Sergiev Posad - Golden Ring Town

Visitors to Moscow have to include a visit to The Golden Ring towns which are located in the Northeast of Moscow to get a feel of ancient Russia. These ancient towns ( eight in number ) played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church.  These towns are among the most picturesque in Russia and prominently feature the onion shaped domes in their churches and monastries.

75 kms to the north of Moscow lies the town of Sergiev Posad - one of the Golden Ring Towns. Located in the city is the Holy Trinity Lavra ( Monastery of the Holy Trinity).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

Inside the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral which is the most important church on the site and where the remains of St Sergius lie. This is a white building with golden domes and was constructed in 1422.

 

 

 

The Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Monastery

Shrine over the Spring

On the right of the cathedral is the 'Shrine over the Spring' which was built when a spring of water sprang in the 17th century during repairs of the cathedral. The water is believed to have the power to heal the sick.  The water comes out of a cross shaped fountain that is covered with a colourful canopy.

Shrine over the Spring

Cross from where the Holy Water Flows

The Gateway Church of the Nativity of St  John the Baptist 

The Church was constructed between 1693 – 1699 over one of  the gates.  It displays the characteristic features of "Stroganov buildings" in intricate details and free treatment of classical forms. The lower part is cut by a gate arch. On both sides of the arch are staircases leading to the upper part with the cube of the Church surrounded by a gallery.

Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist

Fresco on the Gate

Unfortunately, we could not see and admire the Holy Trinity Larva in all its beauty as the monastery is undergoing renovations for the 700th anniversary of St Sergius which will be celebrated in 2014. Iconic structures like the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Bell Tower etc were wrapped under canopies for repair work.

 

An interesting Russian Orthodox Church near the town of Sergiev Posad

Domes of a Russian Orthodox Church

Getting there: 

There are a number of options to visit Sergiev Posad from Moscow. There are trains every half hour from Yaroslavi Station and take about an hour and a half to reach. Trains start from 5 AM from Moscow and the last return train is at midnight. Buses leave every 15 minutes and take about 2 hours. Another option is to take a guided tour which of course is much more expensive.

St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile

A prominent structure of the Royal Mile is St. Giles Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of
Edinburgh and is easily recognised by its unique crown steeple which is a prominent feature of the city skyline.

St Giles Cathedral

The present church dates from the late 14th century though the church wash founded in 1130
and has been one of Edinburgh’s religious focal points for almost 900 years.

The Spire atop St Giles Cathedral

The Entrance of St Giles Cathedral

 Photographs in this post were taken during our vacation in Scotland in the summer of 2012

The Royal Mile of Edinburgh

Torn Kirk Clock Tower

If you are a tourist visiting Edinburgh, the first place you should  head towards is the Royal Mile. This slightly over a mile long road starts from the entrance of the Edinburgh Castle and ends at the gates of Holyrood Palacehouse.

View of the pedestrian only area of the Royal Mile

Scotsman playing his bagpipes

The Royal mile is an eclectic mix of tourists, shops, restaurants, pubs and historic monuments and is probably one of the most famous streets in the world. This historic heart of the city is full of fascinating links to the history of Scotland which is very visible as one  walks down this beautiful cobbled street. 

This most famous thoroughfare which goes through the old city is made up of the streets of  Castle Esplanade, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand.

 A series of narrow alleys connect to the  street from the north and south. Castle hill from where the Royal Mile originates was once an active volcano which subsequently  solidified into a volcanic plug that is now the castle rock on which sits the Edinburgh castle. It is believed that people have lived on castle rock for over 7000 years and the castle area has been a hill fort for over 2000 years.

The Royal Mile is bustling with life and it can easily take you more than a few days to really enjoy all that it offers. Sights like this Scotsman in his kilts playing his bagpipes can be seen on the streets. Be sure to explore the side streets and alleys - you will be pleasantly surprised by interesting small shops, cafes and tea rooms.

A walk down the royal mile will take you past some of the most popular tourist venues in this region. Some of these are 

1. Edinburgh Castle

2. Scotch Whiskey Heritage Centre

3. St Giles Cathedral

4. Mary King's Close

5. Scottish Parliament 

6. Palace of Holyrood                                

                                      

St Giles Cathedral

Anita enjoying a bite and chilled beer at one of the many eating places on the mile

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Niagara Falls

For generations, the majestic Niagara Falls have evoked a sense of awe and admiration. This major tourist attraction offers spectacular scenery's, throbbing night life and miles of hiking opportunities. This is certainly a vacation destination that everyone can enjoy. The Niagara Falls are best viewed from the city of Ontario in Canada. The closest airports to the Falls are Toronto in Canada and Buffalo in the US. As we were travelling from New York city, we flew in to Buffalo and travelled by road ( a short 2 hour drive ) to Ontario. If possible, choose a hotel which offers rooms with a view of the the falls . Stayed at the Marriott which has some spectacular views of both American as well as the Canadian Horseshoe Falls

 The Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian Side

The Niagara falls are actually 3 falls – the main Canadian Horseshoe Falls falling on the Canadian side  and the adjacent American Falls falling on the American side along with the comparatively smaller Bridal Veils Falls .

View of the Horseshoe Falls

The Horseshoe Falls (right) and American Falls (left)

The Niagara Falls are believed to have been formed when glaciers receded at the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago resulting in the formation of the Great Lakes. The water from these lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. The Niagara Falls are very wide with more than 6 million cubic feet of water falling over the crest every minute The  Falls form the highest flow rate on any waterfall in the world and has a vertical drop of 165 feet. Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall  in North America. The width of the Horseshoe Falls is about 790 mtrs while the smaller American Falls is 320 mtrs wide. The Falls are located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.

                          Another  Views of the Falls

Rainbow over the Horseshoe Falls

 These pictures were taken from our room which overlooked the Falls. Sunrise is a sight to be

experienced.

Sunrise at Niagara

Table Rock Welcome Centre

Ontario Skyline as seen from the Niagara Parks

The action at the Niagara Falls starts from the Table Rock welcome centre from where you get an awesome view of the majestic falls. This is the heart of the Niagara Parks where over 8 million visitors come during the year and experience the thundering water flowing over the brink of the Horseshoe falls. Be sure to experience 'Niagara Fury' - a show replicating the creation of the Niagara Falls. This is a show that will immerse you in a 4D style experience where standing on a large platform that will sway and roll,  you will experience water that will spray down and snow fall all around. This is Niagara's fury.

The Table Rock Centre has a well stocked food court with Tim Horton's, Niagara Pizza Co., Ah-So Sushi, Burger Town and other favourite options for a light meal or beverage.  The centre also has shops offering Canadian gifts and souvenirs. Be sure to pick yours from here.

Anita after a hectic day of sightseeing

Ontario is a true tourist spot and a very popular holiday destination. Accommodation options are many catering to the budget traveller as well as the well heeled ones. After a day of sightseeing, evenings can be enjoyable with a variety of dining choices and cuisines on offer. Night life too has much to offer - both for grown-ups as well as children. During the summer months, there is a spectacular fireworks display over the falls. Don't miss it if you are visiting in summer.

If you want to try your luck, visit the Casino Niagara with 1700 slot machines or the Fallsview Casino resort. For the die hard rock fan, there is the Hard Rock Club which has a dance floor with a view of the falls.

There is much to discover at Niagara Falls. You will enjoy this break.

If you are visiting Prague, you will definitely be take a tour of the Tyn Church, the real name of which is Church of Our Lady before Tyn. The two spires of this powerful looking Gothic church (with a Baroque interior) dominate the skyline of Prague and  can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

.The Tyn Church dominates the old city of Prague and has been the main church since the 14th century. If you look closely at the two spires, you will notice that they are asymmetrical, one being thicker than the other - something which is characteristic of the Gothic architecture of its time and is a representation of both the masculine and feminine sides of the world.

Some Highlights of the Tyn Church ( Source Wikipedia) : 

• The northern portal is a wonderful example of Gothic sculpture from the Parler workshop, with a relief depicting the Crucifixion. The main entrance is located on the church's western face, through a narrow passage between the houses in front of the church.
• The early baroque altarpiece has paintings by Karel Škréta from around 1649.
• The oldest pipe organ in Prague stands inside this church. The organ was built in 1673 by Heinrich Mundt and is one of the most representative 17th-century organs in Europe.
• The great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who worked for Emperor Rudolph II, was buried in the church in 1601. His beautiful marble tomb slab is located inside.
• The church appears in the start of the Revolution Films movie xXx

My Art for Sale

My Photographs are available for sale as framed prints, canvas prints, greeting cards and much more at   http://pravinechester.artistwebsites.com/. Please do visit the website and have a look.

Dinosaurs at the Smithsonian

No visit to Washington DC can be complete without  a visit to the various museums on the National Mall in the city and amongst these museums, the most interesting, informative and educative is the National Museum of Natural History.

The National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institution and houses a national collection of more than 125 million natural science specimens and cultural artefacts. Some of the most popular displays are the dinosaur skeletons, artefacts of early man, a live coral reef and many more. The  Museum is a great place to learn about the natural world through specimens, collections and exhibits.

Tyrannosaurus Rex, 40 feet long and still fearsome after 65 million years
  
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is a repository of the natural world. The world's natural and cultural wonders can be found in this preeminent museum. One can see the gigantic fossilized bones of creatures that roamed the earth as far back as 210 million years ago in  The Dinosaur Hall

TheTriceratops ( Greek for 3 horned face) is the most distinctive dinosaur of its time - late cretaceous ( 70 million years ago).

  A Stegosaurus, a plant eater of the late Jurassic Period - about 145 million years ago.

The Apotheosis of Washington

Washington DC is a city with many classic sights and architectural wonders  - particularly the numerous majestic buildings. The US Capitol is one of those majestic buildings that any tourist must visit. . At the heart of the building is the Rotunda - a circular hall of 96 ft diameter.  At the center, a 180 foot above on the ceiling is a massive fresco - ' The apotheosis of George Washington'. This mural consists of a portrait of the first President of the United States rising to the heavens flanked by the figures of Liberty/Authority and Victory/Fame.

The Apotheosis was painted in the true fresco technique by Constantino Brumidi  in 1865. Brumidi (1805-1880) was born and trained in Rome and had painted in the Vatican and Roman palaces before emigrating to the United States in 1852. A master of creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms and figures on flat walls, Brumidi painted frescoes and murals throughout the Capitol from 1855 until his death.

If you are tourist on a Trip to DC, remember to book a guided tour into the US Capitol . This can be done online at  http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/

 US Capitol, Washington DC.

May 2011

Union Station in Washington DC

There is more to Washington DC than the US Senate and the White House. The best way to see Washington is to take a bus tour. There are three major bus tour companies operating - Tourmobile, Open Top Sightseeing and Old Town Trolley. We took the tour mobile from the Union Station.  The  Union Station is the city’s main train station with over 32 million people visiting the station in a year. The station has an interesting shopping area and a large food court for a quick bite. 

                The Union Station in Washington DC

Food Court at the Union Station

Christopher Columbus Memorial

In front of the Union Station is the Christopher Columbus Memorial . The memorial is a large fountain with carvings of a native American, an elderly European, the figure of "Discovery" on the prow of a ship, and a globe. The three flagpoles represent the ships that carried the Columbus discovery party to the New World. Atop each pole an eagle perches on a small sphere .

You will also see a large metallic bell fixed on a stand in front of the station. This is the Freedom Bell donated by the American Legion. The bell is nearly twice the size of the real Liberty Bell

Utsav in front of the Freedom Bell. Note the Union Station in the background.

Washington DC. June 2011

ART DECO DISTRICT IN MIAMI

Miami in Florida is one of the finest vacation destinations in the US for everyone. The miles of friendly beaches make it difficult to leave Miami. One historice landmark in Miami is The Art Deco District . The Art Deco District is the largest collection of art deco architecture in the world and comprises of hundreds of hotels, apartments and other buildings built between 1923 and 1943.

Simply put, art deco is a style of architecture that in it's hay days of the 20s and 30s was considered ultra modern.

There are 800 structures of historical significance in this area.

The art deco district springs to life as the sun sets and teeming crowds can be seen in the sidewalk cafes and night clubs.

After the sun goes down and neon glows, the famous art deco district of South Beach in Miami springs to life in a  colorful and beautiful rhythm of world class entertainment and  feasting on the finest cuisines. Visit to the various nightclubs and bars is a must !

Art Deco District, South Beach, Miami
May 2011.

THE BULL ON WALL STREET IN NEW YORK CITY

As you walk down lower Broadway and approach Wall Street, you will see a a large bronze sculpture of an animal leaning back on it's haunches, head lowered and nostrils flaring as if ready to charge - this is the 'Charging Bull of Wall Street' . This iconic figure of New York symbolises Wall Street and the Financial District. The Wall Street Bull is a symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity.

The bull is 3200 Kg in weight and stands 11 ft tall and 15ft long. The sculpture is a hugely popular tourist attraction and thousands of tourists visit the Bull to see , touch and be photographed with it.

Created by Arturo di Modica, almost US$ 360,000 was spent to create, cast, and install the sculpture following the 1987 stock market crash as a symbol of the "strength and power of the American people. It was installed on December 15, 1989.

New York, May 2011