Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-acropolis-greeces-most-famous-monument-weathers-the-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-acropolis-greeces-most-famous-monument-weathers-the-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/the-acropolis-greeces-most-famous-monument-weathers-the-crisis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Visiting Greece and not visiting the Acropolis is unthinkable. Set atop a high rock overlooking Athens, the temples here were built primarily to honor the city's patron goddess Athena in all her attributes. The buildings here are some of the best examples of Greek architecture and have had a profound effect on the architecture of all the Western world. While I have a preference for medieval sites like Acrocorinth, and I've visited the Acropolis before, I couldn't help but go back.

The last time I was there was 1994, and a lot has changed. There has been a great deal of restoration and the world-class Acropolis Museum has opened up.

Here's one attraction that the Greek government needs to preserve as it passes through its worst economic crisis since World War Two. People still flock here and it's a major reason why Greece is an important tourist destination. Tourism accounts for 18 percent of the Greek GDP and tourist numbers went up last year. Several sources told me there were two reasons for this: budget-conscious Europeans are traveling closer to home and people are staying away from North African favorites like Tunisia and Egypt.

Even though sites like the Acropolis generate billions of euros a year in revenue, the Ministry of Culture survives on just 0.7 percent of the national budget, and that budget is shrinking faster than the supply of Greek olives I brought back from this trip. In the past year the ministry has seen its budget slashed by almost a third, with warnings of more cuts to come. Museums are already feeling the pinch and now ministers, archaeologists, and site directors are scrambling to find ways to maintain their their heritage. There are even plans to lease the Acropolis for film backdrops and photo shoots to help raise funds.

Gallery: The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

The Propylaia, the entrance to the AcropolisThe first view of the Parthenon as you enter the AcropolisThe Sanctuary of Athena NikeThe ErechtheionCaryatid columns in the Erechtheion

Continue reading The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis

The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acrocorinth, Greece, castle, castles
Greece is justly famous for its ancient monuments. The Acropolis, Delphi, and other Classical sites are the reason most history lovers come to this ancient land. The medieval period, however, produced many equally impressive monuments and it's a shame they're so often overlooked. Greece is filled with giant castles, remote monasteries, and lovely churches decorated with gold mosaics and richly colored paintings.

One of the largest castles in Greece is Acrocorinth, less than an hour away from Athens by train. It sits atop a rocky hill 1,800 feet high overlooking the famous city and harbor of Corinth. Its strategic location close to the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow strip of land connecting the Peloponnese with the rest of Greece, makes it one of the most important castles in the country.

I arrived there one rainy morning to find the hill and its castle wreathed in mist. A taxi ride from the train station took me up a winding road past sheer drops. No approach to the summit is easy, and from some sides it would take a skilled mountain climber to get up. Only the western slope is relatively passable, and it's protected by triple walls.

Acrocorinth is such an obvious point for defense that there's been a castle here for more than 2,500 years. The ancient Greeks built a temple to Aphrodite at the top and built walls made of massive stones to serve as a refuge for the Corinthians against pirates and invaders.
In AD 146 the Romans destroyed Corinth and its castle and for many years they lay abandoned.

The temple was replaced by a church in the 5th or 6th century AD. By this time the Western Roman Empire had collapsed and the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, was a powerful Christian state ruling over much of the eastern Mediterranean with its capital at Constantinople, modern Istanbul. Corinth and Acrocorinth became important again as a Byzantine regional capital.

Gallery: Acrocorinth

A view from the distanceDrawbridge and first gateFirst gateSecond gateView through second gate

Continue reading Athens day trip: Acrocorinth, one of Greece's greatest castles

Athens day trip: Acrocorinth, one of Greece's greatest castles originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcrocorintharchitectureAthensAthens day tripAthens daytripAthensDayTripByronLeftwichByzantine artByzantineArtByzantiumcastlecastlesCorinthCrusadeCrusader castleCrusaderCastlecrusaderscrusadesFourth CrusadeFourthCrusadeGreecegreece crisisGreece tourismGreeceCrisisGreeceTourismGreek castleGreek castlesGreekCastleGreekCastlesmedievalmedieval architecturemedieval historymedieval warfareMedievalArchitectureMedievalHistoryMedievalWarfaremiddle agesMiddleAgesmilitary historyMilitaryHistoryOttomanpastinperilPelopennesesiegesiege warfaresiegesSiegeWarfarewarWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greek museums face the economic crisis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Greek museumsIt's not easy being the caretaker of Greece's heritage these days. Greek museums are facing budget cuts, strikes, reduced staff, even loss of visitors due to riots. The National Archaeological Museum had many rooms closed during the peak tourist season last summer due to budget cuts, and strikes are regularly closing all publicly owned museums.

Take the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. It collects the nation's Medieval heritage, focusing especially on the glory days of Byzantium. When the Roman Empire split into western and eastern halves in 395 AD, the West fell apart within a century, but the East, known as Byzantium, survived for another thousand years. Byzantium produced a distinct and beautiful artistic style and preserved many Classical works that then became the inspiration for the Renaissance.

The museum was founded in 1914 in the palace of a French noble. For most of the twentieth century the displays didn't change much and visitors tended to pass it by for the more famous Classical sights.

"It was a place only for scholars," said Nikolas Constantios, an archaeologist and museologist who works there and showed me around the recently revamped permanent exhibition.

And what an exhibition! Some four hundred icons are on display. Richly embroidered church vestments stand next to colorfully painted manuscripts, gold coins, and day-to-day objects. It's all laid out in an open, well-lit fashion that reminded me of the new Ashmolean in Oxford. This modern style replaced the old "cases filled with stuff" museum design and helps combat museum fatigue.

This ten-year revitalization project almost came too late. The money, half of which came from the Ministry of Culture and half from the European Union, was already earmarked when the crisis hit.

Gallery: The Art of Byzantium

Greek schoolkids learn about thier heritageAn early medieval wooden Coptic cross from EgyptMytholigical imagery continued even after the switch to ChristianityByzantine footwearIcon of the Archangel Michael, painted in Constantinople in the 14th century

Continue reading Greek museums face the economic crisis

Greek museums face the economic crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Athens nightlifeGiorgis looked like he didn't have long to live.

Aged about 70, he was a tall man who appeared shorter because he stooped so much that his head hung almost below his shoulders. He was thin and walked with a limp that showed he suffered from sciatica. His clothes--yellow sweater, gray trousers, and brown dress shoes--were old and faded but immaculately clean. His gray hair was neatly combed over watery blue eyes that scrunched up when he coughed, which he did often.

"It's this cold weather," he told me. "People my age always cough like this when it gets cold."

Giorgis was in denial. I know plenty of old people who don't cough like that. There was death in that cough.

I met him on my first night in Athens while standing in front of the Parliament building watching the Evzone Guards. A few other tourists gazed at the guards' famous uniforms of a white skirt, white hose, and shoes with big pompoms. Their costumes may look odd but there was no mistaking that these were real soldiers. I'm six feet tall and every one of them towered over me. They looked in the prime of health.

Giorgis did not.

"I'm an oil engineer," he said. "I work in Saudi Arabia for a big company."

Looking at his clothes I doubted that. I acted interested, though, and answered the usual questions about where I was from and what I was going to see in Greece. He made some hints about knowing some good spots for Athens nightlife. I doubted that too. After a time I was thinking of saying goodbye and moving on. Giorgis must have seen something in my body language.

"What, you don't like talking to Greek people? We don't have to talk."

Ah, The Line! I've heard it from La Paz to Damascus. It's a guilt trip. You go wherever they want just to prove you don't hate their people. Well, as usual I wasn't fooled but went along anyway. I'm too curious for my own good. Falling for The Line has never gotten me into serious trouble and has led to some interesting stories. Giorgis didn't look dangerous. I wouldn't follow him down any dark alleys, but other than that I'd let him take the lead.

"We'll go to a bar," he announced. "I know a good one."

He limped off at a remarkable pace. I hurried to keep up as he coughed his way down the street. I figured him for an alcoholic. He sure looked in a hurry to get to that bar.

Continue reading Athens nightlife: desperate pensioners on the hustle

Athens nightlife: desperate pensioners on the hustle originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greek tourism, Greek
This is a sculpture of a fallen Greek warrior from the temple of Aphaia on the Greek island of Aigina. Made in the 5th century BC, it's an important example of Early Classical Greek art. This was a time when Greek artists began imitating life with realistic poses and expressions.

We owe so much to the ancient Greeks--our ideas of art, architecture, democracy, philosophy, theater, and a lot more. When Greece was conquered by the Romans three centuries after this sculpture was made, Greek culture actually flourished, finding new outlets in the receptive and expanding Roman Empire. Horace once said: Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit (Captive Greece took captive her rude conqueror). The suffering yet proud face on this fallen warrior reflects Greek history--cycles of tragedy and triumph.

Suffering yet proud. That's the impression I get of Greece these days. An economy in shambles, general strikes, people being forced to give up their children. At the same time, an increasing number of Greeks are going back to the land and sea to revitalize the traditional cornerstones of the Greek economy. Meanwhile, Greeks from all walks of life are taking to the streets to protest cutbacks that threaten their livelihood.

The cutbacks threaten our past too. Not the Greek past, our past, because Western civilization is based to a large extent on Greek civilization. Regular general strikes against the austerity measures imposed by the IMF mean that seeing the physical remains of our heritage has become a game of chance. A minister's suggestion to lease the Acropolis and other ancient sites was treated with scorn one week, and approved the next. Three important paintings, including one by Picasso, were stolen from the Athens National Gallery because cutbacks had left only one guard on duty. And it can get far, far worse. Allowing Greece to fall would be like burning an attic full of family heirlooms and photo albums.

For the next week I'll be in Greece interviewing museum curators, archaeologists, and regular Greeks about the problems facing our collective past. How are the strikes inhibiting access to museums and sights? How much are staff cuts reducing opening hours and the nation's ability to conserve and restore our heritage? I'll also be seeing, strikes permitting, some of the nation's greatest monuments such as the Acropolis and Agora, as well as lesser-known treasures such as Mistra, briefly the capital of the Roman Empire, and the Crusader castle of Villehardouin.

Unfortunately, this sculpture will not be among them. It's now the property of the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek in Munich, Germany. The same country whose banks currently own the second largest share of Greek national debt after France. The statue of the fallen Greek was taken by a German baron in 1811 when Greece was under the control of a different foreign power--the Ottoman Empire.

Next in the series: Athens nightlife: desperate pensioners on the hustle!

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

New series: Our past in peril, Greek tourism faces the economic crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient historyAncientHistoryarchaeologyarchosAthensclassicalclassical historyClassicalHistoryClassicial civilizationClassicialCivilizationeconomic crisisEconomicCrisiseconomyGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreekGreek artGreek economic crisisGreek economyGreek historygreek tourismGreekArtGreekEconomicCrisisGreekEconomyGreekHistoryGreekTourismheritagehistorynew seriesNewSeriespastinperilseriesSpartaMon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are there lost pyramids in Bosnia? Probably not.]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/are-there-lost-pyramids-in-bosnia-probably-not/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/are-there-lost-pyramids-in-bosnia-probably-not/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/22/are-there-lost-pyramids-in-bosnia-probably-not/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

pyramids in Bosnia, Visoko
For several years now, European archaeologists have been in a furor over a supposed lost civilization in Bosnia that built the biggest pyramids in the world. Scholars have dismissed the claims, made by Bosnian-American businessman Semir Osmanagic, as pseudoscience, yet he's getting funding from the Bosnian government and was just granted permission to excavate over the objections of the country's archaeological establishment.

Osmanagic is convinced a large hill overlooking the town of Visoko near the Bosnian capital Sarajevo is a pyramid from an lost civilization dating to about 12,000 years ago, when the region was experiencing the Ice Age. The hill is indeed roughly pyramid-shaped, at least the half that faces the town. The other half is a bit lumpy. In fact, if you look at it with Google Earth, it doesn't look like a pyramid at all. Geologists say it's a natural formation and that there are several like it in the region; Osmanagic says many of those hills are pyramids too.

To prove his point Osmanagic set up the "Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun" and since 2005 has been fighting for permission to excavate. The permit was granted, but then it was revoked for fear the excavations could damage an existing archaeological site on the top of the hill. This is a medieval fort with Roman foundations built atop a Neolithic settlement. Now permission has been granted again and the work will continue.

A victory for independent science against the narrow vision of academia? Not necessarily.

Looking at the photos on Osmanagic's website on the pyramids in Bosnia, I don't see anything indicating there's a pyramid there. Most of the supposedly worked stone looks like other natural formations I've seen, the so-called "secret tunnels" could be from any era, and the few examples of obviously worked stone could just as easily be medieval. In fact, Byzantine records say there was a town here in the Middle Ages and it has not been found. The Bosnian pyramid team may be destroying a real archaeological site in order to create a fake one.

Continue reading Are there lost pyramids in Bosnia? Probably not.

Are there lost pyramids in Bosnia? Probably not. originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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training shuttle
It looks like the Space Shuttle, but it isn't. It's made of plywood, for one thing, and it can't fly.

Yet it's a piece of aeronautics history and will soon grace Seattle's Museum of Flight. This training shuttle, more properly called the Full Fuselage Trainer, is a full-scale mockup that astronauts have used for practice since the 1970s. The museum originally hoped to get one of the four actual Space Shuttles, but those went to other museums. The advantage of the training shuttle, however, is that visitors will be able to climb aboard and get a feel of what it must have been like to go on a mission.

The shuttle will be flown to Seattle in five segments starting in May and should be open to the public sometime in June, the Seattle Times reports.

The Space Shuttles are going to four different museums. The Atlantis will go to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center in Florida. The Endeavour will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Discovery is earmarked for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia. The Smithsonian will transfer the shuttle prototype Enterprise to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Training shuttle to be displayed in Seattle's Museum of Flight originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aeronauticsengineeringengineering newsEngineeringNewsFull Fuselage TrainerFullFuselageTrainermuseummuseum newsMuseum of FlightMuseumNewsMuseumOfFlightmuseumsNASAsciencescience newsScienceNewsSeattleSeattles Museum of FlightSeattlesMuseumOfFlightspacespace flightSpace ShuttleSpace Shuttlesspace travelSpaceFlightSpaceShuttleSpaceShuttlesSpaceTraveltraining shuttleTrainingShuttleWashingtonSun, 22 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rescuing wildlife in Namibia]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/21/rescuing-wildlife-in-namibia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/21/rescuing-wildlife-in-namibia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/21/rescuing-wildlife-in-namibia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Namibia
While 2011 has been a bad year for African wildlife, a foundation in Namibia is making a difference.

The N/a'an ku sê Foundation, which runs a wildlife sanctuary in Namibia, announced its best year to date, the Namibian reports. Last year the Foundation rescued, rehabilitated and re-released several animals, including five cheetahs, two leopards, one brown hyena, two caracals and one serval. It also rescued and cared for numerous other animals.

The Foundation was started by Namibian conservationists in 2006. Located near the capital Windhoek, the wildlife reserve relies on donations to survive and is open to volunteers, in case you want to have an adventure vacation that makes a difference. A wildlife sanctuary cares for injured or orphaned animals that can't be released back into the wild. For some luxury travel, you can also stay at their lodge.

The main goal of the foundation is to find the best way for wildlife and humans to share the same land. Africa's population is steadily growing, putting ever more pressure on wildlife. Yet wildlife is an economic boon to Africa, bringing in hard currency from tourism. The Foundation also provides primary education and healthcare to the San Bushmen and employs several to work with guests and the animals.


Photo courtesy Claire Wormley.

Rescuing wildlife in Namibia originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British pubThe figures are in for 2011 and it's more bad news for the British pub. An average of 14 a week shut down, and Oxfordshire alone lost 35 this past year.

The pub is an institution. More than just a place to drink real ale, it's a place to see friends, get out of the house, do the pub quiz, and watch football.

My family and I spend every Easter and summer in Oxford, and while we aren't big drinkers, the pub is one of our regular destinations. Our local is The Fir Tree, which has a great Sunday roast and friendly atmosphere. They even allow well-behaved children like my son.

When I'm in Oxford I'm usually researching in the Bodleian Library. After a few hours of poring over old manuscripts I need a break, so I head across the street to The White Horse, familiar to Inspector Morse fans as Morse's favorite watering hole. Usually I bump into several other researchers there and The White Horse has been unofficially designated the Bodleian Library slack-off pub!

British pubs are an institution, now under threat from a number of factors. High beer taxes make a night out expensive, and cut-rate supermarket booze is drawing many drinkers away. Also, the demographic of many neighborhoods is changing, with some areas filling up with immigrants who don't drink, or who at least don't drink in public.

It's a shame so many pubs are disappearing but I don't really see how that trend is going to be reversed. The government isn't about the lower taxes, and the economic crisis is making more people stay home. If you're coming to this part of the world, however, make sure to visit some pubs. You'll find a genial atmosphere, good drinks, historic buildings, and interesting local tales. The White Horse is more than 300 years old and during renovations a "witch's broom" was found in the rafters. Nobody would touch it so it was boarded up and is still there. Other pubs have stories too, including ghosts, visits by royalty, and of course acting as backdrops to movies and TV.

So go drink at a pub. Saving a cultural icon has never been so much fun.

Photo courtesy flickr user calflier001.

Is the British pub an endangered species? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerBodleianBodleian libraryBodleianLibraryBritish foodBritish pubBritish pubsBritishFoodBritishPubBritishPubsdrinkingEnglandEnglish foodEnglishFoodOxfordoxford universityOxfordUniversitypubpubsreal aleRealAlesunday roastSundayRoastThu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Henry Ford Museum to unveil new exhibition of classic cars]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/henry-ford-museum-to-unveil-new-exhibition-of-classic-cars/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/henry-ford-museum-to-unveil-new-exhibition-of-classic-cars/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/henry-ford-museum-to-unveil-new-exhibition-of-classic-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Henry Ford Museum
Workers at the Henry Ford Museum are busy setting up a major new exhibition of 130 historically significant cars and trucks.

Driving America opens on January 29 and focuses on the effect of the automobile on American culture through interactive touchscreen displays, artifacts, and personal accounts. There's even a mobile diner from 1946 that will be serving classic American diner food.

Of course it's the cars that are the main attraction. Ranging from the 1890s to the early 2000s, they include numerous innovative designs such as the Model T, the 1907 Rocket Stanley Steamer, and the 1973 Chrysler Newport, which at 19 feet long makes it look like a tank next to some of the miniature cars of today. Driving America doesn't just look at Ford products; several cars are on loan from other collections and include rival companies such as Honda.

For more on the Henry Ford Museum, check out this article by Gadling's very own Paul Brady.

Steamer photo courtesy Richard H. LeSesne.

Henry Ford Museum to unveil new exhibition of classic cars originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tourists killed, AfarFive tourists have been shot dead in Ethiopia's northern Afar region, the BBC reports.

Ethiopian State TV announced that the tourists were killed late on Monday by gunmen who had crossed over the border from Eritrea. It said they were part of an Afar rebel group trained by Eritrea.

The names and nationalities of the tourists were not released. Two other tourists were injured and are now in hospital. Another tourist escaped unharmed. The attack occurred near the active volcano Erta Ale, shown below in a photo courtesy Jean Filippo.

Details of the incident are still unclear. Al-Jazeera reports the attack happened at 5am Tuesday and that in addition to those killed, four people, including two tourists, were taken captive. Eritrea rejects the claim that they sponsored the gunmen.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a war from 1998 to 2000 and have never formally declared peace. Ethiopia says Eritrea backs numerous Ethiopian rebel groups in an attempt to destabilize Ethiopia. In 2009, the UN imposed sanctions on Eritrea for supporting Islamist rebels in Somalia and Ethiopia's Somali region. Ethiopia's border with Eritrea is heavily guarded, as I myself saw when I was there. The border region is also home to numerous large camps filled with Eritrean refugees fleeing what they say is an oppressive regime back home.

The Afar region attracts a steady stream of adventure travelers because of its rugged landscape and the reputation of being one of the hottest places on the planet. It has always been considered a lawless region and some Ethiopian tour operators I know refuse to go there.

This sad incident may have an adverse effect on Ethiopia's growing tourist industry. This industry is bringing much-needed hard currency and foreign investment into the country and employs an increasing number of people. I have spent four months in the country, doing a road trip through northern Ethiopia and living in Harar, and never experienced any problems. Adventure travelers need to remember, however, that the level of safety in some nations varies widely depending on the region.

Map courtesy Dr. Blofeld.

tourists killed, Afar

Tourists killed in Afar Region, Ethiopia originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure destinationsadventure traveladventure travelsadventure vacationAdventure VacationsAdventureDestinationsadventuresAdventureTravelAdventureTravelsAdventureVacationAdventureVacationsAfarEritreaEthiopiaEthiopia tourismEthiopia travelEthiopiaTourismEthiopiaTraveltourists killedtourists killed in EthiopiaTouristsKilledTouristsKilledInEthiopiatoursits killedToursitsKilledtravel safetyTravelSafetyWed, 18 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[America's baddest badlands]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/americas-baddest-badlands/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/americas-baddest-badlands/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/americas-baddest-badlands/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

badlands, Death Valley
One of the greatest things about the United States is its environmental diversity. From towering forests of pine to sun-hammered deserts, from snowy peaks to steaming swamps, this nation has it all.

Some of the most compelling places are also the harshest. Take this view of the sand dunes of Death Valley, taken by talented photographer John Bruckman. This is the worst part of the Mojave Desert--lower, hotter, and drier than any other spot in the country, yet it has a subtle beauty this image captures so well. With the majority of us living in cities or suburbs, these open, empty spaces call out to us.

They certainly do to me. When I moved from the leafy upstate New York to southern Arizona for university, I discovered what people really mean when they talk about America's wide open spaces. They set you free, and they can kill you if you're not prepared, yet somehow their deadliness only adds to the feeling of freedom.

America's badlands remind us that life can cling to even the bleakest of landscapes, that the empty places can sometimes be those most worth visiting.

Gallery: America the bleak and beautiful

Lava field, Volcano National Park, HawaiiBadlands National Park, South DakotaDeath ValleyWyoming badlandsYuma desert in winter,

America's baddest badlands originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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khat, qat
The Dutch government recently announced that it will ban the use of khat, a narcotic leaf widely chewed in the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

I've written about khat before. I've spent four months in Ethiopia, especially Harar, a city in the eastern part of the country where chewing khat (pronounced "chat" in the local languages) is part of many people's daily lives. It's a mild drug that makes most people more relaxed, mildly euphoric, and talkative. It also helps concentration and is popular among university students.

Of course there are side effects. Short-term effects include sleeplessness, constipation, and for some people a listlessness that keeps them from achieving their potential. Long-term use can lead to mental instability and heart trouble. I met one western researcher in Harar who had been there two years. He'd stopped using khat after the first few months because he was afraid of the long-term effects. If I lived in Harar that long I'd stop chewing khat for that very reason.

So the Dutch government seems to have a good reason to ban khat. Or does it? This is a country where marijuana, hash, herbal ecstasy, and psychedelic truffles are all legal. And if we're talking about long-term health effects, we need to throw in alcohol and tobacco too.

So what's different about khat? It's almost exclusively used by the Dutch Somali community, numbering about 25,000 people. According to the BBC, "a Dutch government report cited noise, litter and the perceived public threat posed by men who chew khat as some of the reasons for outlawing the drug."

Drunks aren't noisy? Cigarette smokers never litter? The last reason is the most telling: "the perceived public threat posed by men who chew khat." In other words, black men. In Europe, khat is a black drug, little understood and rarely used by the white population. This ignorance and the fear it generates are the real reasons khat is being banned.

While there are some valid health and social reasons for banning this narcotic plant, they also apply to the narcotic plants white people like to use. But we can't expect white people in The Netherlands to give up those, can we?

Gallery: The Khat culture

Chat field in EthiopiaEdge of a harvested chat fieldA chat dealer on the streets of HargeisaChat leaves up closeEating chat in a roadside chat house

Opinion: Dutch khat ban smacks of racism originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AfricaAfrican immigrantsAfricanImmigrantsAfricans in EuropeAfricanSafariAfricansInEuropeblackblack menblack peopleBlackMenBlackPeopleblackscrimecrimesdrugdrug newsDrugNewsdrugsDutchDutch khat banDutch qat banDutchKhatBanDutchQatBanEthiopiaHararHollandimmigrantsimmigrationimmigration issuesImmigrationIssueskhatkhat banKhatBanlegal highlegal highsLegalHighLegalHighsnarcoticnarcoticsNetherlandsopinionopinion-pieceqatqat banQatBanracismracistracistsSomaliSomali cultureSomaliCultureSomalisThe NetherlandsTheNetherlandsMon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five overlooked attractions in London]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/five-overlooked-attractions-in-london/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/five-overlooked-attractions-in-london/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/five-overlooked-attractions-in-london/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


London is full of great places to see. No matter what your interests are, this city has something for you. In fact it has so much there are some incredible attractions that are overlooked by the majority of visitors. Here are five you might want to visit.

Kew Bridge Steam Museum
The Kew Bridge Pumping Station, built in 1838, once supplied water and power to London through massive steam engines. The British were early masters of turning water into power by heating it into steam. This unusual museum shows how it was done, as well as the immense variety of machines built to power the Industrial Revolution. Only selected machines still work, and only on weekends, when they puff away as if they're still powering the Empire. There are special days when additional machines are started up. They're all quite loud with massive moving parts, making them popular with kids. Check out the schedule here.

The Wapping Project
This is a unique art space in London and a personal favorite. Set in a converted power station like the Tate Modern, it differs from that more famous art space in that the curators left most of the machinery intact. This lends the building a ghostly atmosphere and a postindustrial charm. A succession of top artists have done a great job adapting their work to the surroundings. There's also a good restaurant onsite. Check out their webpage here.

Jewel Tower
This stone tower is one of the few surviving parts of the medieval palace of Westminster and dates to around 1365. Outside you can still see part of the original moat. The ground floor is the best preserved, with an original vaulted ceiling and sculpted bosses. Originally the clerk's office, it's now a cafe and gift shop. The first floor contains an informative history of Parliament that's helpful to read before visiting the Houses of Parliament across the street. The second floor covers the history of Jewel Tower, beginning with its construction by Edward II to hold his personal wealth. The Crown Jewels were, and still are, held in the Tower of London since they're the property of the kingdom. The website is here.

Gallery: Overlooked attractions in London

Deer at Richmond ParkRichmond ParkExhibition in front of The Wapping Project back in 2007Restaurant at The Wapping ProjectJewel Tower

Continue reading Five overlooked attractions in London

Five overlooked attractions in London originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dental historydental museumDentalHistoryDentalMuseumEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelhidden londonHiddenLondonJewel TowerJewelTowerKew Bridge Steam MuseumKewBridgeSteamMuseumLondonLondon attractionsLondon museumsLondon outdoorslondon parksLondon sightsLondon tourismLondon travelLondonAttractionsLondonMuseumsLondonOutdoorsLondonParksLondonSightsLondonTourismLondonTravelmedical historyMedicalHistorymuseummuseumsoverlooked londonOverlookedLondonRichmond parkRichmondParksteam enginesteam enginessteam powerSteamEngineSteamEnginesSteamPowerThe Wapping ProjectTheWappingProjectWappingMon, 16 Jan 2012 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Prague's astronomical clock gets a makeover]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/15/pragues-astronomical-clock-gets-a-makeover/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/15/pragues-astronomical-clock-gets-a-makeover/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/15/pragues-astronomical-clock-gets-a-makeover/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The famous astronomical clock that is Prague's most popular tourist attraction has lost some star players for the next two months. The four outside figures, including a skeletal Death, have been removed and are being repainted to protect them from the elements.

The clock was built in 1410 and is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world. Dials show the position Moon, position of the Sun on the zodiac, and other astronomical events. Every hour there's a parade of painted figures representing the 12 Apostles. Four other figures, representing vanity, greed, death, and pleasure, stand outside. As the bells chime the hours and the Apostles do their walk, Death shakes an hourglass to remind you that everything is transitory.

It's quite a show, as you can see from this video by the folks at In Your Pocket: Essential City Guides. They have a free downloadable guide to Prague and many other cities on their website.

The clock will continue to function as the four figures are repainted. Legend has it that if the clock stops, disaster will strike the city.

Prague's astronomical clock gets a makeover originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LondonThe Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art is one of London's best small art museums. Housed in an elegant Georgian mansion on a quiet street in the London borough of Islington, it has the best collection of modern Italian art in the city and perhaps the nation.

Its latest exhibition is Alberto Burri: Form and Matter, a retrospective of one of the leading Italian figures in modern art. Burri (1915-1995) started painting while interned in Texas as a prisoner of war during WWII. By the 1950s he was experimenting with common materials such as sacking, plastic, and tar, breaking out of the two-dimensions dictated by traditional painting.

His effect on modern art was huge and spawned many imitators. This exhibition brings together works from a number of museums and rarely seen examples from private collections. Aficionados of modern art won't want to miss this one.

Alberto Burri: Form and Matter runs until April 7.

Photo courtesy Alex Sarteanesi.

London's Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art opens Alberto Burri retrospective originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alberto BurriAlbertoBurriartart historyart in Londonart newsArtHistoryArtInLondonArtNewsEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelEstorick Collection of Modern Italian ArtEstorickCollectionOfModernItalianArtislingtonItalianItalian artItalian artistItalian artistsItalianArtItalianArtistItalianArtistsItalyLondonLondon museumsLondon musuemLondon tourismLondon travelLondonMuseumsLondonMusuemLondonTourismLondonTravelmodern artModernArtmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsSun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metropolitan Museum of Art to reopen American Wing after $100 million remodel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/14/metropolitan-museum-of-art-to-reopen-american-wing-after-100-mi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/14/metropolitan-museum-of-art-to-reopen-american-wing-after-100-mi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/14/metropolitan-museum-of-art-to-reopen-american-wing-after-100-mi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is famous for its impressive collection of American art, including iconic images such as Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. Now that collection has a larger, better designed home thanks to a $100 million renovation.

The New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts open Jan. 16 and total 30,000 square feet of exhibition space, which is 3,300 more than previously. It houses American art from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries and provides better lighting and access than the previous galleries.

Besides Leutze's work, which has been given a new gilded frame, the collection is a who's who of American art, including painters such a John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, and Frederic Remington. Cole's painting View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm-The Oxbow is also on display and is shown below. There's also a large folk art collection, historic furniture, and work by important silversmiths such as Paul Revere.

Paintings by Emanuel Leutze and Thomas Cole courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Metropolitan Musuem of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art to reopen American Wing after $100 million remodel originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British Museum
Travelers to London this year will want to stop by the British Museum. Not only is it one of the top museums in the world, with huge collections from the Classical, Egyptian, Medieval, and pretty much every other period, it also hosts several temporary exhibitions every year. As a regular visitor to London I always make sure to see as many of these exhibitions as I can.

The first is Hajj: Journey to the heart of Islam (January 26-April 13). This show examines the pilgrimage to Mecca that is required of all Muslims. It looks at the major pilgrimage routes and how they've changed over time, how the Hajj is practiced today, and the city of Mecca itself. Historic artifacts are displayed next to contemporary artwork.

The Arabian theme will continue with The Horse: Ancient Arabia to the modern world (May 24-September 30). Having ridden Arabian horses, I have to say they're the noblest animals on the planet and I'll be sure to make it to this show to learn something of their origins. More than that, the exhibition looks at the horse's role in society and its influence on Middle Eastern and European history. Items from the museum collection as well as loaned items will be on display, including the four-horse chariot from the Oxus Treasure, 1st-2nd century AD representations of horses from the ancient caravan site of Qaryat al-Fau in Saudi Arabia, and hi-res panoramas of recently discovered rock drawings of horses.

Shakespeare: staging the world (July 19-November 25) is bound to attract many of the Olympic visitors. The exhibition will look at how London was becoming a major world city during Shakespeare's time. The British Museum has collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the exhibition's design in order to accentuate the connections between the objects, Shakespeare's writing, and performance.

One gallery I've always liked is the money gallery with its huge coin and paper currency collection. It's often overlooked by visitors who only want to see mummies. Not surprising, considering how incredible the museum's Egyptian galleries are. Now the gallery is being completely refurbished and reopening as the Citi Money Gallery in June 2012. It will look at the story of money from prehistory to the present. The museum says, "themes include the authority behind money, and the uses and abuses of it." Sounds more relevant than mummies.

Gallery: British Museum Temporary Exhibitions 2012

Magnetism, by Ahmed Mater (b. 1979). Photogravure etching, 2011The Lyte JewelNeo-Assyrian carved limestone relief featuring the heads and foreparts of three horses drawing a chariot with reins, hands of chOne of Picasso's Vollard Suite of engravingsAnother engraving from the Vollard Suite

Continue reading The British Museum has great lineup for 2012

The British Museum has great lineup for 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArabianArabian horsesArabianHorsesarchaeologyarcheologyartart newsArtNewsBloomsburyBritish MuseumBritishMuseumEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelHajjLondonLondon 2012london 2012 olympicsLondon tourismLondon travelLondon2012London2012OlympicsLondonTourismLondonTravelmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsOlympicsShakespeareThu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[National Gallery in Budapest exhibits art of epic Hungarian history]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/national-gallery-in-budapest-exhibits-art-of-epic-hungarian-hist/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/national-gallery-in-budapest-exhibits-art-of-epic-hungarian-hist/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/national-gallery-in-budapest-exhibits-art-of-epic-hungarian-hist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Budapest
The Hungarian capital of Budapest is a popular destination for those who love high art and culture. Its sumptuous National Gallery is famed across Europe, and now it's putting on a new exhibition highlighting the nation's history.

Heroes, Kings, Saints - Pictures and Memories of Hungarian History brings together some of the masterpieces of 19th century Hungarian painting. This was a high point in Hungarian art and a time when artists looked to the past for inspiration. Several rarely seen works of art will be on display, including Conquest (The entry of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin) painted by Mihály Munkácsy in in 1893 for the Hungarian parliament.

Part of this epic painting is shown above, courtesy Marta Pataki. The original is 15 meters (49 feet) long.

The exhibition was opened this week by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The exhibition marks Hungary's new constitution, which came into effect at the beginning of the year. An article in the Guardian notes that while Orbán was opening the exhibit, thousands demonstrated outside the gallery against what they say are his increasingly authoritarian tendencies and the new Constitution's granting of more power to the executive.

With the nation so deep in crisis, Orbán's every move, even appearing at a gallery opening, are subject to public comment.

Heroes, Kings, Saints - Pictures and Memories of Hungarian History runs until August 26.

National Gallery in Budapest exhibits art of epic Hungarian history originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart historyart newsArtHistoryArtNewsBudapestcultureHungarian artHUngarian paintersHungarianArtHungarianPaintersHungaryHungary TravelHungaryTravelmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsOrbanpaintingpoliticsViktatorViktor OrbanViktorOrbanWed, 11 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Should Greece lease the Acropolis?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/should-greece-lease-the-acropolis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/should-greece-lease-the-acropolis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/should-greece-lease-the-acropolis/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

lease the Acropolis
Greece has been hit hard by the recession. According to EU figures, it has 18.8 percent unemployment, the second highest in Europe and more than twice that of the United States. Last year it saw its economy shrink by 5.5 percent.

Now former deputy health minister Gerasimos Giakoumatos has suggested a controversial plan to get Greece some quick cash--lease the Acropolis and other famous sights. According to the China Daily, Giakoumatos, who is a minister of parliament and a member of the conservative New Democracy party, said the move would save Greece from bankruptcy.

He said there's no shame in leasing out Greece's heritage, and that the real shame is that regular protests against austerity measures keep shutting the sites down. Giakoumatos said the money could go to save the government from having to slash pensions and wages.

Even with the current economic woes, tourism accounts for 18 percent of the country's GDP and is worth tens of millions of euros each month. While Giakoumatos' suggestion carries no weight of law, it may be given some consideration because of the huge amount of money that could be earned.

What do you think of a nation leasing out its heritage in times of trouble? Tell us what you think in the poll and comments section!

Photo courtesy Roger Wollstadt.

View Poll

Should Greece lease the Acropolis? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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