admin November 30th, 2006
In fact you can really see how deceiving it is. If you showed this photo to anyone they could mistake it for an image of the Grand Canyon! But it’s the famous Colored Canyon that you can admire while on a trip to the Red Sea. The cost of the entire trip, taken about three years ago, is somewhere around 100 dollars. It’s a little tiring, but it is surely worth it!
admin November 28th, 2006
They aren’t as common in my neck of the woods as in Val di Taro, and that’s why as soon as I saw them I was immediately enchanted. They are wild roses that grow in bushes, of a vivacious red color. Since they are wild they resist colder climates very well, and they can adapt to many different types of land.
The above photo was taken at a farmhouse called “funghi e fate” (mushrooms and fairies) in the Gotra resort, near Borgo Val di Taro. If you want to find out more information take a look at the official site.
admin November 26th, 2006
Neuschwanstein, what you see in the above photo is taken from the famous Marienbrücke bridge, it’s surely one of the most beautiful castles in the world, if not the most beautiful, at least from the point of view of its spectacular exterior. But who was Ludwig II, the author of all of these marvelous castles? He lived between 1845 and 1846, great friend of the composer Richard Wagner (Ludwig acknowledged the fact that he was homosexual), he was more of a dreamer than a leader or a good ruler.
In fact, during the time period in which he lived he was harshly criticized because he spent all of his wealth on the construction of these imposing and marvelous works of architecture, instead of dedicating himself to politics (which he detested).
He was loved by his people, that probably (like the rest of us) appreciated his creations, but he was obviously unappreciated by politicians, the merchant gilds and by the nobility in general, so much so that near the end of his short life he was declared “crazy” by a commission of doctors in charge of the Bavarian government!!
We can’t do anything but appreciate his works, and in that time “tourism” probably didn’t exist, now the Bavarian rulers should thank him for the bulk of tourists that his works attract regularly every year!!!
Here is the castle seen from below, right “at its feet”. Immense!
Here it is seen from the fields of the surrounding plains, still lacking urbanization. In fact, when admiring the valley from a distance it seems like time has frozen in the nineteenth century, from the moment that the Bavarians had the good sense not to build thousands of tourists attractions all around…!
This photo, on the other hand, was taken along the route that leads up to the castle by foot.
This is the famous Marienbrücke bridge! As you can see there is a bit of a crowd… if you suffer from vertigo stay far away!