Australian in the first place – not if they really thought about it. But one thing is for sure: people in Australia, whether they believe themselves Australians or not, really prize their independence above all else!

Pass by a statue in the park, and odds are that it’s a bronze sculpture, which rank among the most common of cast metal works because of a naturally occurring trait that can make it more convenient to fashion than many other materials. Bronze alloys expand a little prior to being set, and this helps to make certain that even the finest details of a mold are filled.

Moreover, bronze sculptures are strong while not being brittle, a quality known as ductibility, so that works may be fashioned that express actions performed mid-sequence, as if frozen in time, such as leaps and flights, simply because the needed supports require will smaller and thus less obvious (that is, visually intrusive) cross-sections.

Few examples from antiquity exist comparable to those sculpted of stone and ceramics due to the precious nature of the metal. In instances of war, such art was simply melted down for arms, or victorious conquerors melting them down for recasting and to create new statues.

Few bronze statues survived from ancient times, and those which do are frequently not in good condition. The originals on display in museums have been painstakingly restored to a quality suitable enough for exhibition but even the naked eye can still easily discern traces of wear and tear.

Modern-day works are typically some ninety percent cooper and ten percent tin, though in ages past other materials figured into the alloy, elements like phosphorus and manganese and aluminum and silicon. But reactive chemicals are frequently added nowadays to be able to accomplish novel effects such as a marble-like luster.

These kinds of corrosive materials are applied after final polishing to be able to form a patina or film, establishing for the sculptor a degree of control over the color and finish. As could be imagined, working effectively with bronze requires a high degree of technical skill.

Catholic saints are people canonized by the Catholic Church, officially recognized for their piety as residents of Heaven. However, in a technical sense, all who are in Heaven who had once been human on earth are, by definition, saints, people perfected in holiness; this is the view subscribed to by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

And while the list of Catholic saints can vary between almost a thousand and a half names to over ten thousand, depending on who’s doing the counting (inexplicably, there appears to be no comprehensive official list), it’s often understood in many quarters that many pious souls are obscure and outright lost to human history.

Thus the term “Catholic saints” refers to those formally recorded and so honored while not making the claim that such a list are the only such folks of piety and therefore the only group in Heaven. Canonization is the process whereby an individual’s life and deeds is examined for evidence of such recognition by the Church.

It is lengthy and can take numerous years, and even entire centuries. Beatification is an official declaration that an individual is near sainthood. The final determination rests, however, on the provenance of two posthumous miracles of some importance.

In a certain sense, miracles are one of the most essential aspects of a saint; the veneration of saints often rests on this point for numerous lay Catholics. Patron saints are those designated as being particularly associated with particular professions, causes, or qualities.

Saints are not considered to have power in their own right, but only that which has been granted by God. Yet the bodily remains and other relics of a saint is believed to be holy and might be utilized in certain ceremonies. Originally, saints were mostly martyrs, but over time other considerations became just as prominent.

A good camping tent will make the difference between fun and misery. Camping is a favorite outdoor activity, and though some people make no use of any tent or overnight shelter at all, under most circumstances it is going to be a much more enjoyable experience when not assailed by the elements. Thus a camping tent will be one of the most essential pieces of equipment on hand, and when in the market some basic factors should be considered.

First and foremost, figure out whether free-standing designs or traditional ones are most appropriate. Much thought and care needs to be taken at this initial step, as for solitary trips no one will be around to help pitch and strike a tent. Fabric material is another important factor when shopping for a suitable camping tent. Most goods offered on the marketplace today will be made of cotton canvas, nylon, felt, or polyester.

Cotton absorbs water but is, ironically, then rendered waterproof when its fibers swell and create a seal against further drenching, in effect. Cotton is also frequently treated to further enhance its water-resistant qualities. Then you have synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester, which are significantly lighter in weight and tend to whisk away water, made all the more water-resistant and even waterproof through the application of special coatings. Sadly, these will also deteriorate over time under sunlight.

When considering the water resistance of a camping tent, look to its hydrostatic head rating. Tent fabrics are rated in millimeters, and numbers of 1000mm or less are deemed shower resistant while extreme conditions such as monsoons might call for ranges between 3000 to over 5000mm, particularly where groundsheets are concerned. There are a handful of other aspects when it comes to tent fabrics, but this discussion covers a couple of the most essential and should serve to stimulate further research on your own.

Fishing is a popular sport even in our world of contemporary conveniences. It seems simple enough, conceptually, but in reality there is a lot technical knowledge involved. Even the simple fishing rod isn’t immune – there are, for instance, over three hundred various kinds of Lamiglas fishing pole available. Lamiglas is a specialty manufacturer with specific rods for specific breeds of fish.

To a layman, it may seem surprising, but given all of the different species of fish there are to be caught, it’s logical for a rod to be produced with performance characteristics that will best help the angler get his or her catch! Such a variety of rods also makes sense when you take into account that there are tens of millions of recreational fishermen and women around the world.

And so each Lamiglas fishing pole is produced by hand, individually, with good old-fashioned craftsmanship right alongside the most contemporary advances in materials science. That’s over three hundred fly, surf, fresh and salt water rods for steelhead, salmon, bass, and just about any other type of fish. Lamiglas fishing poles are popular with recreational anglers. At fishing tournaments, it is interesting to see all the various designs sported, each individually suited to all the different personal casting styles and fishing conditions possible!

This profusion of rods is most common to sport fishing, but their advanced technologies make them particularly appropriate for subsistence fishing, also known as artisan fishing, an ironic synonym that usually conveys connotations of upscale excess but which here in this context most likely refers to the fact that such fishing, in order to be environmentally sustainable, takes the type of care more commonly associated with the endeavors of traditional artisans and craftsmen.

Subsistence of artisan fishing is almost always less intensive and less stressful on fish populations than are modern industrial techniques, which fact is due in big part to its a lot more conventional methods and individual scales.

A camping tent is usually required to enjoy the outdoor recreation of camping, where participants appreciate nature by spending one or more nights in the wild. Although some campers elect to stay inside cabins, camping generally involves the use of a tent or tent-like structure for shelter against the elements. Depending on different factors such as environmental conditions, one might also choose to sleep fully out in the open, with nothing more than a sleeping bag or even just a blanket!

Also known as a backpacking tent, these shelters are especially needed for beginners who might not be used to the lack of familiar creature comforts. A Nemo Equipment tent or a Big Agnes tent is recommended for both beginners and professionals alike for ease-of-use and superior quality. When out in the wild, the one thing that shouldn’t be compromised, if anything, is shelter.

Camping is frequently linked to other activities, such as bicycling and kayaking. Several cross-country motorcyclists and airplane pilots also carry camping gear. More broadly known as mobile camping, these kinds of overnight stays with Mother Nature combine the finest of modern conveniences and pre-modern experiences.

There is certainly nothing like watching the darkness fall in literally five seconds, just like a fade-out at the movies. There is nothing like listening to all the mysterious sounds of the night, just outside your tent. It’s for these intangibly real, unmeasurably intimate moments when we are truly one with nature that so many folks continue to camp.

And a camping tent is just about the very first thing to consider in getting into this great pastime. A variety of designs are offered nowadays, and though it’s one of the very first inventions of mankind, the tent is still undergoing technological improvement to this day, with none other than the U.S. Army developing models with provisions for air conditioning and heating!

Horse racing systems may be as old as the sport itself. It can be not for nothing that racing horses has long been known as “the sport of kings” for it takes lots of money to own horses – and to bet enjoyably on them. Sure it’s achievable to put down extremely modest amounts in today’s races, but that would be like going to a five-star restaurant just to have a glass of water. Following all, well-known though the pastime is, it can be worth a hundred and fifteen billion dollars worldwide, a sum unlikely to consist entirely of little wagers!

Hence, along with this noble equestrian sport has come numerous racing systems developed to improve one’s odds. Within the United States, betting on horse races is governed by the individual states in which the racetrack is located. Cross state lines, however, and there’s remarkably little oversight, as interstate commerce is a federal responsibility and apparently not one that preoccupies Washington too much (right after all, they hardly bother with illegal immigration). Thus companies have sprung up to simulcast betting across state lines except through wider statutes on gambling in general.

Therefore the numerous racing tips, born with the social phenomenon of parimutuel gambling (from the French for “mutual” gambling) in which all bets are pooled together, with a house take removed instantly before calculating payoff shares. In a typical example, seventeen percent is withheld and eighty-three percent returned inside the form of winnings. As with all games of chance, the mathematics of probability is intimately involved, with nuances exploited by those with an understanding of the details. Modern technology aims to make it even less difficult, and software exists which purport to help handicap a race with the least amount of user input feasible. Interestingly, such computer-assisted handicaps do not dampen the excitement of a bet!

Australia is a place that just begs for cinematic flyovers. First popularized during the 1980s by IMAX, the helicopter-flyover genre of travel video was brought to home theaters by a series of DVDs from various companies almost a decade later. It is in the context of such presentations that Zalman Silber’s Oztrek amusement ride makes its appearance. Screening at the Sydney Tower in the Harbour City, the Oztrek is a cinematic flyover of many of Australia’s national treasures – geographic and otherwise.

Some of the locations covered by this fifteen-minute ride (Oztrek bills itself as a “ride” on account of special seating that provides some physical, kinetic feedback in sync to events onscreen) are a Queensland river, a Sydney beach, as well as famous landmarks throughout the country, both natural and man-made. The non-geographic highlights include such activities as Aussie Rules Football and buffalo mustering, further burnishing the self-image of Australians as a hardy hearty folk who work and play rough.

Also at the Sydney Tower – and also from serial entrepreneur Zalman Silber – is the Skywalk, an exhilarating experience even more appealing than his Oztrek. This is basically a catwalk a thousand feet above street level, the highest point in all the city from which panoramic bird’s-eye views are possible. Full glass flooring really adds to the adrenaline rush, allowing guests to look straight down without any visual obstructions and feel like they are, well, literally walking in the sky!

It is difficult to compare the two attractions to one another, though they both come from the same entrepreneurial mind. One is extremely visceral, while the other is much more cerebral and, incidentally, rather conventional. Yet it is easy to see how they so wonderfully complement each other, and a visit to the Sydney Tower would not seem as fulfilling without sampling two of its most popular marquee attractions.

On average, a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle somewhere in the world every 8 minutes. 5,600 people are wiped out each year by vehicles and another 80,000 are seriously injured – many of them while crossing streets or intersections. However, only a small percentage of these cases are people who spend much of their time near moving vehicles: road workers.

And this is due largely in part to the simple implementation of vests of safety. Safety vests are basically light weight vests worn over normal clothing, with bright fluorescent colors such as orange or yellow, and frequently with specially designed reflective strips – all created to make the wearer as visible to the human eye as humanly possible in as many circumstances and environments as possible.

The first part of safety vests making them visible is merely their color. In order to achieve a high amount of visibility, it’s totally obvious to go for brighter colors like orange and yellow, but there’s some other reasons behind these options. The backgrounds in which a wearer operates are important. On open highways as an example, the vests worn by road workers are generally a vibrant orange to contrast with the two most mainly abundant colors: the dark green of trees or landscape beside the road, or the blue sky.

Orange in particular is a complimentary color of blue – that is, its precise opposite on the color spectrum, making for the finest contrast among the two colors, and therefore, the greatest visibility. This is the same purpose why many signs and signals warning of construction or boundaries ahead are painted in the same color. The color yellow, and most of its related shades and colorings will also be most likely to remain steady between those suffering from various kinds of color blindness. These supplies for protection come in all different types, shapes, and of course sizes.

The reflective strips found on safety vests will also be the product of much research. These are composed of retroreflectors, which reflect light with small dispersal back toward their source. Even so, unlike a mirror, retroreflectors can reflect light back in the direction of the source from an angle of incidence much greater than zero – meaning, the device doesn’t need to be pointed directly at the light source in order to reflect light back toward it, unlike a mirror which must be positioned perfectly perpendicularly.

This really is ordinarily achieve by arranging three mutually perpendicular mirrors to create a corner, much like three touching sides of a cube. This geometrical position permits light to be reflected in the direction of its source from any direction. Of course in the application of clothing, the “mirrors” in question are unbelievably tiny and made of reflective fibers or scotchlite, a material made of millions of tiny glass beads with a steel reflective surface painted on one surface.

Together, these two simple applications significantly improve the visibility of those wearing safety vests, eventually making their presence much more clear and greatly reducing the risk of an accident.

Outdoor toys are an excellent way for grandparents to share time with young youngsters. Most toys of this kind possess a specific ingenuity about them, exploiting simple principles of physics to fantastic impact. Boomerangs, kites, and windwheels are thus wonderfully educational although getting entertaining. A special class of outdoor toys are yard toys, which consist of windwheels and even weather vanes. They usually are not as “interactive” as typical toys, but will serve to amuse the really youthful for any time frame.

Boomerangs, or “rangs” to competitive hobbyists, had been originally used for hunting. Interestingly, this curved tool was not always thrown, but usually utilized as a hand-held weapon, and by none other than the aboriginal Australians with whom the boomerang is most usually connected now inside the well-liked culture. In reality, boomerangs have even been utilized as percussive musical instruments!

Kites and product rockets are the most popular outside toys of all, obviously. Specially developed stunt kites enable for some very sophisticated handling and manage, whilst rockets could be especially entertaining for boys. You can find even designs propelled solely by air pressure to address any safety concerns you might have, even though design rocketry may be a really secure hobby throughout the years in spite of the inclusion of especially combustible materials. But if an air burst rocket is not safe sufficient for you personally, do not be concerned; you may also get a water-powered rocket to soothe your fears! But naturally it won’t fly as higher up within the air as even an air-propelled one, by no means mind the normal varieties.

After which there are easy humble lawn toys. They are intended to be decorations for the garden, but many exploit principles of areodynamics which can make them relatively educational for your very young, with more elaborate constructions supplying much more educational chances. An additional excellent little lawn toy will be minature windmills, illustrating simple guidelines of hydraulics.

You might feel that the growth of coffee houses the past twenty to thirty years would lead to a decrease in the sale of coffee machines, but on the contrary they continue to be as popular as ever, with espresso makers one of the most ballyhooed goods on late-night television. It’s a curious thing, and may not make a lot of sense on the face of it, but in fact the number of businesses committed to serving coffee has only made people want to buy coffee machines of their own!

Now why should this be? The solution points up to an intriguing feature of human nature. But first think about why people should patronize coffee houses: it isn’t all about the coffee. Many stores, such as Starbucks, have hit upon the successful method that previously saw the rise of sidewalk cafes throughout Europe in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: people needed a nice place indoors! Avoiding cramped quarters at home, such establishments presented a relatively deluxe environment for the price of a cup of coffee. And it’s the same today, with students among the most faithful of customers for these chain coffee houses.

But why should people need coffee machines, then? Well, in this case, it also isn’t necessarily all about the coffee. That’s right! You’d feel that people who like coffee either go to coffee houses or buy coffee makers to use at home. But in both cases, it isn’t always about the coffee itself, but everything else relating to how they get their coffee!

In the case of a coffee house, people go for the ambience as much as anything else. In the case of a home coffee maker, it’s about the convenience: no lines to wait on, but everything on a timer and ready when you wake up or come home, with the same range of flavors – all at a much reduced cost. And there’s always seating available!

Presented the widespread proliferation of coffee houses these past twenty or thirty years, one would assume a affiliated decrease in the popularity of home coffee makers, but alternatively these goods are in fact selling as briskly as they ever have, being one of the most iconic stars of late-night TV infomercials. So why should this be? Why should sales not have taken a hit with ever more businesses selling coffee?

Well, it relies on why people visit coffee houses and why they purchase coffee makers – there may be rather different reasons behind each habit. In the case of the coffee house, it’s about the ambience, the environment. Chains such as Starbucks are simply reviving the practice that was prevalent in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Europe, where people escaped crammed quarters at home by visiting cafes and saloons to read, do their work, or even have a proper supper. Today’s establishments offer much the same amenities, and it’s no accident that college students are among the most numerous of customers for a chain coffee house.

Folks who buy their own coffee makers, on the other hand, probably can like their cup well enough at home, or they simply need it right away and as a part of their daily routine. As a result, a coffee-making machine lets them wake up or come home from work to freshly brewed coffee that’s ready for consumption without the fuss and bother of a queue. Yet the same wide range of flavors is available, the same diversity of roasts and beans and blends, and all at a much reduced cost, typically. Finally, there’s guaranteed seating!

Finally, the number of businesses devoted to serving coffee has only made people want to buy coffee machines of their own. After all, why not have the best of both worlds?

Tents are shelters made from sheets of fabric or animal hide, draped over a frame of poles and traditionally secured to the ground by way of ropes and stakes. Many modern-day variants such as camping tent or backpacking tent are used for recreational activities such as camping or hiking, these are free-standing tents that are designed in such a way as to need no such anchoring to the ground.

Tent sizes alter from bivouac types large enough for one or two people to the familiar multiple topped circus tents with space enough for thousands. The majority of tents made and sold today fall in-between these 2 extremes ( more towards the previous than the second ). The bigger varieties can take about half an hour to properly pitch or assemble, while others may require only seconds to strike or disassemble. Some can be set up by oneself, while others will completely need assistance.

When in the market for good tents, consideration should be given to some basic factors. Most importantly involves the material of the fabric, which often comes in cotton canvas, nylon, felt, and polyester. Cotton soaks up water, but is ironically rendered water resistant when its fibers swell and create a good seal against further drenching.

Cotton is also regularly treated to further augment its water resistance characteristics. Manmade fibers like nylon and polyester are much less heavy and have a tendency to whisk away water, and can be quite water-proof with the appliance of special coatings. Unfortunately, they generally tend to deteriorate over time under sunlight.

The hydrostatic head rating of tent fabrics also should be considered. Numbers of 1000mm or less are deemed shower resistant, while extraordinary conditions such as monsoons may call for figures of 3000 to over 5000mm, particularly for groundsheets. Also, tents that’ll be used in areas where insects like gnats and mosquitoes are anticipated and should have all openings covered with fine-mesh netting.

Tents are usually regarded as non permanent shelter for recreational uses, but many of us around the planet still live in what appear to be tents all the time, forever. All around the year, whether winter or summer, these special structures house whole families against the elements. In the steppes of Mongolia and Central Asia, nomadic peoples still use felt-covered wood lattice yurts for houses. They are like tents that may be pitched anytime, anywhere, and yet are more spacious and robust, such that they can stand permanently if necessary, as indeed many do these days when some steppe peoples no longer follow large herds around and are essentially settled down in one place.

Speaking technically, a yurt isn’t quite a tent, though similarities abound a lot more than do differences. Tents conjure certain images that yurts do not. For starters, a camping tent is normally non-permanent and generally practical, while yurts and tepees, a somewhat similar dwelling of certain indigenous American tribes, are designed to endure as sole abodes of their inhabitants. Indeed, we do not talk of a tent’s inhabitants – not as such, anyway – whereas with yurts and tepees it is wholly reasonable to do so.

These structures are in numerous ways much more home-like than any tent can be, though a selection of tents do exist on the market now such as NEMO equipment tent. Till rather recently, for example, tents didn’t sometimes have windows or openings to allow smoke to escape or get out, while yurts and tepees do because cooking is anticipated to be done inside them, inside.

Still, some traits will continue to be different between these kinds of structures and tents. Due to their nearly completely different purposes, tents don’t have walls as thick as those of yurts and tepees, as an example. Enthusiasts in the West have adapted the yurt and expanded on its ideas to form new kinds of dwelling, regularly made with modern high tech materials. They also are not typically supposed to be moved often, and some are built to be permanent structures and practically immobile.

No tour of Europe is complete without an interlude in Spain. Whether you are touring Europe for the summer or are simply there for a week, Spain is one country you should include on your itinerary. Watch the running bulls of Pamplona. Party the night away on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. Gape in wonder at the old masters gracing the walls of centuries-old museums in Barcelona and Madrid. Study the impressive architecture of Valencia and Seville. Or, commune with sun, sea, and sky in the little town of Nerja.

The vibrant little coastal town, Nerja, lies at the foot of the Sierre Almijara, Andalusia. Here, mountains plunge straight into the crystal clear sea and coastlines jut proudly against an backdrop of sea and sky.

What is there to see in Nerja?

If there is one thing Nerja overflows with, its beauty. It has the best climate in the whole Costa del Sol, and as you walk through the town, you will encounter sights that will take your breath away. It has miles and miles of verdant countryside and strips upon strips of pristine beaches. The town has remained miraculously untouched by highrises and skyscrapers, and there are very few holiday lodging options available save for villas. The villas in Nerja, Spain may not be able to hold a candle to the opulence of European hotels and resorts, but they are scenic and historic. The town itself retains much of the flavor and spirit of its traditional village atmosphere. In fact, tucked behind the mountains of Nerja is a beautifully preserved, white-washed village of Frigiliana, which shows very little traces of the passing of centuries.

At the heart of Nerja is a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff. Called the Balcony of Europe, the promenade offers a sweeping view of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches that lie below. On it had once stood a great Moorish castle.

Staying at Villas in Nerja, Spain

The best way to experience the quaint charms of this picturesque little town is to get your own villa. Whether bought or rented, villas in Nerja, Spain will give travelers like yourself an authentic taste of all things genuinely Spanish. The villas in Nerja, Spain are representative of the village’s charming architecture and would, thus, give you a sampling of traditional village life at its simplest and most historic.

There is a wide selection of villas in Nerja, Spain for those who need a home, whether temporary or permanent. Many of these come with panoramic views of the sea. A one-bedroom apartment can accommodate two people and go for $350 to $500 a month. A spacious four-room villa may command $335 a week during off peak seasons and $737 during peak seasons.

Many sites online give you the option of renting villas in Nerja, Spain directly from the owners themselves or through an agency. A quick look at sites like http://www.Holiday4You.com. will yield useful information about the villas in Nerja, Spain, including pricing, location, and apartment details.

In the end, though, it doesn’t matter which booking option you choose. What matters is that you sojourn in Spain. Spain is a must for the adventure seeker, the wine sipper, the history aficionado, and the art connoisseur.

Looking for villas in Nerja, Spain? Visit Holiday4You.com to find the perfect place to rent for your next vacation. You can also find here holiday flat Berlin has to offer or even luxury vacation homes for your next holiday.

WHAT IS IT: The so called “Golden Ring of Russia” is a symbolical ring connecting historical towns and cities to the North-West of Moscow. They represent 1,000 years of rich Russian history written in stone and wood, from a 850-year old church in Rostov to a 19th-century log house in the Suzdal’s open air museum. Each of the “golden” towns once played an important role in the history of Russia and was conected in one way or another with famous historical figures such as Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and many others. If you would like to see true, patriarchal Russia, to experience the grandeur of nature and the magnificence of ancient towns then a Golden Ring tour is well worth taking. It is one of the most popular routes among Russian and foreign lovers of old Russian history and architecture.

WHAT TO SEE: The cities and towns of the Golden Ring are listed here in alphabetical order:

Aleksandrov (founded in 1530, population 68,000) – The town is situated 100 km from Moscow on the crossway of ancient roads from the largest historic centers of Russia – Vladimir and Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. In 1564- 1581 the town was the residence of Ivan the Terrible. In Aleksandrov the tsar proclaimed the establishment of his select, terror-inspiring corps, the Oprichniki and signed the harsh conditions of the truce with Poland and Sweden after losing the long war with Livonia. From Aleksandrov Ivan the Terrible led his army of Oprichniki to strike at the big trade centres of Novgorod, Pskov, Klin and Tver. Here the cruel tsar killed his son in a rage and soon after that left Aleksandrov forever coming back to Moscow. The very first in Russia publishing house was established in Aleksandrov in 1576. One of the leading textile manufacturing centres in Russia in the 19th century.

Bogolubovo (founded in 990, population 4,000) – a tiny quiet town near the city of Vladimir. The town was named after the Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky (God-loving) who built the first fortified settlement here in 1165. It was a strategically important point overlooking the Kliazma River. Tourists can see remains of the Andery Bogolubsky’s residence including some residential chambers of the 12th century and the beautiful Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl (1165) which is considered to be one of the finest specimens of old Russian architecture.

Gorohovets (founded in 1239, population 30,000) – The town was founded under Vladimir prince Andrey Bogolubsky. The town is picturesquely settled on the high bank of the Klyazma River. Played role as a fortified forepost until 1600-s. Reached its developmental pick in the 17-th century as a local centre for blacksmithing, textile-making and making of leather and also as an agricultural trade centre for grains and flax.

Gus-Khrustalny (founded in 1756, population 80,000) – Over 200 years ago a merchant built here the first workshop of glass casting. Today the town is one of the district centers of Vladimir region, well-known in Russia and abroad as the national center of glassmaking. The name Gus-Krustalny can be literally translated as Chrystalline Goose. The old part of the town is a workmen’s settlement of 1900-s. with its own Church of St. Joachim of 1816.

Kholuy (founded 1650, population 1,000) – The village of Kholui did not begin producing lacquered miniatures until the 1930s, and though iconography had been an important trade in the region in previous centuries, Kholui was never bound to any particular artistic tradition. Rather, Kholui miniatures share some traits with both Palekh and Mstera art, yet maintain a distinctive lyrical quality of their own. As in Palekh and Mstera, Kholui artists use egg tempera paints. Kholui paintings tend to be brighter than Mstera’s, though like Mstera, the pigments used are opaque and the background is usually fully painted. Sometimes, as with Palekh miniatures, Kholui miniatures will include some fine gold and/or silver ornamentation within the painting, and Kholui artists can create fantastic border ornaments on par with those of Palekh. Since 1960-s products of Kholuy’s 200 artists have been widely represented and promoted internationally.

Kostroma (founded in 1213, population 300,000) – In the past Kostroma was known as “the flax capital of the north”; it supplied Europe with the world’s finest sail-cloth. The city has been also called as the “cradle of the Romanov dynasty”. Mikhail Romanov, the first of the Romanov dynasty, left the Ipatievsky Monastery for Moscow in 1613 to become tsar of Russia. During the Polish intervention in the turbulent years of the early seventeenth century Kostroma was a significant stronghold for the resistance movement. The city is spreaded on the left bank of the Volga river. Nowadays Kostroma is an important industrial center (textile, metal works), a capital city of the Kostroma province.

Mstera (founded in 1628, population 6,000) – the town takes its name from the little Msterka River, which flows through it merging with the Kliyazma. It is in Vladimir Region, but not far from the border with Ivanovo Region, south of Palekh and Kholui, in breathtakingly beautiful countryside – the one that forms the backdrop to its paintings. Mstera was a respected center of icon production until the trade was banned after the Revolution of 1917. Since then its artists has been creating world-famous masterpieces in the form of lacquered miniatures. In keeping with the traditions of iconography, egg tempera paints are still used. The landscape is of central importance to the painting with people and objects integrated to the setting. Mstera paintings are frequently larger than those from the other schools but some fine miniatures are also produced and because of their rarity are highly prized. Typical themes include exquisite floral designs with lacy gold ornamentation, the traditional fairy tales, traditional activities and events such as a winter festival, and sometimes portraiture.

Murom (founded 862, population 145,000) – one of the oldest Russian cites stretched along the left bank of the Oka river. The town’s name originates from “muroma”, one of the Finno-Ugric tribes lived here 15 centuries ago. Every Russian knows the name Ilya Muromets. He was a mythical epic hero defending people of Russia and later became a synonym of superior physical and spiritual power and integrity, dedicated to the protection of the Homeland. There is a monument to Ilya Muromets built on a river bank of the Oka river in Murom. The town survived three Mongol invasions. In the 17th century Murom became an important centre of various crafts – building, painting, sawing. There are three working monasteries in Murom.

Palekh (founded 1600, population 6,000) – the village is situated about 400km (250 miles) from Moscow in the Ivanovo region. In the 15th century it was one of the first centers of icon drawing trade. After the 1917 communist coup, when the icon business went down, Palekh masters tried to decorate wooden toys, dishes, porcelain and glass. But the most interesting way turned out to be painting black-lacquered boxes made of papier-mache. These days the name of Palekh is nearly synonymous with the art of Russian lacquer. Palekh artists are generally regarded as the most highly trained of the Russian miniature painters. Famous for highly detailed miniatures with elaborate ornamentation, the village of Palekh has a long artistic tradition. Like their icon painting forebears, today’s Palekh artists use egg tempera paints and paint in the Byzantine style. Favored themes are the Russian fairy tales, the famous Russian troika (three horse sleigh), and scenes of life in the countryside. The art of Palekh miniatures expresses the true national character. Many examples of Palekh art have received recognition at international exhibitions and have become world-known.

Pereslavl-Zalesskiy (founded in 1152, population 45,000) – one of the oldest Russian towns, the birthplace of the famous Russian prince Alexander Nevsky, who defeated an army of German knights in 1242. Zalessky means “behind the woods”. That is where, behind the dense forests, ancient Slavic tribes retreated seeking refuge from hostile nomads coming from the South-East. The town is situated on the shores of the huge Pleshcheyevo lake. The town is also connected with the name of the famed Russian tsar-reformer Peter the Great who in 1680-s practiced his skills in ship-building making over 100 boats and sail vessels, who entertained himself with first Russian navy exercises on the Pleshcheyevo lake.

Ples (founded in 1410, population 4,000) – this quet little historical town is located on the bank of the mighty and beautiful Volga river. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible Ples was one of the largest river firsh suppliers to the kings’ court. In the 18-19th centuries the town became known as a popular resort and was often called “Russian Switzerland” for the beauty of its scenery. Numerous Russian artists including the famous master of landscapes Levitan used to come here to work.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great, founded in 862, population 40,000) – another pearl of ancient Russian culture. In old Russia only two towns were called veliky (great). One was Novgorod, the famous trade centre of the Russia’s north, the other Rostov. The Principality of Rostov-Suzdal-Vladimir was one of the strongest political divisions of Kievan Rus. It controlled all the major rivers in northeast Rus including the Moskva, Oka, Kliazma, and Volga. In the 12th century Rostov grew to equal Kiev and Novgorod in size and importance. It was made the seat of an Orthodox Metropolitan (Head of Russian Church) in 1587, and served as an important commercial center in the 16-19th centuries, one of the wealthiest in the country, so it could afford to hire the very best builders, decorators and stone-cutters. Modern Rostov is a sleepy old town with some magnificent buildings next to the shallow Nero lake.

TravelMake.com – one of leading online discount travel agencies, a source of useful travel information. For more information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, some photographs and useful links about Russian history please visit us: http://www.travelmake.com

When you head out on a vacation, particularly outside the country, it is highly recommended that you purchase medical travel insurance. You certainly aren´t expecting to get hurt, but if something does happen, you want to be sure that you get the best care, without having to worry about the medical costs.

There are plenty of benefits to having medical travel insurance, and the fact is that it is usually so cheap that you shouldn´t even have to wonder about it. Just get it and be protected. Here are a few of the benefits:

Get better medical care. If you are in a car accident while traveling, you will need medical attention. Not every country has the same system, so you might be sent to a free hospital or clinic if you haven´t got enough money on you. These places are notorious for doing poor work and even killing their patients! This way, your medical travel insurance covers everything and you will be sent to a good hospital, no matter what country you are in.

Avoid “foreigner” fees. Depending on what country you are in, you may be charged extra simply because you are from elsewhere. This is unfair, but a common practice in many countries, such as Mexico, a popular vacation spot. If you are paying out of your own pocket, the cost could be too much to deal with, but with medical travel insurance, you have backup. If there is an issue, the insurance company will probably deal with it.

Choose your own trip length. You can purchase medical travel insurance to cover a specific time period, making sure that you are covered the whole time you are out of the country. If you will be traveling in and out of the country over the year, it´s usually best to buy coverage for the whole year, rather than individual trips. You´ll find that it comes out cheaper and you will be protected on every trip, not just one.

Emergency medical evacuation. There are times when the local hospitals (particularly in third world countries) are simply not equipped to deal with your medical issues. If you come down with something that they can´t treat or don´t have the equipment to treat your injuries, rather than dying there, you will be covered for evacuation by your medical travel insurance. This doesn´t necessarily mean that you will be sent back to your home country, you may be relocated to a hospital that is closer and equipped to handle your medical issues, first.

Return of body. No one ever wants to think of dying in a foreign country, while on vacation, but unfortunately, this does happen from time to time. In this case, your medical travel insurance should cover the shipping of your body or ashes, whichever you prefer, to your home country where your family members can bury you appropriately. Without this option, your family would have to come to the country and make arrangements to transport your body back, a process which can be very complicated and expensive at a time when they are mourning.

Medical travel insurance is something that every traveler needs to consider. You don´t want to end up sick or injured on your vacation and without options. Medical travel insurance allows you to receive the best care and for the expenses to be covered, so you can simply focus on recovering and enjoying the rest of your vacation.

Independent broker specializing in travel insurance for Canadians travelling out of country and non-Canadians who visit Canada. Representing all the major insurance companies so you can choose the Canadian health insurance policy that satisfies your travel medical insurance needs.

Sergiev Posad (founded in 1345, population 115,000) – the spiritual center of Russia, residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, where the remains of the first national saint, Sergei Radonezh, rests. In the heart of Sergiev Posad is a well-preserved splendid architectural ensemble of over 50 historical buildings, as well as magnificent art collections including old Russian painting and the treasures in the vaults of the former Trinity Monastery.

Suzdal (founded in 1024, population 12,000) – this little quiet town is a real gem, one of the most beautiful in the Golden Ring collection of citeis and towns. In the 11th century Suzdal became the very first forepost of Christianity in the North-Eastern Russia and significantly affected the religious life in Russia until the end of 19 century. The town was destroyed by Mongols in 1238. Later Suzdal became the capital city of Russian prince Yury Dolgoruky who is considered to be the founder of Moscow. The second destruction of the town came with the Polish invasion in the 17th century. Here you can find over 100 church and secular buildings dating from the mid-12th to the mid-19th century crowded into a area of 9 square km.

Tutaev (founded in 1283, population 45,000) – is an old little town sprawling on both banks of the Volga river. Tutaev (formerly known as Romanovo-Borisoglebsk) is divided by the Volga river into two parts. The former town Romanov is located on the left high bank of the river, the former town Borisoglebsk is on the right sloping one. Romanov was called after the Russian prince Roman of Uglich who was the founder of this town, Borisoglebsk got its name in connection with the Church of St. Boris and St. Gleb erected there in the 15th century. The towns were united under the new name Romanovo-Borisoglebsk in 1822. In 1918 the town’s name was changed to Tutaev in honour of the Red Army hero who was killed during the Civil war .

Uglich (founded in 937, population 38,000) – the town was built on a major trade route. In its history Uglich has survived destruction by the Mongols and lived through the devastation of fires and plagues. Uglich is famous for Russia’s darkest secret – the death of young Prince Dimitri, son of Ivan the Terrible who is often called Tsarevich (a heir to the throne) Dmitry. The Tsarevich, a sickly boy, was the last of the Rurik dynasty. While playing with a knife in the yard he stabbed himself by accident or was stabbed by an assassin allegedly sent by Boris Godunov, his competitor for the throne. The center of the town also is a historical and architectural landmark. The streets are wide, with various churches standing side by side along the road. These churches vary in size and have domes and belfries of different shapes and designs, all of which add to the charm of this small town. Uglich is known in Russia for simple-designed and reliable watches. The local factory, which makes beautiful women’s watches decorated with special “Finift” paintings on porcelain which are incorporated into the bands of the watches.

Vladimir (founded in 1108, population 400,000) – one of the oldest Russian cities, was founded by the Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh on the banks of the Kliazma river. The city really blossomed in the 12th century during the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky, who strengthened its defences, welcomed architects, icon-painters, jewellers from other countries, built new palaces and churches so magnificent that travelers compaired them with the ones in the “mother of all Russian cities”- Kiev. Until the middle of 14th century the city had been an administrative, cultural and religious center for North-Eastern Russia. During the Mongol invasion in the 13th century Vladimir was beseiged, looted and almost totally destroyed. Presently the city is a capital of the Vladimir province.

Yaroslavl (founded in 1010, population 600,000 ) – as the legend goes it was founded by the famous Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise as a fortified settlement on the Volga river. After a huge fire of 1658 that turned most of the city into ruins, Jaroslavl was rebuilt in stone and reached the peak of its architectural development with palaces and churches richly decorated with beautiful frescoes and ornaments thus earning the title “Florence of Russia”. The first Russian professional theater was established here by Volkov in 1750. Since the 18th century Jaroslavl has been an important industrial center. Today it is a quiet metropolitan city, one of Russia’s largest regional centres, a capital of the Jaroslav province and one of the most beautiful cities of old Russia.

Yuriev-Polsky (founded in 1152, population 20,000) – was founded by the Prince Yury Dolgoruky (who also founded Moscow in 1147) and named after himself. The second word “Polsky” means “among the fields” as it is situated in the heart of fertile and flat Suzdal land. These beautiful landscapes inspired the great painters and writers such as Repin, Tyutchev, Odoevsky, Soloukhin. Local textile centre since the 18th century.

HOW TO GET THERE: By plane to Moscow. From Moscow you can travel the cities and towns of the Golden Ring either by a tour bus or by a river cruise ship. The last option limits the number of towns that you can visit as they have to be situated close to the Volga river. We recommend you to take a bus tour for 3 to 10 days depending on your stamina and level of interest in Russian history. A typical 3-4-day tour from Moscow covers up to 7 cities and towns of the Golden Ring. You travel during the day time in a comfortable bus with a well-trained English-speaking guide and spend nights at hotels with Western-class service (usually- 3 star). The Golden Ring tour can be perfectly combined with 2-3 day program in Moscow. Almost every major travel agency in Moscow sells Golden Ring tours and it is much cheaper to buy them on the spot in Russia then to purchase a tour included into a vacation package from Europe or overseas. Communication is not a problem, these days all personnel in respectable agencies in Russia speak English.

WHEN TO GO: The best season to travel to Russia is summer, from June to August, the warmest time of the year there. Rains are usual during summers, do not forget to pack your umbrella. Weather can be unpredictably cold, even in the European part of Russia, so take some warm clothing. You can check next week weather forecast for Moscow here.

TRAVEL TIPS: A passport and a Russian visa are required to travel in or transit through Russia. To learn more about how to obtain Russian visa please visit Russian Embassy website. Without a visa, travelers cannot register at hotels and may be required to leave the country immediately via the route by which they entered, at the cost of the traveler. Russian customs officers strictly follow document regulations so travelers are advised to have all papers in order. It is also recommended that additional copies of passport and visa be kept in a safe place in case of loss or theft. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash/dollar payment for health services at Western rates so supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage is very useful. Travelers should be certain that all immunizations are up-to-date, especially for diphtheria and typhoid. Quality of tap water varies from city to city but normally is quite poor. Only boiled or bottled water should be drunk throughout Russia. Crime against foreigners in Russia continues to be a problem, especially in major cities. Pick pocketing, assaults, and robberies occur. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around night clubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Be aware that public washrooms are difficult to find, and usually you have to pay there. To use a public phone you will need a token or local card. International calls can not be made from street phones. Your mobile phone will work in Moscow and Saint Petersburg but seldom in regional cities. Taxi fee must be discussed with a driver before a journey. In the major cities you can rent a car if you do not mind fairly rugged road conditions, a few hassles finding petrol, getting lost now and then and paying high rent price. Public transport in Russia is quite good, cheap and easy to use though sometimes overcrowded. Restaurants seldom have a menu in English. Tipping is expected but not mandatory. Signs in English are common on the streets of Moscow and other big cities. In large cities it is not hard to find a passerby who can answer your questions in Engish. Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the two-pin thin European standard.

We wish you a safe and nice trip!

TravelMake.com – one of leading online discount travel agencies, a source of useful travel information. For more information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, some photographs and useful links about Russian history please visit us: http://www.travelmake.com