Monday, September 2, 2013

Octoberfest 2013



Oktoberfest 2013
21 September - 6 October

The 180th Oktoberfest starts on 21th of September and will end on the 6th of October 2016. As like in the previous years the official starting ceremony will take place this time in the "Schottenhamel Beer Tent". 

This year there are expected more than 7 million visitors to the Wiesn where the event is held for 3 weeks. Many people from all over the world will swarm to the tents to get a place inside the tent which will be extremely difficult. The beer tents open at 10:00am on weekdays and close at 11:30pm. On the weekends the tents open at 9:00am. 
Octoberfest 2013


The " Oktoberfest " which is held every year  goes back to 1810 when a festival was held to honor of  the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.


The Oktoberfest Beer :

 Only beers which are brewed within the city limits of München (Munich) is allowed to be served during this festival. Not every beer can be served there. 



Breze, Bratwurst,.....
There are criterias whcih have to be passed to be a designated Oktoberfest Beer. Oktoberfest 
Beer is a registered Trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers. Those Breweries are members of this exclusive Club. These Breweries are : Löwenbräu, Augustinerbräu, Paulanerbräu,Hacker-Pschorr Bräu, Hofbräu and Spatenbräu.






Sunday, August 11, 2013

La Tomatina - 2013


La Tomatina
La Tomatina / 28.08.2013



La Tomatina is a "Food Fight" festival which is held each year on the last Wednesday of August. The city for this event is Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets in exactly one,two,three,.......... : )) hour. This festival is a tradition in Buñol since 1944.



How started La Tomatina...?

The festival is in honor of the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats "Mother of God of the Defenseless".
The tomato fight has been a strong tradition in Bunol since 1944 or 1945. Actually,nothing is certain how this event started or become a tradition. There are  possible theories on how it began include a local food fight among friends or farmers, a juvenile class war, a volley of tomatoes from participantsof a carnival parade, a practical joke on a bad musician or music group.



The most popular theory is that disgruntled townspeople attacked the cities councilmen with tomatoes during a town celebration. Whatever happened to begin the tradition, it was enjoyed so much that it was repeated the next year, and the year after that, and so on. 

Approximately 50,000 tourists come yearly to find out more about the tomato fight, and to participate.  For the La Tomatina  it is used about 150,000 tomatoes (90,000 pounds)

Where: The Plaza del Pueblo in Buñol, Spain.
              Buñol is roughly 40 km (25 mi) from Valencia.  

When: On the last Wednesday of August. The event lasts about 3 hours, from 11 am - 1 pm.
             The actual tomato throwing event lasts for one hour.

Getting There: Since Bunol is a small town with few hotels, it is better to stay in Valencia. There are trains (Renfe) departing each hour in direction to Bunol.



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

LISBON (LISBOA) / PORTUGAL

LISBON

LISBON (LISBOA)
PORTUGAL


Lisbon, is the capital city of Portugal.    It is on of the rare cities in Europe which faces the Ocean and thus the sea has become an important role in life and history of Lisbon. In addition to the Ocean, Lisbon is located on the bank of the river Tagus which gives the city an additional richness and importance. River Tagus, rises in eastern Spain and is the longest waterway of the Iberian Peninsula.
The name "Lisbon" means "Favorite Bay". Lisbon is built on Seven Hills like cities Istanbul, Rome, San Francisco, Amman and Bergen.




.....Must do in Lisbon.....

1 - Visiting St. Jorge Castle

St. Jorge Castle
St. George Castle is located on a hill so that it is possible to see it from almost everywhere from the city. The castle's footprint is roughly a square, and it was originally encircled by a wall, to form a citadel. The castle consists of the castle itself, some ancillary buildings including the ruins of the royal palace, gardens, and a large terraced square from which an impressive panorama of Lisbon is visible. 


2 -  Visiting Jeronimos Monastery

Jeronimos Monastery
This Monastery was the resting place of the famous explorer "Vasco de Gama" which was built in 1500s as a part of a monastery. Its cloisters are considered among the most beautiful  in the  world and has been listed as  a Heritage Site.







3 - Visiting Museums, Museu Dos Coches and Museu Berardo

If you want to see or at least show to your childrens  fairytale carriages the you should visit the "Museu Do Coches". On the other hand "Museu Berardo" offers you to se the Arts of Picasso, Dalli and other artists.


4 - Visiting Sao Roque Church (World's most expensive chapel)

Chapel - Sao Roque
From outside you will not recognize anything. It is a churh with plain facedes but has one of the richest interiors. Sao Roque's each chapel is a masterpiece of Baroque. But the most expensive is the fourth one on the left, the "world's most expensive chapel." It was designed in Rome using the most costly materials available, likeivory, agate, porphyry, lapis lazulli, gold and silver, it was blessed by the Pope and shipped to Lisbon in 1747. Of note is also the chapel's "paintings," which are not paintings but extraordinarily detailed mosaics, and the ceiling painted with scenes of the Apocalypse. Today this chapel is considered a masterpiece of European art. (thanks to golisbon...)

5 - Visiting Torre de Belem, Praca do Princepe Real, Greja de Santa Catarina, Elevador da Bica, Cafe a Brasil.....

Since there are many attractions and must visit places in Lisbon we suggest just take your ticket and visit this Beautiful City Which open to the Ocean.

This city offers many opportunities of any type of tourist. Starting from shoppers ( Shopping street, Rua do Carmo) to photgraphers. Even enjoying a coupe of coffee at " Cafe Brasileira " is must do in Lisbon to feel the daily life of Lisboan People.

6 - By the way don't miss to take a trip to the Lisbon Riviera (Costa de Lisboa)...

Lisbon Riviera

      Lisbon Riviera is one of the best active and beach tourism with sightseeing momentous and historic places of interest all together.



More photos on our Facebook page.....