As I mentioned here, on December 31st we went visiting some places, including Hurezi Monastery. I told you in the post that I’ll dedicate a special article to this monastery – for we’ve discovered a very-very interesting thing! So here’s the article

First of all, I have to tell you that this monastery is a fortified one. It is a convent for nuns, and it was built between 1690 and 1697 by Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu. Situated near the town of Horezu, this monastery is considered a masterpiece of Romanian “Brancoveanu art”. The Hurezi Monastery is part of UNESCO World Heritage. It is said that the name of the monastery comes from “huhurezi” (eagle owls), a species of night birds with coloured plumage.

As mentioned in the post, when we got there the monastery was closed – so we don’t have interior photos. However, we have some interesting findings.

This is the monastery from the road

Hurezi Monastery - entrance

This is the monastery after the “first entrance”.

Hurezi Monastery towards entry

Hurezi Monastery towards entry 2

We parked the car and entered.

Hurezi Monastery

Hurezi Monastery side

Hurezi Monastery interior garden

And now the curiosity: at the entrance, in the paintings, there are palm trees! and we don’t have palm trees in Romania… (growing naturally here). It is not a specific tree for us – and as we found out in other churches (from Moldavia), the paintings are always adapted to the area, showing specific vegetation, animals, occupations of people… So how come there are palm trees here?!? See it for yourself.

Hurezi Monastery entrance general

Hurezi Monastery entrance detail palm trees

Hurezi Monastery entrance detail 2

We also photographed the paintings on the right wall

Hurezi Monastery painting right wall

and a detail from one of the columns from the entrance:

Hurezi Monastery entrance column detail

What do you think about that?

There are many incredible places on Earth and many amazing experiences created by the nature.

While the Mongolian legends say that the desert is magic for it speaks, singing the bravery acts of the ancestors, the science agrees and proves that there is a part in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, that literally sings. The name is also relevant: Khongoryn Els – the Singing Dunes.

Khongoryn Els - the Singing Dunes 1

How is that possible?

Well, legends aside, it seems that the sand particles in this particular area of the desert are round and smooth. When the wind blows it creates a magical sound and it seems that the dunes are really singing.

This is quite an experience for the first time visitor! (and not only, I might add)

Khongoryn Els - the Singing Dunes 2

Khongoryn Els - the Singing Dunes 3

The Khongoryn Els are up to 200m tall and many km long and they attract many visitors each year.

To convince you that the dunes really sing I’m inviting to see a video.

Have you visited these singing dunes? Did you liked Khongoryn Els in the Gobi Desert? Were you impressed?
Are you planning a visit there soon?

photos source

Are you looking for a hotel that is made entirely from salt – including most of the furniture? Then you must go near Colchani, Bolivia and stay at Hotel de Sal where salt rules .

How is that even possible? Well, the hotel sits on Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Also, there were some inspired designers and architects. And there you have it. A hotel made entirely out of salt!

Tour guide Pedro Pablo Michel Rocha, of Hidalgo Tours said to DailyMail that “I love it when visitors come to this place for the first time.

They can’t get over the fact that everything is made out of salt and I’ve even seen a few people lick the furniture to make sure!”.

I guess it’s not seeing is believing, is tasting is believing, right?

I think that it is an interesting idea and for sure worth a visit. I was only in a salt mine (Turda – see this article) and I was impressed so if in Bolivia, check this hotel out!

photos source

I thought I didn’t read correctly. But no, I did read correctly.

Mexico city has big plans. Or at least some firms there have big plans.

BNKR Arquitectura imagined a 300m UNDERGROUND skyscraper. Their proposal features, as we find out from the news, ”mixed residential and retail space, a museum of Aztec and Mayan artifacts and 35 floors for offices”.

Moreover, “The top of the structure is covered by a glass roof, with daring guests able to walk across the huge hole. The central void allows natural light and air ventilation”.

OK, interesting idea, I give you that. OK, you can escape any laws that specify some height restrictions for the buildings on earth. Or, to be more specific, for the buildings above Earth.

I’m sure no one thought to offer some law as to building inside the earth.

It could be one option, but I’m asking you now: do you think it is such a good idea to build inside the earth? Do you think earth could sustain such buildings (all over the world)? I’m sure some could argue that studies have been conducted, but still…

Picture: BNKR Arquitectura, via News.com.au

A dear friend sent me a power point presentation with over 30 interesting statues in public places all over the world. I found out a great deal – and I thought I’d pass this facts along. Yes, there are some interesting info!

There are 36 great statues and a public building. See them all and afterward tell me which ones did you saw;) – and which did you like from this presentation:).

The Magic Tap
Magic tap, which appears to float in the sky with an endless supply of water. In actuality, there is a pipe hidden in the stream of water. Location: Aqualand, Cadiz.

The Oarsman. Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

The Thumb. Location: Paris

Melting cow. Location: Budapest, Hungary

La Trobe
A contemporary representation of Charles La Trobe in central Melbourne (This temporary installation was removed at the end of June 2006 and has been acquired by La Trobe University). Location: Melbourne.

The Hanging Rhino. Location: Potsdam

Man at work
This bronze statue is located in the pedestrian zone of Bratislava. Rub its nose, and you will have fortune. I am sure many people believe in that as have a look at the nose, it looks badly rubbed. Location: Bratislava.

Madame Chapeau
Designed to create a dynamics between two streets, this sculpture beams with its presence in the space that was allocated to the artist. The lady is fearlessly counting her money in an area of Brussels that is famous for its pickpockets. Location: Brussels, Belgium.

De Vaartkapoen
Low down, a young rebel, the Vaartkapoen, reminiscent of a jack-in-the-box, topples over a policeman higher up, thus overthrowing his authority. Location: Brussels, Belgium.

Location: Prague.

Vigelands Parken. Location: Oslo, Norway

Eating a Biscuit together
Located in front of the Bukcheon Museum. Sculptor is Ku Bom Ju. Location: Seoul, Korea.

Los Angeles
A true to life art work in front of the Ernst & Young building.Location: Los Angeles.

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Shark
The Shark became the most famous resident of Headington when it landed in the roof of 2 New High Street (see map) on 9 August 1986.This ordinary home (built as a semi-detached house in about 1860 but now attached by a link to a second house to the north) suddenly became the centre of world attention, and the headless shark still excites interest today. Location: 2 New High Street, Headington, Oxford.

Location: San Antonio, TX.

Location: Manhattan, USA

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Location: Minsk, Belarus

Knotted legs running.
Location: Kanazawa, Japan

Location: Amsterdam, Holland

Location: Singapore

Broken Chair memorial
Location: Switzerland

Location: Dundee, Scotland

Location: Dundee, Scotland

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Roosevelt Memorial in the National Mall area
Location: Washington DC.

Giant hands
Location: Como, Italy

Location: Minsk. Belarus

The Tall Banker
Location: Luxembourg

Location: Nice, France

World’s Largest Basket Building
Location: Newark Ohio

Mirrored man face
Location: Turin, Italy

Location: Punta del Este, Uruguay

Location: Berlin, Germany

Dromeas
Location: Athens, Greece

Location: Kansas City Public Library.

So, as I already mentioned the info and photos are from the presentation I received. I don’t know who made the presentation – but big thanks to that person. Also, if you know who owns the rights for the photos please tell me and I’ll insert credits .

And now the final verdict: which ones of these statues and buildings in public spaces did you saw and which did you like from this presentation?

It’s a fact: nowadays more and more couples are getting a divorce after a short while. Moreover, there are many couples (or a person in a couple in many cases) afraid of commitment and of the difficult time of getting a divorce in case the marriage doesn’t go very well.

Mexico City lawmakers seem to want to help all the newlyweds with a new “invention”: the marriage contract with a period of two years and the possibility of renew it if the two are happy in their marriage.

From an article on Reuters, we find out that “The contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled if the couple splits.

“The proposal is, when the two-year period is up, if the relationship is not stable or harmonious, the contract simply ends,” said Leonel Luna, the Mexico City assemblyman who co-authored the bill.”

“Luna says the proposed law is gaining support and he expects a vote by the end of this year.“ It seems that around Mexico the average time after a marriage ends is two years – thus the law proposal.

I’m wondering however how will the vows sound like: “For better or worse, in sickness and in health at least for two years ”?

Or, “’till 2013 do us apart” (this is actually from the amusing but very inspired title of the Reuters’ news).

There are of course people opposing already to such a law: “”This reform is absurd. It contradicts the nature of marriage,” said Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for the Mexican archdiocese. “It’s another one of these electoral theatrics the assembly tends to do that are irresponsible and immoral.””

What do you think? Is it a good idea or a bad one?

I’ve presented you Jungferngasse – the street so short it has neither door nor number as an interesting curiosity in Vienna, Austria.

Now I’m showing you a town that has no streets. Yes, it is possible.

Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel and it is called “Venice of the Netherlands” (or “Venice of the North”). In the beginnings all transport was done by water – nowadays there is a cycling path.

I think this qualifies as an interesting curiosity – right? Oh, and this village is famous all over the world and a local attraction after a film – the comedy “Fanfare” – was made by Bert Haanstra here. You can read more here.

photo by Huji

photo by CrazyPhunk

House called 'De Kameel' (The Camel)

photo source

During a trip to Italy, a friend of mine photographed many interesting places and monuments.

One of this photos, made from the bus, is of an apartment block that has an interesting construction design and a red effect when seen from distance. Check it out! (click for a larger view)

Interesting things (or curiosities if you want) to find out are all over the world.

My friend that visited Italy told me about such a special object in Milano, Italy. A white column that you might not even stop to photograph is the place where it is believed that the devil hit with his horns.

The place is near Basilica of Sant’ Ambrogio – which is the earliest Ambrosian structure built in the IV century, a wonderful place to visit also (here are some photos).

It is said that the devil was annoyed by something and that how he ended up hitting the column.

Did you see this column in Milano?

Birds, many-many relatively small birds. Everywhere. With houses all over the town. You’d think this is strange and that you want to run as far away and as soon as possible, right?

Well, there is a town in this world where small birds – purple martins – are welcomed by locals and tempted to stay here longer.

Yeah, you know we like interesting facts and stories from all over the world. Let’s see what’s the story of Griggsville.

It all started round ‘60 when pesticides were banned. In Griggsville there were many mosquitoes. People suffered mosquitoes bytes on a daily basis.

Someone discovered that this town is located on the “travel road”of the purple martins. What’s so special about this birds is that they feed almost entirely on… yes, you guessed, mosquitoes!

Now, the birds are not much of building shelters specialists, so people had to help. And boy, did they build some houses. Many, many houses for birds. All over the town.

But the final result made it all worth it. People can live in this town without being constantly bitten by mosquitoes.

So, birds are not only bad (many birds, like in Alfred Hitchcock’ movie), they can be a true blessing!

photo source