sofiacity.net

Climate change is a hot button issue, but even without playing a blame game, there is weight to the data that has been collected. The Earth will warm as it has in the past, but the repercussions will be far reaching. Within North America, the Great Lakes and global warming will interact in a way that could change the region vastly.

Global warming is not the only threat to this particular region. It is already dealing with a number if invasive species overtaking native species and altering the ecosystem. Climate change is another issue that will inform any regional policies. One of the most important roles for the region is as the producer of twenty percent of the entire planet’s fresh water.

Being a huge reservoir for fresh water cannot be downplayed in its importance, but there are other things that the region provides. It is a main player in the waterway shipping, as well as a provider of hydroelectric energy to many surrounding areas. Many tourists flock to its shores, which are also a treasure trove of plant and animal species.  Read more...

Filed under : Travel

0 Comment »

The beautiful Italian city of Florence is world-renowned as the top venue for renaissance art lovers and is an archetypal Tuscan delight. Although commercial Florence renaissance art sightseeing tours abound, they can be quite rigid in their approach and make you feel part of a herd. Florence easily permits the wandering traveler to independently discover its wonderful attractions of renaissance art.

In Florence, the place to start is the historic centre (centro storico), a vast area crammed with beautiful buildings, statues, landscaped gardens and art just waiting to be discovered. You’ll get more out of Florence sightseeing tours if actually stay there and do short walks to specific venues. Alternatively if your visit to Florence is short, there’s plenty to see in the centro storico.

A top attraction is the the impressive medieval fortress Palazzo Vecchio, which means old palace, serves as Florence’s town hall. From there you’ll get wonderful panoramic views of the whole city, in addition to the amazing frescoes and sculptures housed within its exquisite chambers. Right in front of Palazzo Vecchio is the Piazza della Signoria, an al fresco museum containing the Fountain of Neptune overlooked by the statues of Cosimo and (and a copy of) David.  Read more...

Filed under : Travel

0 Comment »

Package vacations, by their very definition, are comprised of at least two but usually more components. Many travelers prefer to buy package vacations because each element is often discounted when bundled together. In addition to that, travel agencies work diligently to provide extras within package vacations that may not be available when services are purchased a la carte. Finally, package vacations are attractive for people who do not want to research and select each component separately. When you are considering a package vacation, the best knowledge you can have is about the various components which should make up a package vacation.

The first component of most package vacations is the actual travel, itself. In other words, this is the component that determines how you will get from where you live to where you will vacation. Most commonly, this is airfare. Depending on your location and where your vacation will occur, however, it could also be bus travel or train travel. Because your vacation cannot begin until you actually arrive at your destination, this is the keystone component for your travel plans. Typically, all other components are arranged around your travel plans as the timing of your travel may well dictate how the other components are chosen.  Read more...

Filed under : Travel

0 Comment »

Getting a yacht or a boat is a dream that numerous people have. Most individuals think of it as a synonym of a life of relaxing, comforting, and not a care in the world. They picture themselves after their retirement, savoring the sea or a lake, taking a ride in their boat, surrounded by the sound of nature, and without a thing in the world to worry with reference to.

Nonetheless, receiving a boat is not as simple as that, as people who truly have boats have found out. In fact, they require as much if not more maintenance than cars or other vehicles. And unless you dwell by the beach or a lake, you will have to tow it there. In fact, the expense of conserving a boat is shown in the 2 most common phrases in the trade. The first one is The 2 happiest days of your life will be the day you purchase your boat, and the day you finally sell it. The 2nd one goes “A boat is a great hole in the water that you throw money.”  Read more...

Filed under : Entertainment

0 Comment »

When you approach Anglesey in North Wales you will see the enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge, designed and constructed by Thomas Telford, the famous 19th century engineer. The strong tidal waters crossing to Anglesey from the mainland has been a challenge for centuries and finally Telford and his team managed to come up with an innovative design which was up to the task. You will enjoy the coastal views from this bridge as you cross to the island for your vacation.

Turn back the history pages and you may see that what is the busy little town of Menai Bridge today, may have been a Roman village, which people reached by crossing in a small ferry across the Menai Straits where the gap between island and mainland is narrowest. To the north are the Lavan sands where Augustinian monks heading for Penmon Priory would struggle across at low tide, heading for Llanfaes, near Beaumaris.

So what events led to Telford being commissioned with the task of constructing such this impressive Menai Straits Bridge, an innovative example of civil engineering for the early nineteenth century? Following the Act of Union between Britain and Ireland in 1800 pressure grew for a far more efficient transport link between London and the Irish capital, Dublin.  Read more...

Filed under : Photography

0 Comment »

The famous Menai Straits Bridge and road crossing to Anglesey was built by Thomas Telford, whose 250th anniversary was recently celebrated by the island. It is difficult to estimate the huge task facing Telford and his engineers as they planned what was a bold feat of engineering and a novel construction for its day, across what is a very tidal stretch of water. This is a must-see attraction and you can also walk along the Anglesey Coastal path below.

A step back in time suggests that Menai Bridge may have been a small Roman settlement and at this point of the Menai Straits there was a ferry crossing, as it is where the island and mainland are nearest. Further north monks, visiting the Augustinian Priory at Penmon a few centuries ago, would cross the Lavan sands north west of Bangor at low tide, and made for the shore at Llanfaes, north of Beaumaris.

Many will ask how Thomas Telford came to build this Menai Straits Bridge, an example of real engineering innovation for its time in the early nineteenth century. After Britain and Ireland moved closer under the Act of Union in 1800, there was pressure for much improved transport links and connecting the mainland to Anglesey was a major consideration.  Read more...

Filed under : Photography

0 Comment »