FORMULA 1 - BELGIUM GRANDPRIX

Formula 1

Belgium Grandprix - Spa Francorchamps

26-28 August 2011

After the summer break F1 is ready to held his next spectacular race, the teams are preparing themselves to resume next weekend at the 2011 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Located deep in the Ardennes forest, it is also the calendar’s longest, at over seven kilometres. And with epic corners such as Pouhon and Eau Rouge, it’s no wonder the drivers are itching to get back behind the wheel…

Spa-Francorchamps Circuit

DRIVER STANDINGS

01	Sebastian Vettel	234
02	Mark Webber	149
03	Lewis Hamilton	146
04	Fernando Alonso	145
05	Jenson Button	134
06	Felipe Massa	70
07	Nico Rosberg	48
08	Nick Heidfeld	34

Paddock Girls

CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS

01	RBR-Renault	383
02	McLaren-Mercedes	280
03	Ferrari	215
04	Mercedes	80
05	Renault	66
06	Sauber-Ferrari	35
07	Force India-Mercedes	26
08	STR-Ferrari	22

Official Web :

http://www.formula1.com/
http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/

Best European Forests

European Forests

FORESTS IN EUROPE

Everyone is keen about how fantastic beach holidays are and the it isn’t difficult to go and to relax in the sun, with swimming in the sea and with watching the waves laping against the shores. On the other hand, while beaches are great and offer various relaxing facilities, forests offer some great places and locations to visit and discover too with wildlife, lush green, lots of walks, wildlife and a sense of peace by being close to nature. There are some spectacular "European Forests" that are worth to visit for anyone who enjoys this kind of scenery, either as a day out while you are at the particular destination, or as a place to stay in itself . Some of the famous European Forests are listed below:

The New Forest, England:

Map of New Forest

With its most suitable weather condition, average rainfall 838 mm/year. The "New Forest" is a very big forest which covers an  area of protected forest in England. It spans a large area and there are festivals and events which gives the opportunity to the city people to enjoy the nature. During the winter time there is a great Christmas display where the forest becomes a spectacular "Winter Wonderland".




The Black Forest, Germany:

Map of Schwarzwald

It is named  because of the thick conifers that blocks out the light in the forest, the black forest (Schwarz Wlad) is one of the most famous European forests and has a very "Magical Feel" especially during Christmas Time when the forest is covered with snow. Set in the mountains, and the birthplace of many stories and a wealth of food (such as the titular gateau and ham) this feels like the perfect setting for a fairy tale.



Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus:     Белове́жская пу́ща 

Map of Belovezhskaya Pushcha

A forest which is in between Belarus and Poland.  On the Belarusian side the Biosphere Reserve occupies 1,771 km² (684 sq mi); the core area covers 157 km² (61 sq mi); the buffer zone 714 km² (276 sq mi); and the transition zone 900 km² (350 sq mi); the National Park and World Heritage Site comprises 876 km² (338 sq mi). The Belavezhskaya Pushcha headquarters at Kamieniuki, Belarus include laboratory facilities and a zoo where wisent, konik (a semi-wild horse), wild boar, elk, and other indigenous animals may be viewed in enclosures of their natural habitat. There is also a small museum, restaurant, snack bar and hotel facilities (built during the Soviet era and currently in a state of disrepair). Due to the lack of facilities and little tourist stream in the country, few foreign tourists visit the Belarusian Pushcha annually.

Pirin National Park, Bulgaria:

Map of Pirin NP

Pirin is the second highest mountain range in Bulgaria after Rila (2,925 m) and the eighth highest in Europe. If you like exploring some European forests at a higher altitude then Pirin National Park is the place for you discovering caves, waterfalls and a limestone landscape all in a great pine wood forest.

Ardennes, France :

Map of Ardennes

Much of the Ardennes is covered in dense forests, with the mountains averaging around 350–500 m (1,148-1,640 ft) in height but rising to over 650 m (2,132 ft) in the boggy moors of the Hautes Fagnes (Hohes Venn) region of north-eastern Belgium. The region is typified by steep-sided valleys carved by swift-flowing rivers, the most prominent of which is the Meuse. Its most populous cities are Verviers in Belgium and Charleville-Mézières in France, both exceeding 50,000 inhabitants. The Ardennes is otherwise relatively sparsely populated, with few of the cities exceeding 10,000 inhabitants with a few exceptions like Eupen or Bastogne.

A Unique Experience - CAPRI / ITALY

Terrace view from Island Capri

CAPRI / ITALY

Capri is a Mountainous Island which is located 19 miles south of Naples (Napoli) , Italy, on the edge of the Gulf of Naples and west of the Sorrentine Peninsula and the stunning Amalfi Coast. 


The island is one of the famous resorts in Italy which is visited by many of tourists during spring and summer and is popular with local and international travelers, drawn here by the sun, sea and romance. It is easy to get around on the island. The ferries/hydrofoil are docking at the Marina Grande. All major hotels, cafes and restaurants are on the steep hill facing the harbour. 

Capri

There are also funiculars which will take you to the top of the island, Monte Solaro. 
At 589 meter you will have a spectacular view of the island, the bay of Naples, the bay of Salerno and towards Ischia. You can reach the top also by foot which is recommended to do by coming back down. 

Tragara

A short distance from Capri is Anacapri. It is worth to take a bus to get to this little settlement near Monte Solaro. Apart from this, the only other place you should visit on the island is the southern settlement of Marina Piccola. It has a big beach that is very popular. There are also other beaches on the island, Punta Carnea and Bagni di Tiberio.

Faraglioni

One of the 'Don't Miss' is Tragara which has a charming, panoramic road leads and to the Belvedere and the Faraglioni . The Faraglioni are three blocks of rock which have survived coastal landslides, erosion by the sea and all manner of atmospheric corrosion. The rocks have each been given a name: the first, still attached to the land, is called Stella, the second, separated from the first block by a stretch of sea; Faraglione di Mezzo and the third, Faraglione di Fuori or Scopolo, in other words the head or promontory stretching into the sea.

Blue Grotto : (Grotta Azzura)

The Blue Grotto is well known for its size, the intense blue tones of its interior and the magical silvery light which emanates from the objects immersed in its waters. Visitors can reach the Grotta Azzurra either by bus or taxi from Anacapri; or by boat from Marina Grande in one of the tour boats which stop at the entrance of the cave during the trip around the island.

In order to enter the Blue Grotto visitors get on small boats, with a capacity for two, maximum three, passengers and, lying on the bottom of the boat, enter the low and narrow mouth of the cave. Entrance to the cave is not possible in the presence of south westerly and mistral winds. The entrance to the Grotta Azzurra is formed by a small natural opening in the rocky wall, roughly 2 meters wide and 2 meters high.

Map of Capri

Getting to Capri
You can get to Capri from either Naples or Sorrento. Ferries and hydrofoils ply from these two destinations several times a day. From Naples the hydrofoil ride takes forty minutes and one and a half hours by ferry. From Sorrento the hydrofoil takes only 30 minutes.