Adventure Croatia Holidays - between the Alps and Adriatic Sea

Magical adventures in Croatia with hundreds of sparkling waterfalls and more than a thousand islands set amid the blue of the sea, green mountain rivers and streams, virgin canyons, wild karst and mellow plains.

Nestling between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, in the south-eastern part of the European continent, Croatia jealously protects eight national parks, ten nature parks and a whole range of special reserves, including plant life, animals, geological formations, hydrological phenomena, all within a small but rich area that can be travelled by car from one end to another in a single day.

Many paths run between rivers, mountain peaks, tiny island ports and beaches, leading to Illyrian hill forts, to Roman ruins, to towns and cities that are themselves monuments, to ethno-entities of popular architecture.

Countless footpaths and trekking trails beckon you to venture into beauty and discover the magic of nature - in the mountains, river valleys and canyons, through karstic plains and dense forests, to rock-bound islands and lush green hills. Within this most diverse of reliefs walkers and hikers can reach even the most mysterious areas strewn between sea level and the highest peak on Dinara (1831 m): in nature parks, nature reserves, national parks and other areas with particular attractions from the aspect of adventure - in Slavonic and Baranja, Northern Croatia (Hrvatsko zagorje, Medimurje, Podravina), Gorski kotar, Istria, Dalmatia and Zagorje, on hundreds of isles and islands, and down the length of the Dinara range extending along the coastline. Then there are Ucka, Velebit, Mosor, Biokovo, Snijeznica in the far south - oil offering a wealth of challenges.

Sailing It is easy to capture favourable winds among such a number of islands as exist in Croatian territorial waters - whether blowing from the land or the sea. The strength of wind and waves is not unusually excessive, but should you have had enough just sail for the nearest sheltered bay. Fully equipped sailboats of various categories (with or without a skipper) can be hired from any one of the dozens of marinas situated up and down the coast and on the islands. Yachting clubs and marinas are numerous and well equipped. We are recommending sailing regio at Zadar, Sibenik und Dubrovnik.

Alpinists and freestyle climbers will find the right climbing environment in both the continental and littoral regions, with some climbing sites being located quite close to towns and popular Croatia holiday resorts (Zagreb, Ogulin, Rovinj, Paiin, Split, Ornls...]. Routes ranging from several meters long for beginners, to several hundred meters for specialists, are open to climbing enthusiasts on the rocks of Paklenica, Velebit, Ucka, in the Dinara range (including Dinara-Ornis), Mosor, Biokovo and others, and on the islands (Brac, Vis, Mljet). The best known climbing destinations in the continental parts of the country are on the mountains of Klek, Papuk, Kalnik, on Samarske stijene and Bijele stijene

Well, I think yell get a perfect Croatia holidays!

Globetrotting Cities Of The World

How much of a globetrotter are you?  Guess this city?  Hint:  This city is an eclectic mix of old and new, East and West.  It is a bustling metropolis and an epicurean paradise.  Formerly, Constantinople, it is the only city in the world that bridges two continents – Asia and Europe.  It is the largest city in the predominantly Islamic country of Turkey.  Answer:  Istanbul.

There is nothing like discovering or learning about a city and losing yourself in its irresistible pull.  There is thrill in connecting with different cities and in the process having a better grasp of humanity, history, culture, geography of the world.  We are in the threshold of a new millennium.  With it comes globalization- a world without borders.  This reality plus hunger for knowledge has served as a catalyst for people to venture forth and acquaint themselves with the cities of the world.  Come let’s take a sneak peak at some of these great cities.  Let’s discover diverse worlds as we tread from one city (familiar or newfound) to the next and be entranced.

Few places in the world have a bigger number of familiar landmarks than London.  Whether it is Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham palace, #10 Downing Street or Harrods, the sights of London are legendary.  London thrives as a collection of vibrant and distinct communities.  There is West Hampstead, Kilburn with its Irish heritage, Hampstead Heath (a vast park in North London) and Soho Square.  Take a virtual tour of London canals and discover a floating community of houseboats.

Paris is the City of Romance.  Meander through the cloistered streets of Montmartre.  Be awed by modern art and “hi-tech” architecture such as the Beaubourg Centre, the cultural heart of Modern Paris.  This blending of old and new architectural styles adds up to the many reasons why most everyone ultimately falls in love with Paris.

New York is a city that never sleeps.  Climb up the Empire State Building.  Pass by the Chelsea galleries.  Experience the sights and sounds of Brooklyn nightclubs. Take your fill of Broadway shows.  Immerse yourself in the museums of New York.  Truly, it is the 21st century city.

Reach for the sky.  Hongkong’s skyline is one of the most famous in the world.  Take a tram ride up Victoria Peak and get a glimpse of the spectacular view of the territory.  Savor culinary delights honed to perfection.  And take out your credit cards and splurge.  Hongkong is a shopping paradise.

Chiang Mai is paradise revisited.  Just an hour’s ride from Bangkok, Chiang Mai has charm, mountains, and greenery.  Join in the festival of Songkran (New Year water festival) and the Loi Kratong (candle festival).  Along with the showers of water and the twinkling kites that light the night sky, the city comes alive and molds the old with the new, eliciting a sense of nostalgia.  Finally pay homage in the temples in Chiang Mai.  Bask in the cooler climes of Chiang Mai.  It can’t get any better.

Dubai is a world on its own.  It is a giant-sized playground for the whole family.  It is the second largest of the seven states making up the United Arab Emirates.  Luxury villas, theme parks and skyscrapers dot the desert and the coast.  However, Dubai is not all glitz and glamour.  For a glimpse of its past, visit Deira district – narrow alleyways, nondescript buildings, jewelry shops and spice souk and breathe in a variety of aromatic spices.  Try skiing at the Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East.  Dubailand is set to open.  Suffice to say Dubai is giving Las Vegas a run for its money.

And the list goes on…..  Unraveling the myriad cities of the world may take a lifetime but take the first step, you’ll never regret it. Travel, read or surf, take your pick.  Keep discovering… Keep learning.

"The Peace Crib" - A Modern Neapolitan Crib In Florence

“The first time I came to Italy, in Naples, I was struck by the cribs of 1700. They opened new horizons to me. I was used to the one of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, small and simple at the base of an imposing Christmas Tree.

The cribs of Naples were a real discovery to me!” Together with the crib Yvonne DiPalma – born in Philadelphia – met also the sculptor Michele Attanasio. She fell in love with him, got married and with him opened the “Paul Whistler Art Gallery”, near Sorrento.

For Christmas, in a place where everybody prepares a crib, they started to make one in the Gallery: scenarios by Michele and characters by Yvonne.

This is how it has begun, by chance, the most charming and passionate adventure of the life of this artist. In the first “Installation” there are 20 characters: sculptures representing the people of the town and famous figures.

This was the start of a thirty-year experience. Every year after that debut in 1976-77 it has had more and more success; it was an opening up of a new life.

The crib emigrated to Florence where it found in Monsignor Setti a supporter and in the Basilica of San Lorenzo a home. In the town of iris the two artists found the same enthusiasm of the first time: that miracle of a sincere participation.

After San Lorenzo, it went to Loggia Rucellai (1981), then to Rome, in the Oratory of Santa Maria in Via, then back to Florence, in the church next to the Gallery of San Jacopo Sopr’Arno (1991). In 1992 the crib by Yvonne was the set in the Theatre Parioli of the programme Maurizio Costanzo Show.

Since then, the work increased “at home” until the interlude of Christmas 1999, when it was lent to the 7th International Festival “Costruimo il Natale”, in the crypt of Santa Croce of Florence.

And now let’s know better this very special crib made of characters of about 50-centimetre height. Yvonne creates the body with iron wire, fabric and stuffing.

To be noticed that all clothes are sews one by one and represent the Neapolitan models of the 18th century. The heads and hair are in terracotta; each sculpted head is a masterpiece of refinement. All characters have the features either of people the artist has met in her life or of famous figures, among them many international politicians: the presidents of United States Nixon, Reagan, Carter, then the Russian, Italian, French, Chinese ones etc. Thirty years of history of 1900 in a crib…

Beside the human characters, there is the world of international animals: in addition to the traditional ox and donkey, there are also horses, sheep, cats, elephants, cocks, baboons, rams, kangaroos, etc… all in terracotta reproduced in the minutest details.

How many are the Crib characters now? Yvonne has stopped counting when they have been more than 200!

They have got out of control and have become alive! Indefatigable, Yvonne creates different groups and expressions, always reflecting upon life and world around us.

Do not miss it in Florence, Via San Zanobi 58 - http://www.yvonnedipalma.com