Travelogue…… with Bob Nicolaides.

A Mycenean Palace Discovered Near Sparta

A new excavation in the Xirokambi area of Aghios Vassilios west of Sparta, in the Peloponnese, has revealed a richness of Mycenean artifacts in the area, including the remains of a palace, Linear B tablets, fragments of wall paintings, and several bronze swords.

The excavation, led by emeritus ephor of antiquities Adamantia Vassilogrambrou, was presented publicly at the biennial Shanghai Archaeology Forum at the end of August as one of 11 sites showcased from different parts of the world.

The Aghios Vassilios excavation began in 2010, after Linear B tablets were found in the area in 2008, pointing to the existence of a powerful central authority and distribution system. The deciphered texts were devoted to perfume and cloth production, the trade of which was controlled by a palace administration in the Mycenean era.

Evidence of a central palace administration was confirmed also by the architecture, which is dated to the 14th century BC, while contact with Crete was confirmed by the finding of a double axe, a feature of the island's palace culture.

Artifacts found include seals, a multitude of ceramic and bronze vessels, and 21 bronze swords. According to the evidence, a sudden fire that broke out either at the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 13th destroyed the three buildings on the site which were never rebuilt at the same location.

 

Top 10 Travel Destinations For Fall 2013

 

Nowhere else in the world is there a movement of animals as colossal and breathtaking as Africa’s wildebeest migration, where as many as 2.5 million white bearded wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and eland hoof it from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to the greener pastures of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve from July to November.

Northern Lights Norway

Scandinavian countries love to brag about their “midnight sun,” but it’s the otherworldly “northern lights” that’s the real showstopper. The Fantasia-like phenomenon is forecast to be particularly brilliant in 2013, and one of the best ways to see it is on a cruise ship out at sea away from the city lights.

Portland Head Light

Nothing quite says fall like a trip to New England, America’s leafy northeastern extreme. And nothing quite epitomizes New England as well as the plucky seaside city of Portland, Maine. With its jagged, island-strewn coastline and mountainous tree-covered interior, it's hard to find another U.S. destination more diverse in natural beauty than Maine.

Patzcuaro, Mexico

While Canadians and Americans celebrate Halloween, their neighbors south of the border partake in a much more somber affair: Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). The Mexican holiday is a time of remembrance when families honor their deceased loved ones with gifts and altars at the cemetery. Yet, solemn as the occasion may be, the holiday takes on the air of a carnival with candlelit processions, papier-mâché skeletons and candy skulls aplenty -- especially if you're in Pátzcuaro.

Whale Watching Australia

Australia’s warm, shallow and predator-free Hervey Bay is protected by the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, and has evolved into the most popular resting place for Southern Hemisphere humpbacks on their 6,215-mile return journey from Antarctica. As such, it’s considered one of the best places in the world to watch these massive mammals at play. Each year from August to November, Hervey Bay is like a playground where the whales stop for up to a week to relax, do some tricks and, if obliged, hang out with eager, camera-toting tourists.

Discovery Park of America

The $100 million, 50-acre Discovery Park of America will completely engulf the tiny town of Union City, Tenn., when it opens Nov. 1 with the mission of inspiring both children and adults to “see beyond” their current level of knowledge in areas of science, technology, history, art and nature. Highlights of the “Smithsonian-like” attraction three hours west of Nashville include a 20,000-gallon aquarium, a 60-foot replica of the human body and a theater simulation of the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes that shaped the surrounding region.

Octoberfest

It's a simple equation: big steins + big outfits = big party. About 7 million people from around the world will drink more than 7 million 1-liter mugs of beer at Oktoberfest this year. While there will certainly be plenty of bierleichen -- Bavarian slang for drunkard, which literally translates to "beer corpse" -- it's easy to forget that Oktoberfest is actually a cultural celebration for the whole family.

Oranjestad, Aruba

Knowing where to travel during hurricane season can mean the difference between a week at the beach and a week stuck in front of the hotel television. That said, if you crave warm waters with no chance of a major tropical disturbance this fall, you may want to consider the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, which lie just off the South American coast below the traditional hurricane belt.

Columbia River Highway

Considered a modern marvel of engineering when completed in 1922, the Columbia River Highway was the first scenic drive to earn National Historic Landmark status. The route itself follows the last leg of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and was part of the early path along the Oregon Trail. Designers of the modern road created it, in part, as a platform for viewing the natural beauty of the area, which boasts a tapestry of colors each fall that complement the region’s plunging waterfalls, deep gorges and perky wildflowers.

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

If you're standing anywhere between Chateau de Chillon and the eastern outskirts of Lausanne and you look into the giant liquid mirror that is Lake Geneva, this is what you'll see: A patchwork of tightly-tiered vines spread like golden butter across the undulating hills. The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a World Heritage site that blankets some 19 miles (30 kilometers) of Lake Geneva's northern shore, has been in use since the Roman times, though the present vine terraces trace back to the 11th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the region.

Islet of Strongyli Designated Archaeological Site

The easternmost edge of Greece, the 100-hectare islet of Strongyli near Kastellorizo, was designated as archaeological site by the Central Archaeological Council on Tuesday. The Council based its decision on antiquities found on the islet, mainly the remains of a fortress of the Hellenistic era with an outer enclosure and a system of water cisterns. Its square tower was used in a signalling network of torches linking Strongyli with the islet of Ro and the island of Kastellorizo and used by the island of Rhodes to control sea passages. The tower was used in the Byzantine and Ottoman times.

Strongyli has no permanent residents besides a Greek army base. Until Cyprus' membership, it was the easternmost border of the European Union.

Some of the World’s Most Historic art is at the Musee D’Orsay.

The Musee d’Orsay in Paris’ city center houses some of the most famous historic works of art in the world. Though the Louvre is the first place tourists flock to when choosing their museum destinations in the city, the Musee d’Orsay is also quite vast with collections ranging from Renaissance classics to contemporary modern pieces. If you’re planning a visit to the d’Orsay, I would recommend leaving at least a four or five hour window to see the museum, but you could easily spend two full days enjoying the artwork.



Musee D'Orsay, former RR station

What was once a railway station and an opera house, the Museum building has its own interesting history, including its role as the central deportation center for the Jewish and disenfranchised victims of World War II. The Museum now is comprised of six levels, each with seemingly endless rooms, separated by the school of artwork displayed, the artists, and the time periods. The collections of work include many of the greats, such as Degas, Monet, Manet, Sisley, Pissarro, Bazille, Caillebotte, van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin, Renoir and countless others. If you’re a fan of impressionist, skip the Louvre and head straight to the d’Orsay. The paintings are breathtaking to see in person and the crowds are completely manageable. Additionally, the sculpture collection of the museum is quite impressive, with the largest pieces on display in the main center visible from all floors of the museum. There is also a large focus on architecture and design, including a room of furniture from an upper class home in the 1800’s. For a full list of collections, visit http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/overview.html.

If you’re a European under the age of 26 or a student traveler attending a European University, admission is free! For everyone else, tickets range from 9–12 euro with options for groups, and joint passes for 15 e to other museums like the Rodin.

 

A Terrific Hotel in Gythion



Hotel in Gytheio

Castello Antico Beach in Mavrovouni Beach, Gythion, Laconia Region is a great, small-sized hotel located in a very convenient site, right by the sea, very polite and friendly staff. Good food, fresh fish and real "home-made" set up! David, the bartender is high class, making great cocktails! The owner Dimitris is a very nice and friendly gentleman but also good professional, in few words the PLACE in Eastern Mani area.

 

Destroyed Jesus fresco turns into a tourist Mecca

 

 

A year ago she became the global laughing stock after she destroyed a prized fresco of Jesus Christ. Twelve months later, she’s launched her very own art exhibit. She’s the world’s most infamous art restorer and her name is Cecilia Gimenez, Spain’s face of the month. On August of last year, residents of the village of Borja in northeastern Spain, were shocked to find out that a vandal had destroyed a prized fresco in their local sanctuary of Mercy Church.

The 19^th century Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) depiction of Jesus with his crown of thorns had been disfigured and made into a monkey-like creature, bearing no resemblance to the savior.




Christ Icon destroyed means Toursim plethora

As the village authorities were sending a nationwide appeal to find the culprit, up popped an 81-year-old woman who admitted she was responsible for the artistic atrocity. “They didn’t let me finish,” she told the Spanish daily El Pais. The parishioner of that church, confessed that she was concerned that parts of the Elias Garcia Martinez fresco were flaking off due to dampness on the church wall. Everybody who’s gone into the church saw me painting it. Never did it behind closed doors!”

News of the pensioner’s improvised restoration spread like wildfire across Spain and as soon as the international and as soon as the international press and the social media platforms got hold of the story, Gimenez’s ‘monkey Jesus’ became a laughing matter for the world. France’s Le Monde newspaper ran the story with the title ‘Holy Shit-the restoration of a painting of Christ turns into a massacre’ and the Daily Telegraph ran the ‘Elderly woman destroys 19^th century fresco with DIY restoration.’

Less than a month after Gimenez’s botched restoration, an international art exhibition by collaborative art group Wallpeople was held in Barcelona in honor of her “masterpiece” Ecce Homo fans prepared a montage of Gimenez’s ‘money face; on a number of renowned artworks, including Andy Walhol’s Marilyn Monroe and Gustave Klimt’s The Kiss. Even the US’s Saturday Night Live and the Conan O’Brian show featured sketches in which they mocked the so-called ‘Potato Jesus.’

Faced with a barrage of international media attention, Spanish newspapers reported that Cecilia Gimenez suffered an anxiety attack. “I couldn’t understand everyone was talking about me,” she later told Spanish daily ABC. Borja authorities had even considered legal action against her for what they initially deemed to be ransacking of the village’s patrimony. ‘Cecilia, come home,” her sister told her on the phone when she heard the news. “They want to throw you in prison.”

But intial plans to have the fresco restored were put on hold by the local parish and Borja authorities, as soon as they realized the positive effect it was having on the village’s economy. Tourist’s from all around the world began descending on the once-sleepy Aragonese village to catch a glimpse and have a giggle at what has been popularly referred to as the worst art restoration project in history. Admission to the church was set at €1 ($1.35) and all the money collected will go to the restoration of the building. Sweets reproductions of the Ecce Mono (or Behold the Monkey) as the artwork was dubbed-are been sold as far as Japan.

In Santorini, Try Petit Palace Suites Hotel

Petit Palace-Trip Advisor

Aphrodite Vlasserou of New York, just returned from a Greek vacation and this is what she wrote on Trip-Advisor for the Petit Palace Suites Hotel resort she stayed in Fira: One of our best experience at a Greek hotel ever, we came from New York and felt like Greek Gods and Goddesses! The hotel staff is very friendly, the rooms and especially the honeymoon suite is a dream! Very clean, modern, fresh, creative...with a private pool and an amazing breakfast to start the Santorinean dreamy day! And that's why we booked our holiday this summer here again. Can't wait for next year.

 

Thailand: New routes to attract Chinese tourists

 

 

Thailand: Catering to Chinese Visitors

Business Travel Association Thailand - China relations announced  new routes targeting Chinese tourists and  using Thailand as a major hub to connect during AEC. javascript:;Mr. Kasen Wattanachaowpisut, President of  the Business Travel Association Thailand – China relations(CTA) announces that they are generating  new deals and  routes to be able to meet the needs and demand of the Chinese travelers.

If Thailand was to waive visa for the Chinese tourists then this would mean that the Asian Economic Community (AEC), will also  benefit. The program will be offered to member’s trip for four countries namely Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos maintaining Thailand as a hub to connect. This will result in uniquely cheaper costs for all the members to benefit. Currently all tour companies have international traveling packages but there will be focusing more on Thailand and then to Singapore and Malaysia as the last destination.

Larisa of Argos Medieval Castle to get Repairs with EU Funds

 

One of the oldest and most historic castles in Greece, that of Larisa in Argos, is getting preserved and promoted with the help of National Strategic Reference Framework funds. The Peloponnesian castle was declared a national monument by Greece in 1992; its preservation project that the EU is partly funding is worth 945,000 euros.

Located on the top of a hill which was used since prehistoric times for defence purposes, the castle was repaired and augmented by the Argives in the 5th and 6th centuries. It was built up by the Byzantines in the 10th century, who turned it into a major fortress in the Peloponnese. Its history reflects the turbulence of the Middle Ages and later, as it came under the jurisdiction of the lord of Nafplio, Leon Sgouros, in 1203; was taken over by the Franks, who rebuilt it into its present form in 1212; was sold to the Venetians in 1394; and fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1463 - with a brief interlude when it became Venetian again - until 1822, when it was taken over by Turkish Ottoman general Dramalis, after the Greeks had declared their war of independence in 1821.

During World War Two, the castle was severely damaged by bombs dropped by the Germans, who were trying to flush out resistance fighters. Today little survives of a 12th-century Byzantine church, while architectural members of earlier constructions including from the Classical era were used to build and repair the fortress walls and are still discernible today.