sábado, 20 de setembro de 2008

Inhotim

Minas Gerais guard enchantments of all the types! Here have history, culture, gastronomy and diversific fauna and flora, what were believing the only sceneries in Brazil! Have no coast, but it has beach of fresh water. Have no station of ski, but it had already up to snow in the Mantiqueira's mountain range! The tourist motivations are infinite and the offer of walks, quite interesting!

One of the unlosable places is the magnificent Centre of Contemporary Art of Inhotim, a museum-park there is 60 kms of the main city Belo Horizonte.
The museum began through the particular collection of his owner, Bernardo Paz, what finished great works of art off along the last 30 years in auctions taken place throughout the world. They are approximately 350 works of more than 80 artists, containing exhibitions of It Insists, Cildo Meireles, Adriana Varejão, Doris Salcedo, Andy Warhol, Doug Aitken, Matthew Barney, Victor Grippo, Chris Burden and Pipilotti Rist.
The representative heap of contemporary art takes works as a focus created from the 1960 years. It has paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographies, videos and installations of Brazilian and international artists. The heap is very well installed amid the most beautiful ecological park projected by the landscape painter Burle Marx. The enormous variety of plants does from Inhotim a place where there is one of the biggest botanical collections of the world, with tropical rare sorts and a forest reserve that makes part of the Atlantic Forest's bioma. Distinction for the collection of orchids, which color still more the gardens.

The place is formed by extremely inviting environments, with pleasant areas for rest or simple contemplation of the nature amid a sophisticated and modern design. Deck-chairs, flirts and green grasses suggest an analysis more deep of the works of a quite comfortable way (cheers for Domenico de Masi with his theory of the creative leisure!).
The infrastructure of the place is excellent! A charming and sophisticated restaurant, with international menu (and price also "international"), cafeterias and snack bars spread by the park, completely with great design and good taste! Other not less important details, like the bathrooms, are a part chapter: more there seem environments decorated by renowned professionals to the style brazilian CASA COR. At the reception and the souvenir store they are the best and the professional ones are very quite trained and cordial, besides answering in 4 different languages. There is still a parking with the "Disney Methodology", where the car have to park in a order of arrival, making easy for the drivers. (That is common there in his city?? Here in Minas Gerais not, therefore the approach! :)
There is still a discreet heliport, which receives visitors resulted from other states. Celebrities lands this way every week, disposed to know a little more on the interesting heap and to check the new exhibitions.

Inhotim is so like that: done for the one who can appreciate the art, be in the heap, be in the structure, be in the scenery! It is still not possible to visit it to the living creature, cape in the web: http: // http://www.inhotim.org.br/ In the real or virtual field, it is simply unlosable! One more point for the culture of Minas Gerais!

domingo, 17 de agosto de 2008

Karlovy Vary - For who wants to be a king

Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous thermal cities of the whole Europe. Hosted in the Czech Republic amid western Bohemian, to the edges of the river Tepla and 140 kms from Prague, it receives tourists of the whole world, especially the russians, who look there for the relief and the cure provided by the medicinal waters.

The region of the Bohemian, who stretches out from the frontier with the Baviera and the Saxon, is essentially a zone of bathhouses. The concentration of springs of mineral waters that here exist is unique in the world and they are exceptional for the variety of his chemical composition and consequent scale of physiologic and therapeutic effects what they have.
The thermal waters emerge to the surface for 12 springs from 2.000 to 2.500 meters of deep, and to temperatures between 41 degrees and 72 degrees centigrades. The biggest and their hottest is the spring Sprudel, with a volume of two cubic metres for minute and to a temperature in the surface of 72 degrees. There is still the fountain Vridlo, a geyser that launches water jets to 17 meters of height. The waters have effects dressings on the nervous system, blood circulation and in the glands of internal secretion and many celebrities, like the russian tsar Peter Great or famous names like the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe proved the effects dressings of the local fountains.

Karlovy Vary, which in Czech means “Charles' boiler“, was established in 1350, by order of the King Carlos IV and it is inserted in a romantic mountainous scenery, where numerous forest ways go through the wooded slopes.
Besides the thermal waters, Karlovy Vary is known also by the fine porcelain and by the crystal Moser, one of the most famous and traditional of the world also called of “Crystal of the Kings”. Another celebrated product of the city is the liqueur Becherovka, considered the "Tenth third spring of Karlovy Vary” and when the base of herbs was prepared by the pharmacist Josef Becher in 1807, which from that time is consumed in whole world.

The architecture of the city is a beauty to the part. Stuck in the slopes that go round the valley, there are the magnificent constructions of the century XIX, which art nouveau and art mix decò in the only mixture that represents the visual identity of the place.

The Russian community has an enormous representativeness in the city, so much that all the plates also are written in russian and there are daily flights between Karlovy Vary and Moscow. Besides, there is there an exemplary perfection of the orthodox Russian church, with his golden domes standing out in the scenery. It the question is the Church of Saint Peter and Sao Paulo built in the century XIX.
The city has far-reaching events, since it is the case of the International Festival of Cinema (Mattoni), which takes place from 1949 without any interruption and also the festivals of Dvorak and of Jazz, these events that go together perfectly with the magic of the city.

The city, which for everything exposed one above, already is unlosable, becomes still more inviting as regards the tourist infrastructure. The offer of hotels is enormous and each one has his special charm. In the top of the list there are the tradicionals Pupp, Carlsbad Plaza and Savoy Westend, true stuffed palaces of sophistication and refinement ... a luxury for few ones (of which unfortunately I am not included!! lol).
The walk to the Karlovy Vary can be done in one day, but it is run. It will be possible, spend one night in the city and enjoy still more this incredible place. It will be more possible, have a great time in one of the charming hotels mentioned above and feel like a truthful Czech monarch! But remember that in the days of today, the "monarches" pay the bill to the end ... good luck! :)

sábado, 25 de agosto de 2007

Liverpool - The dream isn't over

In 1207 Liverpool was only a village in the edges of Mersey river, lived by half a dozen of fishermen, and in 1912 it was famous because of having been the starting point of the travel without turn of the great ship Titanic. In the beginning of the 60 years it was little more than a grey and port city of England, without any charms and it became a symbol of the industrial British decadence.
Maybe there are someone in the world who has never heard in Liverpool, but there aren't no human being that has never heard in The Beatles! Due to the success of the quartet, the english city became an icon in 4 corners of the planet and became a compulsory itinerary of admirers of the rock n'roll, what insist in believing that the dream did not finish...
Where you walk in this city, everything remember to The Beatles, from plates of street (that they would be common at any place of the world, but here is The Penny Lane) up to beauty saloons (Tony Slavin), parks (Strawberry Fields), cemeteries (Eleonor Rigby), bars (Cavern Club), hospitals, houses, corners and museums... finally, everything! Every year happen the Beatle Week Festival, where hundreds of directions covers from the Beatles come to show up in the city and to apply for the title of the year. An example is the mining brazilian band Hocus Pocus, which finished the title off for 3 times consecutive!
Besides the Beatlhes'ways, Liverpool is whose itinerary also looks for other motivations. His most beautiful architecture made possible the title of Europpean City of Arquitecture 2008. Some interesting places that deserve a visit are: the most beautiful Cathedral Anglican, 5th biggest inthe world and owner of an enviable gothic ornamentation; the City Hall with his beautiful construction, Hall of St. George, the best building in greek style of the Great Britain, the Museum and Planetarium of Liverpool and the Gallery of Art Walker, with one of the most complete heaps of art of England. It still has the Tate Gallery of Liverpool, which has the best collections of art of the surroundings of London.
The pubs are the certain enterteinment for any hour of the day or of the night, 7 days a week! In his great majority they are underground, they have an excellent music and typical decoration, as the famous Cavern Club. The Mathew Street is the best option, but its necessary to be careful with the young persons because there is a law that prohibits the sale of alcoohol drinks after the midnight, so, they joined in groups and drink all that they can before the time extinguish and get crazy.... an abuse!
For whom it likes a good football, it is unlosable to watch the Liverpool's team playing, or even spend hours in the museums and official shops of the team. It is necessary to be provident also with the supporters, that, just like the Hoolligans, they are extremely badly polite and do not dispense a fight.
So this is Liverpool! A city that is always associated the history of the music and because of this, after London, is the english city where it's possible to hear more different languages. Dont miss to go there and do a Magical Mister Tour to the sound of a lot of Beatles and others of the time, like The Who, The Hollies and many other bands!
Too see the pictures from Liverpool, click here.

Canoa Quebrada - The brazilian mystic beach

Canoa Quebrada is one of the most beautiful Brazilian beaches, situated in the northern coast of Ceará, there are 164 Km of Fortaleza. His natural beauty is constituted of a blue sea of very pleasant temperature, of cliffs of colorful sand, great dunes and ponds of green fresh water. Like if that was not enough, the beach is wrapped in a mystic and exotic climate, which tourists attract of whole world. That when was necessary to have been a redoubt of hippies in the years 60, which left his legacy in several extents, as in the music, in the arts, in the hedonism and naturalism.
There are also a lot of places for enterteinment! The bars and restaurants that exist in the border are extremely comfortable and very well decorated and they offer an excellent service. In the high season they take place that you celebrate daily, with distinction for the "luau" (a party in the beach with an acoustic sound in the full moon), which moves the beach with pretty many people amid the candleholders, bonfire and a lot of reggae.
The local craftwork is sophisticated and quite finished, where is used as raw material silver, regional noble wood, seeds and great straw of coconut. In the gastronomy it is besides vast offer of results of the sea, international plates like pastas, meats, among others. The hotel infrastructure is composed by lodgings of high level, with differentiated services and service in several languages.
The leisure is as varied as possible, where it is possible to do kite surf, drive jeep, ecological walks, ski, "aerobunda"... everything that you can do to explore each nook of the paradise .... Do you want a better life??
To see the pictures from Canoa Quebrada, click here.

sexta-feira, 24 de agosto de 2007

Colonia Del Sacramento - An uruguaian history town

Ancient uruguaian city established by portugueses in the century XVII and visited annually by thousands of tourists resulted from 5 continents, who are bewitched by the beautiful and preserved wealth archetectonics of the place.

Hosted to the edges of the River Plate, it is that there are 150 km of Montevideo and there are 80 km of Buenos Aires. As a matter of fact, which divides it of this last city is just the river, which of so wide, it shows to be a whole sea.
It was named by the Unesco like Historical and Artistic Inheritance of the Humanity and his principal attractions are the historical district, the port, the lighthouse and the ancient ring of bulls Sao Carlos. Pleasant moments also will be able to be enjoyed in the coffees that are for the whole city to the sound of a good music uruguaian.
To go to Colonia del Sacramento its necessary to catch a bus from Montevideo or Punta del Est, or from Buenos Aires, crossing the River Plate for the completely "Buquebus", a ship that do the route daily with duration of 45 minutes or 3 hours, according to the model of the equipment.
Too see the pictures from Colonia del Sacramento, click here.

quinta-feira, 23 de agosto de 2007

Quebec - Le beau de l'est

Quebec is the most ancient city Canada and be located in the eastern coast, there are approximately 180 Km of Montreal and 700 km of Toronto. Be to the edges of the St. Lawrence river and it has around 500 thousand inhabitants. The temperature is quite varied, when negatives are reaching 40° in the winter and 35° positives in the summer. His historical part is extremely well preserved, where it is possible to admire the beauty of the medieval architecture, be in the castles, cathedrals, houses from stones, villages or in such a famous Citadelle.
In spite of the conservatism, Quebec is a modern city and it conjugates very well his historical side with the cosmopolitan, where it is possible to find shopping centers, great hotels, financial centre, restaurants and lively discotheques to him. The interesting thing is healthy what very quite divided: from a side the present has been and of other, the past... So, while crossing a simple avenue, have the sensation to travel in the time!
In the scenery the beautiful castle Chateau Frontenac points out principally, where today is a 5 star hotel and also, Le Citadelle, the ancient fort that saved the canadians of the english invasions. The whole old part is enclosed by an intact wall and inside her it is possible to observe the most curious monuments, all stuffing of great history. There is still the Funiculaire, sort of deck what offers accepted panoramic limit of the city and of the St. Lawrence river and where also several classic musicians are to touching harps, violins, saxophones and guitar - celo, chanting the background music of the place. The only sensation!
For stranger than it could look, in Quebec just the french is spoken, the official language of the province of the same name, which maintained his french customs along the centuries. The french culture also is everywhere, how in the gastronomy, in the habits and for lack of patience with the tourists.... Unfortunately, not even everything is perfected!
To see the pictures from Quebec, click here.

quarta-feira, 22 de agosto de 2007

Pushkin - City of Russian Palaces

One of the most beautiful Russian cities, Pushkin is famous for the palaces and summer residences of the tsars, like Tsarkoe Seló, Peterhof and Pavlovsky. To the edges of the gulf of Finland, Pushkin is that there are only 20 km of Saint Petersburg and there are almost 600 km of Moscow and it received this name in honor of the russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who had been there polite in the century XIX. Besides the walks to the palaces pray mentioned, it is unlosable to be delighted by the legitimate russian stroggonoff!
Tsarkoe Seló: summer residence of the most popular Russian tsarina, Catharina, is a true work of art! To go through his immense halls and gardens takes time and it is what will be dedicated hours in the lines to taste a few minutes in each hall. The mosts beautiful of them, The Mirrors and the Amber Hall, also are the most in demand and they become still more difficult to be saw. Their first one became more spectacular than his inspiration (that has the same name and is in the Palace of Versalles in Paris) and it was a stage of great banquets and commemorations of the time. Already the Amber Hall was the richest thing: thoroughly nailed of amber and other precious stones for the walls and ceiling, which they were leaving with the only shade and an involving brilliance. During the 2nd War Munidal the palace had been completely looted and great part had been destroyed by a criminal fire dated from the same time. Passed more than half a century, just like era had been completely rebuilt, but a great deal of his works were lost along the years.
Peterhof: in my opinion, the most beautiful palace, due to grandeur of his construction and of his garden very well planned. Peter The Great, had been received by East magnificent present donated by his mother, Catharina, for he could enjoy it in the summer. His gardens were inspired in the gardens of Versalles, which also managed to surpass the beauty of the Parisian example. The vastness of the gardens demands a whole afternoon, which it seems to them to pass in some minutes, so great is the nostalgic beauty of the place. The top of the visit is the principal fountain, where to more than 50 statues leafed through the gold it seems to dance under the waters. Interesting to mention that more 150 fountains were built in such a way that the water is expelled only by the strength of the gravity, what not dispende no energy. That does so that the show lasts in the night and day during 8 months of the year, since in the rest the water is frozen due to the strong russian winter.
This technological, so innovatory process for the time, had never been interrupted and it remains in full functioning from it when created out, there are more than 200 years.
To see the pictures from Pushkin, click here.