The Twelve Apostles in Australia, Victoria

 Australia - Victoria  Comments Off
Apr 022013
 

Introduction :
The Twelve Apostles lies along the coastline of the Great Ocean Road in Port Campbell National Park that is part of the state of Victoria in Australia. The Twelve Apostles are natural limestone stacks formed by erosion from the harsh weather conditions of the ocean that gradually eroded the limestone to form caves which then became arches and colllapsed into the sea leaving stacks as high as 45 metres.

The Twelve Apostles view from far
The Twelve Apostles view from far
Image attribution to Ricmik @ Wiki

Vegatation along the Great Ocean Road
Vegatation along the Great Ocean Road
Image attribution to rietje @ Flickr

Closer look at the stacks
Closer look at the stacks
Image attribution to mkuhn @ Flickr

Aerial view over the Twelve Apostles
Aerial view over the Twelve Apostles
Image attribution to lesliel @ Flickr

History :
The apostles were formerly known as Sow and Piglets by the locals until 1922 when it was renamed to the Twelve Apostles for tourism purposes despite only having nine stacks ever. The tallest stack which is 50 metres collapsed in 2005 leaving it with eight currently.

The Loch Ard Gorge
The Loch Ard Gorge
Image attribution to fransdewit @ Flickr

You can see it but you can't touch it
You can see it but you can’t touch it
Image attribution to wynnie @ Flickr

Helicopter view over the Loch Ard Gorge
Helicopter view over the Loch Ard Gorge
Image attribution to darijuss @ Flickr

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to the Twelve Apostles is the Melbourne Airport (MEL) which is around 230 km and 4 hours drive along the great ocean road to the attraction.

Bruges Historic City in Belgium, West Flanders

 Belgium - West Flanders  Comments Off
Mar 312013
 

Introduction :
Bruges is the capital and largest city in the West Flanders province of Belgium. Measuring an area of 138 square km, Bruges is a historical city center of Medieval Europe and a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO since year 2000. The city is oval in shape and is built on a canal based system and is one of the cities referred to as “The Venice of the North”. Bruges is a popular tourist attraction in Europe today and is famous for its charming historical houses and beautiful canals surrounding it.

The beautiful azure waters around the caves
The market square has hundreds of gift shops and lots of restaurants with good food
Image attribution to Michielverbeek @ Wiki

The Groenerei Canal
The Groenerei Canal
Image attribution to Jean Christophe @ Wiki

The Kruispoort Gateway
The Kruispoort Gateway
Image attribution to Wolfgang Staudt @ Flickr

The Beguinage of Bruges
The Beguinage of Bruges
Image attribution to ser_is_snarkish @ Flickr

Some attractions :
Historic center of Bruges – World Heritage Site area where you can walk on foot and enjoy the beautiful medieval buildings around it.

Basilica of the Holy Blood – Built in the 12th century and houses the venerated relic of the holy blood believed to be collected by Joseph of Arimathea.

The Markt – A square in the central of the town and home to hundreds of gift shops and lots of restaurants.

Minnewater Lake – A beautiful and quiet place to relax with its scenic surroundings

Groeninge Museum – Collection of artworks by painters living and working in Bruges since the 14th century

Restaurants in Bruges
Restaurants in Bruges
Image attribution to prodiffusion @ Flickr

Delicious Belgium waffles with chocolate
Delicious Belgium waffles with chocolate
Image attribution to williamsdb @ Flickr

Canal view of Bruges at night
Canal view of Bruges at night
Image attribution to neilhooting @ Flickr

Bonne Chiere windmill
Bonne Chiere windmill
Image attribution to Jim @ Flickr

History :
First traces of human activities in Bruges date back to the Pre-Roman Gaul era where fortifications were built after the Roman conquest of Menapii in around 100 BC and has been an important fortification in the Flemish coastal area to prevent Viking incursions. Bruges received its city charter in 1128 and new walls and canals were built. Gradual sliting since 1050 caused the city to lose direct access to the sea but access was resumed in 1134 naturally by a storm that created the Zwin channel and it soon became the commercial outpost of Bruges. At some point during the 15th century, it was the chief commercial city of the world thanks to its port until sliting denied access to the sea again at the beginning of the 16th century. The city soon fell being Antwerp and gradually declined until tourism picked up in the 19th century and it was soon the world’s first tourist destinations attracting wealthy British and French.

Inside the Church of our Lady
Inside the Church of our Lady
Image attribution to djstanek @ Flickr

Basilica of Holy Blood
Basilica of Holy Blood
Image attribution to Jim @ Flickr

Minnewater Lake is a great place to relax with its peaceful surroundings
Minnewater Lake is a great place to relax with its peaceful surroundings

Dolphinarium at Boudewjin Park
Dolphinarium at Boudewjin Park

Reien Canal and bridge
Reien Canal and bridge

Getting there :
The nearest international airport to Bruges is the Ostend Bruges International Airport (OST) located in Ostend which is 25 km away from the city centre of Bruges, however it only serves airports from few countries on a seasonal basis. The major airport located near Bruges is the Antwerp International Airport (AMR) which is 86 km away from the Bruges city centre.

The Marble Cathedral in Chile, Patagonia region

 Chile - Patagonia  Comments Off
Mar 292013
 

Introduction :
The Marble Cathedral is a network of marble caves located in the central of Lake General Carrera in the Patagonia region of Chile. It is widely regarding as the most beautiful cave networks with its naturally carved marble sculptures combined with the breathtaking azure blue color waters around which were the result of the glaciers of the Andes mountain range that feds the lake combining slits from marble cliffs falling into the lake to create the beautiful colors of the water.

Marble cave near to the main land
Marble cave near to the main land

The beautiful azure waters around the caves
The beautiful azure waters around the caves
Image attribution to Dan Lunberg @ Flickr

Unique shape of the marble cliffs
Unique shape of the marble cliffs
Image attribution to Dan Lunberg @ Flickr

History :
The geological formation of the marble caves were formed by wave action in Lake General Carrera over 6200 years. The region was first inhabitated by European immigrants between 1900 – 1925 as well as other immigrants of other foreign ancestries. The eruptions of the Hudson Volcano had a severe impact on the local economy during 1971 and 1991. The region was largely isolated until the 1990s when the Carreta Austral highway connected it to the rest of Chile expanding the tourism in the area.

Hole in one of the marble cave walls
Hole in one of the marble cave walls
Image attribution to Gripe 1976 @ Flickr

View of the natural sculptures in the caves
View of the natural sculptures in the caves

Beautiful views from the marble cliffs across the lake
Beautiful scenery from the marble cliffs across the lake

Getting there :
The nearest airport to the Marble Cathedral is the Balmaceda Airport (BBA) which is served by flights from the capital city of Santiago as well as major cities of Chile and is around 250 km away from the Lake General Carrera where buses can be taken from Coyhaique. This is followed by a ferry on a small boat at the Puerto Rio Tranquilo.

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