Soţii Shajjad şi Katie Rizvi, fondatorii Asociaţiei “Little People”, un ONG care sprijină pacienţii care suferă de cancer şi familiile acestora, şi Clubul Temerarii se află pe primul loc printre lucrurile apreciate de ambasadorul britanic Martin Harris, potrivit unei postări publicată, luni, pe blogul său.

Pe locul al doilea se află mănăstirile, în special Putna, Voroneţ, Horezu, Bistriţa şi Schitul Darvari din Bucureşti. Pe poziţia a treia se află copii “fabulos de talentaţi” de la Şcoala 136 din Ferentari, urmaţi de proiectul “Fiecare copil în grădiniţă” din Podari, judeţul Dolj şi de peisajele din România.

Pe listă se află şi “oamenii însetaţi de justiţie”, ambasadorul postând o fotografie în care apare împreună cu Livia Doina Stanciu, preşedintele Înaltei Curţi de Casaţie şi Justiţie.

Proiectul dedicat romilor din Frumuşani, Festivalul Enescu, balerinii români şi ciorba de burtă completează lucrurile preferate de Martin Harris din România.

Martin Harris i-a prezentat scrisorile de acreditare preşedintelui Traian Băsescu la 2 septembrie 2010. Diplomatul şi-a încheiat mandatul de ambasador în România săptămâna trecută, Esther Blythe preluând funcţia de însărcinat cu afaceri în perioada aprilie-august.

Paul Brummell a fost numit în vara lui 2013 ambasador al Marii Britanii în România, funcţia urmând să fie preluată în august 2014.

sursa: romania libera

Foto: (c) Gina ȘTEFAN/AGERPRES FLUX

Șeful Serviciului Turism de la Salina Praid, Ilie Colorian, a declarat că incinta ștrandului are o suprafață de 5.200 de metri pătrați, din care luciu de apă este de 1.942 de metri pătrați.

Copiii au la dispoziție două bazine, cu adâncime cuprinsă între 60 cm și 1,20 m, după care urmează o zonă de trecere pe sub un podeț, de un metru adâncime și se intră apoi în bazinul pentru adulți, care are o adâncime a apei cuprinsă între 1,20 — 1,60 m, acestea fiind interconectate.

Foto: (c) Gina ȘTEFAN/AGERPRES FLUX

Potrivit lui Ilie Colorian, este vorba de cel mai mare ștrand cu apă sărată din România, cu o concentrație foarte mare a sării, de 220 miligrame pe litru, apa fiind indicată pentru tratarea afecțiunilor reumatice.

Lucrările efective de construcție au început în luna aprilie 2013 și s-au finalizat la 1 iunie 2014, valoarea investiției fiind de 1,5 milioane de euro, cea mai mare făcută vreodată în domeniul turismului de Societatea Națională a Sării.

”Avem 300 de locuri pe șezlonguri care sunt deja amplasate pe zonele de plajă, restaurant cu autoservire, două baruri exterioare, unul la parter, unul la primul nivel, și un bar în piscină. Zonă de plajă amplasată pe parter și pe etaj. Capacitatea totală este de 520 de locuri. Avem 40 de angajați, ștrandul dispunând de salvamari și de personal medical”, a explicat șeful Serviciului de Turism al Salinei Praid.

Foto: (c) Gina ȘTEFAN/AGERPRES FLUX

Sâmbătă, înainte de inaugurarea oficială, intrarea la ștrand a fost liberă pentru toți cei care au dorit să se relaxeze, aproximativ 300 de persoane fiind prezente în incintă.

”Urmărim de câteva săptămâni pe Internet ca să vedem când se deschide ștrandul și astăzi am venit, vă spun, sincer, din curiozitate. E foarte frumos, ne place, apa este mult mai sărată decât în alte locuri din țară și sigur mai venim aici”, a spus o familie de turiști din Piatra Neamț.

Ștrandul cu apă sărată de la Praid face parte dintr-un program mai amplu al salinei din localitate privind dezvoltarea turismului.

Seprodi Zoltan, directorul Salinei Praid
Foto: (c) Gina ȘTEFAN/AGERPRES FLUX

Directorul Salinei Praid, Seprodi Zoltan, a spus că există deja un studiu de fezabilitate pentru construirea unui hotel de patru stele, dar se dorește și amenajarea unei zone de camping și separarea, în subteran, a zonei de distracție de cea destinată bolnavilor care vin pentru tratarea diferitelor probleme respiratorii.

Seprodi Zoltan susține, însă, că pentru realizarea acestor obiective este nevoie și de voință politică.

”Pentru asta este nevoie de voință politică, fiindcă nu trebuie să uităm că 51% aparținem statului și bineînțeles ei ne pot sprijini, pot avea încredere în studiile de fezabilitate pe care le-am făcut și trebuie susținute asemenea investiții. Doar hotelul ar costa în jur de 15 milioane de euro. Aici, Consiliul de Administrație mi-a pus două condiții majore, să intre și un privat în afacere (…) și să obținem și fonduri europene. Deci, trebuie întărită colaborarea și în domeniu privat”, a conchis Seprodi Zoltan.

Salina Praid
Foto: (c) MIircea ROȘCA/AGERPRES FLUX

Începuturile Salinei Praid datează încă din epoca romană. În comuna Praid se află și “Muntele de Sare”, o rezervație geologică inclusă în zonele naturale protejate de interes național, care are aproximativ 60 de hectare și unde cresc plante extrem de rare, unele unice în România.

AGERPRES/(A, AS — autor: Gina Ștefan, editor: Georgiana Tănăsescu)

Foto: (c) ALEX TUDOR/AGERPRES ARHIVĂ

Potrivit unui comunicat al Ambasadei Italiei la București, distincția îi va fi oferită din partea președintelui Italiei, Giorgio Napolitano, de către ambasadorul Italiei în România, Diego Brasioli, momentul făcând parte din concertul prin care se celebrează preluarea de către Italia a Președinției rotative a Consiliului European.

Alexandru Tomescu va interpreta Concertul nr. 2 de Niccolo Paganini pentru vioară și orchestră, miercuri, la Ateneul Român sub bagheta dirijorului Gian Luigi Zampieri, în cadrul unui program alcătuit exclusiv din lucrări semnate de compozitori italieni.

Cu ocazia concertului de inaugurare a președinției italiene a Consiliului Uniunii Europene, Ambasada Italiei dorește să reamintească activitatea organizației “Hope and Homes for Children” care de 15 ani se implică în susținerea copiilor defavorizați din România. Peste 24.000 de copii au fost sprijiniți de această fundație care le-a redat o casă și o familie.

Legătura dintre Alexandru Tomescu și cultura italiană este una strânsă și datează de mult timp.

În 1995, Alexandru Tomescu a câștigat Concursul Internațional “Niccolo Paganini” de la Genova, Italia, de-a lungul anilor violonistul consacrând multe ore de studiu diferiților compozitori italieni, totul culminând cu proiectul “Paganini — înger sau demon” prezentat în Turneul Național Stradivarius din 2011, când cele 24 de Capricii de Paganini — cântate fără întrerupere — au fost combinate cu scurt metraje.

Totodată, versiunea oferită de Alexandru Tomescu Concertului nr. 2 de Niccolo Paganini se regăsește pe o înregistrare recomandată de prestigioasa revistă Classica (Franța) la rubrica “Descoperirea lunii” în 1999.

AGERPRES/(AS — autor: Daniel Popescu, editor: Florin Marin)

Foto: www.sothebys.com

Pictorul, originar din Cluj, era deja un hit la nivel mondial, scrie Coline Milliard, semnatara unui articol despre această licitație, publicat pe portalul citat, dedicat artei.

Zvonurile — scrie artnet.com — susțin că numeroși consultanți în domeniul artei au cerșit la ușile Galerie Judin (dealerul său din Berlin) la ultima expoziție a acestuia, în speranța de a obține o lucrare care pentru mulți a rămas dincolo de posibilități.

Deși lucrările sale sunt expuse la Centrul “Georges Pompidou”, iar magnatul și colecționarul francez François Pinault se numără printre fani, vânzarea tabloului pentru suma de 1,42 de milioane de lire sterline — față de o estimare maximă de 350.000 de lire — îl plasează pe Ghenie într-o ligă total diferită, crede artnet.com.

Licitațiile de seară de artă contemporană sunt dedicate doar unui grup restrâns de artiști foarte rentabili, însă evenimentul de luni a dovedit că Ghenie ar putea foarte bine deveni unul dintre aceștia, notează portalul.

La aceeași licitație, un triptic rar, semnat de Francis Bacon, alcătuit din portrete ale iubitului acestuia, George Dyer, a fost vândut pentru suma de 26,7 milioane de lire sterline.

AGERPRES / (AS — autor: Ana Bîgu, editor: Mariana Ionescu)

Formidable stone bulwarks and soaring medieval keeps, romantic palaces and regal mansion homes that ooze with opulence from every nook and cranny; the castles of the world are so varied in their appearance and character that finding the best ones can be a daunting task for any traveler. Amidst the web of England’s old hilltop rises, France’s majestic country châteaux, Germany’s sprawling Gothic palaces, Canada’s revival-style hotels and America’s high-society retreats, there’s an endless map of them to explore.

Here’s a list of Hopper’s top ten castles, which we recommend no self-respecting history buff, architecture-lover or castle enthusiast should miss as they pass across the globe.

10. Step into classic American aristocracy at the richly adorned Hearst Castle in California

Hearst Castle, by pandaposse.

The Hearst Castle is also on Hopper’s list of 5 great stops between Los Angeles and San Francisco

Sprawled over more than 8,000 square meters on the Santa Lucia Mountains, midway between the cities of San Francisco and LA, this great complex of Mediterranean Revival architecture, Romanesque pools, neo-classical halls and majestic living spaces offers visitors a glimpse of 1950s American high society as well as an unadulterated panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. It was once the home of William Randolph Hearst, who subsequently bequeathed the castle to the State of California, opening up the grounds and grand upper rooms to tour groups and guests from across the globe.

9. Heidelberg Castle: the renaissance gem of Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Heidelberg Castle, by huskyte77.

Find tips from Hopper on how to fly to Frankfurt on the cheap

Nestled amidst the verdant hills of Baden-Württemberg and crowning the great old town of medieval Heidelberg, this sprawling German schloss is another of the country’s most remarkable romantic sights. Today visitors are invited to wander amidst the endless ruins and pretty gardens that lay between the bulwarks, surveying the old keep and scaling the parapets that overlook the city. Inside, great collections of German art and treasures from Heidelberg’s golden age remain, while some of the ruined sections of the original outer fortifications are strewn across the grounds, remnants from when the castle was destroyed by a lightning-bolt in 1764.

8. Endless gardens to explore at the Château et jardins de Villandry in France

Château et jardins de Villandry, by moutoons.

To the north, Normandy is another great region to explore in France

Since its construction in the late Renaissance, the Chateau et Jardins de Villandry has seen some towering figures of European history pass through its elegant hallways. Once the home of France’s formidable Le Breton family, the property passed into the hands of Napoleon himself after 1789, finally becoming the property of the emperor’s own brother Jerome. But historical luminaries aside, the real pull of the Chateau et Jardins de Villandry is its sprawling grounds; a patchwork of labyrinthine mazes and blooming flower gardens that seemingly go on forever!

7. Norman keeps and Victorian high society at Cardiff Castle in Wales

Cardiff Castle, by BoyDisappearing.

Take a closer look with Hopper’s list of the 5 best castles in Wales

Situated right in the heart of Cardiff city center, this sprawling fortification and regal manor house is one of the most defining monuments of Wales’ capital city. Inside the newer outer walls, the original Norman keep and moat can be seen towards the northern end, while subsequent additions in the 15th, 16th and later 18th century, gave rise to the larger lodging rooms that now cluster around the west and south gates. Today, daily tours take visitors through the regal rooms of the Victorian manor house, across the original lines of the Roman fort, and into the ruined Norman keep of the 11th century.

6. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City is North America’s most romantic (and photogenic) hotel

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, by archer10.

Don’t miss our ranking of Canada’s top 5 castles

Canada’s answer to Bavarian Neuschwanstein remains one of the most dramatic sights in all of Quebec City. It towers high above the town, a dominating mix of gothic turrets, fairy-tale spires and dramatic buildings. Since its construction in the late 19th century, Chateau Frontenac has stayed true to its purpose, serving travellers to Quebec with luxurious accommodation in the heart of town. In the process the building has gained National Historic status, appeared in Hitchcock movies and is widely known as the most photographed hotel on the planet!

5. Visit Scotland’s greatest landmark at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, by zoetnet.

Some other Scottish castles were used as filming locations for ‘Downton Abbey’

The historical origins of Edinburgh’s formidable Castle on the rock are shrouded in mystery; it’s mentioned sporadically in the epic poems of the 6th century, popping up in the regional annals occasionally, before finally coming to the fore of Scottish history when Edinburgh established itself as the seat of monarchic power in the 12th century. Today visitors can wander up to the castle at the end of the Royal Mile, pass through the Portcullis Gate amidst the honorific statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace, and tour the various fortifications that have stood here for so many centuries.

4. Legends abound at the Blarney Castle in Ireland

Blarney Castle, by djwtwo.

Blarney is one of the five best castles to visit in Ireland

One of the most-visited sites in southern Ireland is also one of the country’s most pristine examples of medieval fortification. Standing stark and formidable in the heart of the Blarney grounds, the great Muskerry keep and adjoining towers shoulder their way above the oak tree canopy, casting their shadow over the mysterious rock formations of the Druid’s Circle and Witch’s Cave. But Blarney’s real pull comes from its uppermost bulwark, where the legendary Blarney Stone now hangs awkwardly some distance from the ground. Don’t leave without giving it a kiss, for it’s said the stone endows those who do with the gift of the gab!

3. UNESCO heritage in the north of England at Durham Castle

Durham Castle, by mrgarethm.

See the other English castles that Hopper recommends to visitors

Once a bastion of English defence in the north, the original structures of Durham Castle were first erected at the command of William the Conqueror in the late 11th century. These quickly developed into a complex of stone fortifications and formidable battlements, with the great hexagonal keep on the crest of the hill coming to dominate the old town centre. Today, the site enjoys UNESCO status and is famed for its fantastic level of preservation, long history and undeniable architectural beauty.

2. Discover a relic of Romania’s past at the Fagaras Citadel

Fagaras Citadel, by Antoine 49.

Situated right in the heart of central Romania, the Fagaras fortress in the town of the same name represents one of Eastern Europe’s largest and best-preserved feudal Castle complexes. Unquestionably the most-visited site in the medieval old town of the city, the castle was once the kingpin of regional power. Throughout the 17th century, the citadel was expanded continuously, reflecting the growing wealth of a centre that exercised control over much of Transylvania and central Romania.

1. High Romanticism at the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle, by – peperoni –.

Besides the castles, the awesome beer is another great reason to visit Germany!

Hailed as one of the most romantic sights to behold the world over, the spires and turrets of Bavaria’s iconic Neuschwanstein Castle have soared above the village of Hohenschwangau since they were first raised by the idealistic Ludwig II in 1892. For historians and artists the dramatic building has become synonymous with the Romantic movement of middle Europe, and it’s easy to see why. Those who behold the great panoramas of the Alpsee valley, or just the dramatic white walls of Neuschwanstein itself can often be whisked away into the fairytale world of a Wagnerian opera or a Disneyland of wizards, kings and mysterious legends that rarely fails to enrapture.

Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Photo credit (c): Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

The Tudor Vladimirescu paddle steamer is the only such boat operational in Europe. It was built in 1850-1853, at the Ganzdanubius shipyard, ordered by the DDSG Company of Austria that conducted trade in Wallachia and Moldavia and needed a powerful tug to cross the Danube Boilers. In 1919, the boat was given to Romania in war reparation. She was rechristened the Sarmisegetuza and converted to a passenger steamer travelling the Braila-Galati-Tulcea-Sulina route. In 2004, the boat was repaired and refurbished to modern standards by her owner, Navrom Galati. Her 600 hp steam-driven paddle system was kept in place.

‘It is just spectacular to passengers to watch through the glass walls of the main deck as the double expansion vertical cylinders mechanism operates, which ship experts call a technical gem. The system has been kept in place because it is still working perfectly, and the only change was the replacement of the fuel for the boilers; oil fuel was replaced with diesel fuel to remove the smoke that would be evacuated through the chimney and would have been an element of discomfort to passengers,’ says Navrom Galati Director Constantin Hartan.

The ship has two lounges, indoor and deck bars and she can take one hundred passengers aboard. Cruises are conducted for groups of tourists, and the fee for one hour’s march is 1,000 euros. Visitors aboard the Tudor Vladimirescu are proud to travel by a unique ship in Europe that also carried the likes of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria, kings Carol II and Mihai, marshals Averescu and Antonescu and during the communist period, the likes of USSR President Nikita Khrushchev, who was a guest of Romania’s President Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej.

In the footsteps of Gadhafi, Demirel and other guests of Ceausescu
Tourists as well as students of the Galati Navy High School have the chance of walking in the footsteps of the 1980s and 1990s potentates like Gadhafi and then Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. They can stay in the former official lounges, where members of the Warsaw Treaty once met the president of Malta. The Steaua Polara, pole star, the official boat of late Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, is now teaching material for Navy high school students as well as a tourist attraction.

Photo (c): Dan PAIC / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

The Pole Star was stuck for a long time in the Tulcea shipyard. For several years now, she has been floating without any zero degree missions. Few even know the history of the ship. She was manufactured in 1971 and was designed as a training ship for the Galati Navy High School. Fifteen years later, she became a secret official boat of Nicolae Ceausescu. It happened with the opening of the Danube — Black Sea Canal on May 26, 1984, when she was part of the official convoy alongside Navy ships.

‘Back then, security was tight here. We were operating as a training ship, but when the canal opened, we joined as an official boat. The furniture, tableware and flowers would come in from Constanta and the entire boat would change looks. When the distinguished guest left, everything would be taken away and returned for the next guest. Ceausescu would send to this boat the guests he did not want joining him aboard the Mircea cel Batran. He would travel in his ship ahead , followed by us and the guests and the navy ships bringing up the rear,’ says commander of the Pole Star for over 20 years Ion Cocleaza.

The boat can be rented to groups of tourists only when the Navy High School students are on vacation.

Moldavian sailboat Stefan cel Sfant
It is called a panzar because it is a small-scale replica of a real sailboat of Moldavia’s fleet under Stephen the Great. In those days, Moldavia’s sailboats would roam the Danube, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, to Italian ports and even Gibraltar. The ship is 17.6 m long and 5-m broad, with a draft of 1.5 m. Her displacement is 25 tons deadweight. The keel and ribs are made of oak plywood, the shell is made of larch wood, her deck of mahogany and teak and panelling is of luan plywood, which is very resistant to water.

Photo credit (c): Dan PAIC / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

The boat is powered by three sails of 30 square metres, 40 square metres and 45 square metres. In order to be allowed to sail under today’s conditions, the boat had to be fitted with modern equipment and installations. The boat is powered by a 70 HP diesel engine, with the 1.2 tonnes of fuel that can be stored aboard securing an autonomy of 1,200 nautical miles, more than 2000 km. The boat is now equipped with all the installations required for sailing by port authorities, including hydraulic steering, GPS navigational system, radar, radio station and a modern sonar for underground detection. She is a very safe boat. The company that built her, Spat SA Galati, tested her in a category 5 storm. There are eight berths and two restrooms aboard. Navigation is provided by a crew of four people. The boat can take 20 tourists. Ship owner is Galati County Council, via the Lower Danube Culture Centre. Her maiden cruise with tourists aboard was performed in June 2012, when a group of professors from a Paris university used her to travel on the Danube and the Prut. A 10-hour cruise by the Panzarul Modlovenesc sailboat cost 1,000 euros.

Catamaran cruises
The Vega catamaran is a high-speed boat that offers tourists a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, with music, refreshments, snacks and alcohol. The Vega is a last generation catamaran, 16.6 m long and 4.6 m broad. She is powered by two Yamaha engines and she can reach a top speed of 55 km/h, while the cruising speed is 30 km/h. She is also equipped with a satellite navigation system and sonar, and she can enter any canal in the Danube Delta. Regular two-hour trips by the Vega are conducted Monday to Friday from 18:00hrs, and Saturday and Sunday at 12:00hrs and 18:00hrs. The route is Galati — Braila, non-stop and the cost of such trips is 30 lei/person. At the weekend, the Vega Hotel managers also organise special one-hour-and-a-half trips called Galati City on the Danube that cost 25 lei/person, starting at 16:30hrs. The maximum capacity of the catamaran is 30 seats. Cruises are performed for a minimum of 20 passengers. Tickets are paid upon boarding. Children under five travel free if not occupying seats. At the request of groups of tourists, two-day trips to the Danube Delta are also offered, with the package including transport, accommodation and all-inclusive services.

AGERPRES