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| 12/19/08 |
| Antwerp Central Station |
 With Antwerp Central Station I begin a series of articles regarding old european train stations, some of them abandoned, others reliving their initial glory. In this age of speed and technology railway stations and trains in general have became sort of old fashioned, but I find them, as many of you, hopefully, do, quite charming.
Back to Antwerp Central Station. It is one of the most beautiful station buildings in Europe, a turist must see if you are planning a trip to Belgium. Dubbed the 'Railway Cathedral', it is one of the main landmarks in Antwerp. It was built between 1895 and 1905 and replaced a wooden train station built in 1854 by engineer Auguste Lambeau. The complex consists of 3 parts: the station building, the metal and glass vault and the elevated rail track.
he monumental main building was designed by the Bruges architect L. Delacenserie. It has a huge dome and used to have 8 smaller towers of which 6 have been demolished. The colorful interior is lavishly decorated with more than 20 different kinds of marble and stone. The main hall and the railway cafeteria can match the interiors of many palaces. Not a single square meter either inside or outside the building is not decorated, therefore the Railway Cathedral is not at all an inappropriate term. It is more than a simple train station, it has a unique atmosphere and makes every traveller who enters its gates feel like a royalty entering a fairytale palace.Labels: antwerp central station, belgium, old train stations, palace, railway station, train station |
posted by themur @ 7:54 AM   |
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| 12/16/08 |
| Strange Places Across the Globe- Easter Island |
For starter, I propose to begin our imaginary voyages into the strangest places of the world with a short visit into the fascinating Easter Island, surely one of the remotest places on Earth. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2500 miles west of Chile, it is a volcanic and somewhat barren island. It is first of all known for the 250 huge stone statues with their famous ruthless expressions, carved so symmetrically that when they were erected they had perfect balance. The mystery surrounding these great statues remains the same even nowdays, as nobody could tell for sure if these faces belong to Scandinavians, men from Atlantis or Lemuria, or, even as some say, extraterrestrial civilisations.
Easter Island is not a place suitable for the average turist, but is more likely to attract those people who love adventure and discovering misterious places. It is not crowded, except maybe late January, when the locals celebrate the Tapati festival, a perfect opportunity to get to know their traditions.Labels: easter island, huge stone statues, mystery, remotest place on earth, strange, tapati festival, turist |
| posted by themur @ 9:16 AM |
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| Komodor, my favourite dog breed |
| Komondore, also known as the Hungarian Sheeperd, has truly unique features, who makes it difficult to be mistaken with other breeds. The Komondor is a massive dog with a proud gait and a long history of honor and pride. The Komondor worked with the Puli, his smaller counterpart, in ancient Hungary. The Puli would do the actual herding during the daylight hours, and the massive Komondor would guard the flock at night. It has been asserted that this dog is descended from Tibetan dogs. Some researchers believe that the Komondor was brought to Hungary more than a thousand years ago by nomadic Magyars. Some newer research is suggesting that they came from the Cumans. The name, Komondor came from Koman-dor, which means dog of the Cumans. These hearty dogs were used to guard flocks of sheep during the nighttime hours. Because of their willingness to protect the flock and the owner against any threat, big or small, they were highly prized among the shepherds. The Komondor has a truly unique characteristic to its coat. The outer coat of the animal will fuse with the undercoat to form a type of felt that hangs in long cords. It can take up to two years for the cords to form completely and 5 years to reach the desired length. The puppy coat is relatively soft, but it will begin to fall into cord-like curls as it grows. The usual color of the coat is white. In the Komondor breed, the head and muzzle are massive and impressive even though they are somewhat short. The animal will have eyes that are dark brown and alert to movement. The body of this breed is characterized by a powerful, deep chest, which is muscular and wide. The breast of the healthy Komondor is broad and well-muscled. The Komondor is a serious, confident, and commanding breed of animal. It can be very reserved with strangers and will size up any stranger who happens to be in the vicinity. The Komondor is very territorial and it will protect the owner and the owner's property without hesitation. It is good to remember that this breed has fought wolves, bears, and many other predators when it was used a guard dog in times past. That same willingness to get into a fight is alive today. Labels: breed, breeders, dog breeds, family dogs, komodor, pets, protection and guarding dogs |
| posted by themur @ 4:02 AM |
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| Christmas Trip |
So close, into your smile
I just had a christmas trip,
spare some change for the boy on the street,
for our memory, shall it remain pure
It's starting to snow,
The traffic is sarcastic.
You make one of your faces and start to shout
"Hello World!!!"
Moment in Bukarest, Romania, 16.12.2008Labels: bukarest, christmas, moment, poetry, short, trip |
| posted by themur @ 3:27 AM |
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