16 Eylül 2012 Pazar
Egypt history, language and culture
Egypt’s history is one of the richest, oldest and most varied of any country in the world, ever since the creation of the powerful kingdom in around 3180 BC.
The pre-Hellenic period is distinguished by Kingdoms (Old, Middle and New) and divided into dynasties, including the IVth dynasty with the construction of the Great Pyramid, and Tutankhamun’s rule briefly during the XVIIIth dynasty. The Pharaonic period was brought to an end by Alexander the Great, in 332 BC.
From the middle of the fourth century, Egypt became part of the Eastern Empire, and the Fatamids gained control of the country in the late 10th century.
The arrival of Napoleon in AD 1798 brought Egypt once more into violent contact with a European power. By 1805, however, the struggle for independence had been won, with Muhammad Ali being recognised as Sultan.
The Suez Canal was opened in 1869; British occupation lasted from 1882 - 1936. Thereafter, Egypt was formally independent but severely constrained by the British.
The 1952 revolution, led by Colonel Nasser, took the Suez Canal into public ownership which led to the Suez Crisis of 1956, in which a combined Anglo-French-Israeli military operation attempted to depose Nasser. It failed, which greatly enhanced Nasser's standing.
The defeat of Arab forces by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War deprived Egypt of the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, recovered only after another defeat by the Israelis in the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the subsequent Egyptian-Israeli peace initiative, which culminated in the 1979 Camp David accord.
The treaty was signed on the Egyptian side by Nasser's successor, Anwar El-Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981. Sadat was succeeded by his deputy, Hosni Mubarak after winning a fifth term of office in 2005. In response to mass protests, Mubarak stepped down in January 2011 and appointed Ahmed Shafik as the new Prime Minister. Shafik resigned in March 2011 and the country is currently under military rule.
Egypt culture
Religion:
About 90% of the population are Muslim; the majority of the rest is Christian, including followers of the Coptic Christian faith. There is also a small Jewish minority.
Social conventions:
Islam is not merely for Fridays and holidays. The religion is part of all aspects of daily life with many social conventions stemming from the teachings of the Koran, the Muslim holy book. Hospitality is a significant element, especially to visitors. Shaking hands is the normal greeting but male visitors should wait for a woman to offer her hand before assuming it is acceptable (and vice versa).
Dress should be conservative and women should avoid wearing revealing clothes, covering upper arms and legs. This is particularly important when visiting religious buildings (when hair should be covered) and conservative towns. Standards can be relaxed when in modern nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist resorts. Official or social functions and smart restaurants usually require more formal wear. Smoking is very common, with few restrictions in public places.
Photography: Tourists will have to pay a fee to take photographs inside pyramids, tombs and museums. Ask permission when taking pictures of someone, especially women. Some traditionally-dressed locals demand money when they ‘pose’ outside historic sites, especially temples and pyramids.
Language in Egypt
Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.
London travel guide
London’s vociferous mix of grandeur, history, style and culture seems to get more enticing by the year. It charms with leafy Royal parks, free world-class art galleries and frothy ale amid wood-clad pubs; it intrigues with ancient streets and grand architecture, and excites with the neon-lit West End, designer shopping and an innovative dining scene that has become one of the richest in the world.
The average London street transports you back centuries with its architecture, and across continents with its population. Brimming with iconic British emblems – the ubiquitous black cab; the Houses of Parliament’s soaring limestone peaks – London unites a colourful history and solid traditions with boundary-pushing creativity and true multiculturalism. Whether exploring one of its glorious markets or taking it easy in a soft green park, expect to see faces from all corners of the globe.
Culturally, London is breathtaking, with its galleries and museums among some of the most prestigious and comprehensive on earth. From the natural wonders housed inside the ornate, terracotta façade of the Natural History Museum to the cutting-edge artists pushing boundaries inside the Tate Modern, a staggering number of London’s cultural attractions are free.
With all this and more, London rarely sits far from the world’s attentions, but 2012 is proving a truly exceptional year for the city. In June, the Diamond Jubilee saw thousands upon thousands of flag-waving revellers take to London’s streets in celebration of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. Street parties, open air concerts and heaving crowds all vying for a glimpse of a regal face showed that the British Royal Family remains a much-loved institution.
The spotlight on London is set to shine even brighter when the 2012 London Olympics (July 27-August 12) bring the world’s athletes to this historic backdrop. Olympic fever has been building since the city won the bid back in 2005, and vast changes have been made to accommodate the crowds and smooth out some of the London transport system’s infamous kinks. Key train stations such as King’s Cross in the north and Waterloo to the south have been expanded or improved, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available in many London Underground stations throughout the games.
The London Olympics promises some wonderfully unique sights – Horse Guards Parade playing host to the beach volley ball, for one – but nowhere has seen quite so much transformation as the East, where a stretch of wasteland has been transformed into the impressive Olympic Park, and the nearby areas such as Bethnal Green have been flourishing in anticipation. Also running this summer is the London Festival, the culmination of the four year Cultural Olympiad. Expect a jam-packed line up of art, film, dance and more.
But London doesn’t need grand events to show what it’s all about. Whether in the glittering West End, gazing across to the Houses of Parliament from Waterloo Bridge, marvelling at Bank and Moorgate’s glossy towers or strolling the fashionable streets of Shoreditch, there can be no doubt you’re in one of the greatest cities on earth.
The average London street transports you back centuries with its architecture, and across continents with its population. Brimming with iconic British emblems – the ubiquitous black cab; the Houses of Parliament’s soaring limestone peaks – London unites a colourful history and solid traditions with boundary-pushing creativity and true multiculturalism. Whether exploring one of its glorious markets or taking it easy in a soft green park, expect to see faces from all corners of the globe.
Culturally, London is breathtaking, with its galleries and museums among some of the most prestigious and comprehensive on earth. From the natural wonders housed inside the ornate, terracotta façade of the Natural History Museum to the cutting-edge artists pushing boundaries inside the Tate Modern, a staggering number of London’s cultural attractions are free.
With all this and more, London rarely sits far from the world’s attentions, but 2012 is proving a truly exceptional year for the city. In June, the Diamond Jubilee saw thousands upon thousands of flag-waving revellers take to London’s streets in celebration of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. Street parties, open air concerts and heaving crowds all vying for a glimpse of a regal face showed that the British Royal Family remains a much-loved institution.
The spotlight on London is set to shine even brighter when the 2012 London Olympics (July 27-August 12) bring the world’s athletes to this historic backdrop. Olympic fever has been building since the city won the bid back in 2005, and vast changes have been made to accommodate the crowds and smooth out some of the London transport system’s infamous kinks. Key train stations such as King’s Cross in the north and Waterloo to the south have been expanded or improved, and free Wi-Fi internet access is available in many London Underground stations throughout the games.
The London Olympics promises some wonderfully unique sights – Horse Guards Parade playing host to the beach volley ball, for one – but nowhere has seen quite so much transformation as the East, where a stretch of wasteland has been transformed into the impressive Olympic Park, and the nearby areas such as Bethnal Green have been flourishing in anticipation. Also running this summer is the London Festival, the culmination of the four year Cultural Olympiad. Expect a jam-packed line up of art, film, dance and more.
But London doesn’t need grand events to show what it’s all about. Whether in the glittering West End, gazing across to the Houses of Parliament from Waterloo Bridge, marvelling at Bank and Moorgate’s glossy towers or strolling the fashionable streets of Shoreditch, there can be no doubt you’re in one of the greatest cities on earth.
Celebrity Spotting at Celeb 60 Thompson Hotel by Hilary Rowland
60 Thompson, Trendy Hotel, New York City
60 Thompson Review by Hilary Rowland
The trendiest boutique hotel in Manhattan. Flush with modern-chic style and seductive atmosphere. A celebrity following that rivals the Oscars. A bar that is the place to be on a Thursday night. 60 Thompson is quickly becoming a household name, and we know why.
The light earth-tone walls, panelled leather headboards, crisp white Frette linens, and deep walnut paneling create an effortlessly sensual and relaxing atmosphere. Although the expansive hotel lobby can feel a bit intimidating if you don't belong to the Seven/Vuitton crowd, the uber-hip Thom's Bar is actually quite comfortable. The overly attractive staff is lucky enough to sport cashmere uniforms created by Nino Cerruti, although the tips they undoubtedly rake in from this swank celeb crowd no doubt affords them their own cashmere.
Located in the heart of SoHo at, you guessed it, 60 Thompson Street between Spring and Broome (and across from the original Kate Spade store), this 12-storey, 100-room hotel is close to everything that is trendy and fashionable, and has become the favored hangout of discerning New York socialites and celebrities.
If their standard New York-size rooms are too cramped for you, book yourself into the duplex penthouse loft, complete with its own private garden. If the Thompson Loft's $3,500. price tage deters you, try escaping to the trendy A60 (above sixty) members-only rooftop lounge, open in the summer to hotel guests, VIPs, celebrities and the obscenely wealthy. Passer-byers need not apply.
The separate living area, that you'll enjoy if you book a Suite, is chic and comfortable with retro-style furniture and a spacious working desk. The bathrooms are sterile and modern yet somehow still lavish and inviting, with white marble mosaic floors, white porcelain bathroom fixtures and spacious, glass-enclosed shower stalls. The bathrooms also contain a Fresh apothecary including Soy Shampoo, Pomegranate Conditioner and Lychee Lotion (they recently switch from Philosophy toiletries, presumably to further refine their modern chic image).
All this refinement seems to have paid off. Celebrities recently spotted at the hotel include Jennifer Aniston, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Britney Spears, Vanessa Carlton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark McGrath, Edward and Brian Burns, and the celeb list goes on (and on).
60 Thompson Review by Hilary Rowland
The trendiest boutique hotel in Manhattan. Flush with modern-chic style and seductive atmosphere. A celebrity following that rivals the Oscars. A bar that is the place to be on a Thursday night. 60 Thompson is quickly becoming a household name, and we know why.
The light earth-tone walls, panelled leather headboards, crisp white Frette linens, and deep walnut paneling create an effortlessly sensual and relaxing atmosphere. Although the expansive hotel lobby can feel a bit intimidating if you don't belong to the Seven/Vuitton crowd, the uber-hip Thom's Bar is actually quite comfortable. The overly attractive staff is lucky enough to sport cashmere uniforms created by Nino Cerruti, although the tips they undoubtedly rake in from this swank celeb crowd no doubt affords them their own cashmere.
Located in the heart of SoHo at, you guessed it, 60 Thompson Street between Spring and Broome (and across from the original Kate Spade store), this 12-storey, 100-room hotel is close to everything that is trendy and fashionable, and has become the favored hangout of discerning New York socialites and celebrities.
If their standard New York-size rooms are too cramped for you, book yourself into the duplex penthouse loft, complete with its own private garden. If the Thompson Loft's $3,500. price tage deters you, try escaping to the trendy A60 (above sixty) members-only rooftop lounge, open in the summer to hotel guests, VIPs, celebrities and the obscenely wealthy. Passer-byers need not apply.
The separate living area, that you'll enjoy if you book a Suite, is chic and comfortable with retro-style furniture and a spacious working desk. The bathrooms are sterile and modern yet somehow still lavish and inviting, with white marble mosaic floors, white porcelain bathroom fixtures and spacious, glass-enclosed shower stalls. The bathrooms also contain a Fresh apothecary including Soy Shampoo, Pomegranate Conditioner and Lychee Lotion (they recently switch from Philosophy toiletries, presumably to further refine their modern chic image).
All this refinement seems to have paid off. Celebrities recently spotted at the hotel include Jennifer Aniston, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Britney Spears, Vanessa Carlton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark McGrath, Edward and Brian Burns, and the celeb list goes on (and on).
10 Eylül 2012 Pazartesi
Dubrovnik travel guide
With its rows of red rooftops set bold against the deep blue-green of the Adriatic, the walled city of Dubrovnik has fairly emphatically become the poster-boy for Croatian tourism as a whole. George Bernard Shaw summed it up nicely for the planet’s postcard industry when he proclaimed ‘those who seek paradise on Earth should seek it in Dubrovnik’ – it is, in essence, the kind of place that sits well on the cover of a glossy magazine.
There is, however, a great deal more to Dubrovnik than its undoubted aesthetic charms. UNESCO has placed everything that lies within the old walls on its World Heritage List, and not just because it all looks nice. Its multi-layered history is every bit as interesting as you hope it’s going to be, while despite the medieval architecture there’s also a strong modern pulse to the place. And contrary to many preconceptions, there’s a fair bit to discover outside the walls too...
There is, however, a great deal more to Dubrovnik than its undoubted aesthetic charms. UNESCO has placed everything that lies within the old walls on its World Heritage List, and not just because it all looks nice. Its multi-layered history is every bit as interesting as you hope it’s going to be, while despite the medieval architecture there’s also a strong modern pulse to the place. And contrary to many preconceptions, there’s a fair bit to discover outside the walls too...
Istanbul travel guide
Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor.
Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city.
Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls.
But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.
Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city.
Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls.
But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.
Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city, its stunning tropical setting matched only by its irrepressibly fun-loving residents, called Cariocas. Impossibly steep, age-worn granite peaks rise from the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand. Brash skyscrapers vie for space with impeccably restored colonial buildings, and lush forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.
Brazil’s former capital has retained much of its distinguished historic character, with magnificent churches, palaces and mansions clustered in downtown Centro. Rio has long since outgrown its mountainous backdrop, however. Tunnels were blasted through the rock in order to populate neighbouring beaches during the last century, and successive land reclamations pushed out into Guanabara Bay. Such has been the success of its urban planning, in fact, that much of Rio’s coastal designed landscape, including the iconic statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Today, Rio is best known as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, particularly for its spectacular Carnival. Rio’s citizens claim their identity with pride, but depending on whom you ask, a Carioca may either be born or live in Rio. And they come from a diverse mix of cultures; European, African, Asian and indigenous peoples, forming a racial harmony unequalled in Latin America.
Their lives reflect an equally wide spectrum of wealth or poverty. Up to a fifth of Rio’s population is estimated to live in its vast, ramshackle favelas – shantytowns – which rub up against millionaires’ villas and luxury condominiums. Somehow, and despite the activities of notorious criminal gangs, both rich and poor get along, with a characteristic liberal tolerance.
No matter what their background or economic standing, Cariocas are united by a shared passion for living. Ranked top of Forbes' latest list of the world’s happiest cities, the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City) revels in life, with the beach, futebol (football) and Carnival the principal diversions. The annual Mardi Gras pageant is Rio’s greatest opportunity to show the world what it does best: party.
High above all this fun and frivolity are Rio's ever-present landmarks: Corcovado (Hunchback) mountain and Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) with its historic cable car. As well as these twin icons, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions, spectacles and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment - enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.
Rio is constantly re-inventing itself. A vibrant agenda, including hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, is transforming the city into a safe and exciting place to visit. Copacabana, birthplace of its original hedonistic getaway image of the 1920s, is still impressive.
But now, other further-flung areas are drawing more visitors. Barra, near the new Olympic village, is booming. Downtown Lapa, a formerly seedy and insalubrious district, is the new heartland of Rio’s live music scene. And nearby, the rundown port area is getting a huge makeover, with the Porto Maravilha project building futuristic new museums and a vastly improved infrastructure.
Brazil’s former capital has retained much of its distinguished historic character, with magnificent churches, palaces and mansions clustered in downtown Centro. Rio has long since outgrown its mountainous backdrop, however. Tunnels were blasted through the rock in order to populate neighbouring beaches during the last century, and successive land reclamations pushed out into Guanabara Bay. Such has been the success of its urban planning, in fact, that much of Rio’s coastal designed landscape, including the iconic statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Today, Rio is best known as one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, particularly for its spectacular Carnival. Rio’s citizens claim their identity with pride, but depending on whom you ask, a Carioca may either be born or live in Rio. And they come from a diverse mix of cultures; European, African, Asian and indigenous peoples, forming a racial harmony unequalled in Latin America.
Their lives reflect an equally wide spectrum of wealth or poverty. Up to a fifth of Rio’s population is estimated to live in its vast, ramshackle favelas – shantytowns – which rub up against millionaires’ villas and luxury condominiums. Somehow, and despite the activities of notorious criminal gangs, both rich and poor get along, with a characteristic liberal tolerance.
No matter what their background or economic standing, Cariocas are united by a shared passion for living. Ranked top of Forbes' latest list of the world’s happiest cities, the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City) revels in life, with the beach, futebol (football) and Carnival the principal diversions. The annual Mardi Gras pageant is Rio’s greatest opportunity to show the world what it does best: party.
High above all this fun and frivolity are Rio's ever-present landmarks: Corcovado (Hunchback) mountain and Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) with its historic cable car. As well as these twin icons, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions, spectacles and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment - enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.
Rio is constantly re-inventing itself. A vibrant agenda, including hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, is transforming the city into a safe and exciting place to visit. Copacabana, birthplace of its original hedonistic getaway image of the 1920s, is still impressive.
But now, other further-flung areas are drawing more visitors. Barra, near the new Olympic village, is booming. Downtown Lapa, a formerly seedy and insalubrious district, is the new heartland of Rio’s live music scene. And nearby, the rundown port area is getting a huge makeover, with the Porto Maravilha project building futuristic new museums and a vastly improved infrastructure.
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