photos

2008-12-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

Cyprus
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule.

Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.

Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island.

In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey.

The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum.

The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct government control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots.

However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states. The election of a new Cypriot president in 2008 served as the impetus for the UN to encourage both the Turkish and Cypriot Governments to reopen unification negotiations.

2008-12-15T00:23:00.000-08:00

Poland

A visit to Poland is a journey to a land of myths, magic, romance, rolling plains and very warm and friendly people, and to a nation being born anew -- yet again.

Since its birth in the 10th century, The Republic of Poland has a very long track record of ups and downs, death and rebirth.

Now in the early 21st century, this little country -- just a bit larger than the state of New Mexico -- is a phoenix rising and just beginning to find stride again after its last down. A bit more than a decade after becoming the first of Eastern Europe to awake and emerge from 45 years beneath the iron curtain, Poland has yawned, stretched joined the European Union in May of this year and is ready to get on with the future.

Poland's stereotyped reputation has often been that of a state of chubby cabbage-eating peasant farmers who play the tuba and do a funny three-step dance called the Polka and drink a lot of beer. Not quite. The people and land of Poland are much more than that and want much more than that.

It is actually a land rich in culture and history and political action. It was Poland's late 20th century move to re-legalize trade union Solidarity and an agreement to hold partially free parliamentary elections that started the shock waves that began the dramatic 1989 domino-like collapse of Eastern European governments that transformed the Soviet Union and shifted the balance of power throughout the world.

The center and main storehouse of this country's rich cultural and political history is in its former political and still cultural capital, Kraków.

2008-12-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

Philippines

The second-largest archipelago in the world, with over 7000 tropical islands, the Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia.

Often overlooked by travellers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it. And because it’s off the beaten path, the Philippines is a great place to escape the hordes who descend on other parts of Southeast Asia. First and foremost, the Philippines is a place of natural wonders – a string of coral-fringed islands strewn across a vast expanse of the western Pacific.

Below sea level, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling. Above sea level, it has a fantastic landscape with wonders enough to stagger even the most jaded traveller: long underground rivers, soaring karsts (limestone tower formations), incredible caves, some pristine stands of virgin rainforest, and in the case of Palawan, islands that shoot out of the sea like jagged spearheads. And if you’re after palm-fringed, white-sand beaches, the Philippines has too many to choose from.

Of course, any traveller who has been to the Philippines will tell you that it’s the people and their culture that makes the Philippines unique.

Long poised at the centre of Southeast Asian trade, colonised by a succession of world powers, the Philippines is a vivid tapestry that reflects its varied cultural inheritance. And despite the poverty that afflicts much of the nation, the Filipinos themselves are among the most ebullient and easygoing people anywhere.

The Philippines truly qualifies as one of the last great frontiers in Southeast Asian travel. Cross whichever ocean you need to and see for yourself.

2008-12-06T01:28:00.000-08:00

Turkey
Turkey is a country with a multiple identity, poised uneasily between East and West – though, despite the tourist-brochure cliché, it is less a bridge between the two than a battleground, a buffer zone whose various parts have been invaded and settled from every direction since the beginning of recorded history.

The country is now keen to be accepted on equal terms by the West: long the only NATO member in the Middle East region and a major recipient of US military aid, it has, since late 2005, officially been a candidate for EU membership, potential culmination of a modernization process begun late in the nineteenth century. But despite Turkish involvement with Europe dating back to the twelfth century, it is by no stretch of the imagination a thoroughly Western nation, and the contradictions – and fascinations – persist.

Turkey is a vast country – France would fit within its boundaries with plenty of room to spare – incorporating characteristics of Middle Eastern and Aegean, as well as Balkan and trans-Caucasian, countries.

Mosques coexist with Orthodox churches; Roman theatres and temples crumble alongside ancient Hittite cities; and dervish ceremonies or gypsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or delirious sports fans. The one constant in all this – and one of the things that makes Turkey such a rewarding place to travel – is the Turkish people, whose reputation for friendliness and hospitality is richly deserved; indeed you risk causing offence by refusing to partake of it, and any transaction can be the springboard for further acquaintance. Close to the bigger resorts or tourist attractions, much of this is undoubtedly mercenary, but in most of the country the warmth and generosity is genuine – all the more amazing when recent Turkish history has demonstrated that outsiders usually only bring trouble in their wake.

Politically, modern Turkey was a bold experiment, founded on the remaining Anatolian kernel of the Ottoman Empire, once among the world's largest, and longest-lasting, imperial states. The country arose from defeat after World War I, almost entirely the creation of a single man of demonic energy and vision – Kemal Atatürk. The Turkish war of independence, fought against those victorious Allies intending to pursue imperialistic designs on Ottoman territory, has (with slightly stretched analogy – Turkey was never a colony) often been seen as the prototype for all Third-World "wars of liberation". It led to an explicitly secular republic, though one in which almost all of the inhabitants are at least nominally Muslim (predominantly Sunni but also Alevî, a variant of Shi'ism). Turkey's heritage as home to the caliphate and numerous dervish orders, plus contemporary Islamist movements, still often deflects its moral compass south and east rather than northwest.

2008-12-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

Egypt
Egypt is perhaps one of the very few countries that has a big haul of history amidst historical controversies. People like the Jewish hero Moses, Queen Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, King Tut and others have donned the land. Egypt showcases much of man's history, his achievements and the glorious monuments that stand to tell a tale for our future generations.

Egypt is located in the north eastern tip of Africa and is bounded by Israel to the East, the Mediterranean Sea to the North, Libya to the West and Sudan to the South. Officially, Egypt is known as the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Cairo, which happens to be the largest city in Africa and the Middle East, is Egypt's capital. Egyptian Pounds is the official national currency and is divided into 100 Piastres .

The main religion in Egypt is Sunni Moslem (about 90%) with the rest of the population being predominantly of Christian (Coptic) faith. The main language is Arabic, with English and French also commonly spoken amongst the more educated classes.

2008-12-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Canada

The first inhabitants of Canada were native Indian peoples, primarily the Inuit (Eskimo). The Norse explorer Leif Eriksson probably reached the shores of Canada (Labrador or Nova Scotia) in 1000, but the history of the white man in the country actually began in 1497, when John Cabot, an Italian in the service of Henry VII of England, reached Newfoundland or Nova Scotia. Canada was taken for France in 1534 by Jacques Cartier. The actual settlement of New France, as it was then called, began in 1604 at Port Royal in what is now Nova Scotia; in 1608, Quebec was founded. France's colonization efforts were not very successful, but French explorers by the end of the 17th century had penetrated beyond the Great Lakes to the western prairies and south along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the English Hudson's Bay Company had been established in 1670. Because of the valuable fisheries and fur trade, a conflict developed between the French and English; in 1713, Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, and Nova Scotia (Acadia) were lost to England. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), England extended its conquest, and the British general James Wolfe won his famous victory over Gen. Louis Montcalm outside Quebec on Sept. 13, 1759. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 gave England control.

At that time the population of Canada was almost entirely French, but in the next few decades, thousands of British colonists emigrated to Canada from the British Isles and from the American colonies. In 1849, the right of Canada to self-government was recognized. By the British North America Act of 1867, the dominion of Canada was created through the confederation of Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In 1869, Canada purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company the vast middle west (Rupert's Land) from which the provinces of Manitoba (1870), Alberta (1905), and Saskatchewan (1905) were later formed. In 1871, British Columbia joined the dominion, and in 1873, Prince Edward Island followed. The country was linked from coast to coast in 1885 by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

During the formative years between 1866 and 1896, the Conservative Party, led by Sir John A. Macdonald, governed the country, except during the years 1873–1878. In 1896 the Liberal Party took over and, under Sir Wilfrid Laurier, an eminent French Canadian, ruled until 1911. By the Statute of Westminster in 1931 the British dominions, including Canada, were formally declared to be partner nations with Britain, “equal in status, in no way subordinate to each other,” and bound together only by allegiance to a common Crown.

Newfoundland became Canada's tenth province on March 31, 1949, following a plebiscite. Canada also includes three territories—the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories, and the newest territory, Nunavut. This new territory includes all of the Arctic north of the mainland, Norway having recognized Canadian sovereignty over the Sverdrup Islands in the Arctic in 1931.

The Liberal Party, led by William Lyon Mackenzie King, dominated Canadian politics from 1921 until 1957, when it was succeeded by the Progressive Conservatives. The Liberals, under the leadership of Lester B. Pearson, returned to power in 1963. Pearson remained prime minister until 1968, when he retired and was replaced by a former law professor, Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Trudeau maintained Canada's defensive alliance with the United States but began moving toward a more independent policy in world affairs.

Faced with an increasingly violent separatist movement in the predominantly French province of Quebec, Trudeau introduced the Official Languages Bill, which encouraged bilingualism in the federal government; he also gave an economic portfolio to a French-speaking minister, Jean Chrétien. Both measures increased the power of French-speaking politicians in the federal government.

In 1976, the Parti Québécois (PQ) won the provincial Quebec elections, and René Lévesque became premier. The Quebec government passed Bill 101 in 1977, which established numerous rules promoting the French-speaking culture; for example, only French was to be used for commercial signs and for most public school instruction. Many of Bill 101's provisions have since been amended, striking more of a compromise; commercial signs, for example, may now be in French and English, provided that the French lettering is twice the size of the English. Quebec held a referendum in May 1980 on whether it should seek independence from Canada; it was defeated by 60% of the voters.

Resolving a dispute that had occupied Trudeau since the beginning of his tenure, Queen Elizabeth II signed the Constitution Act (also called the Canada Act) in Ottawa on April 17, 1982, thereby cutting the last legal tie between Canada and Britain. The constitution retains Queen Elizabeth as queen of Canada and keeps Canada's membership in the Commonwealth. This constitution was accepted by every province except Quebec.

In the national election on Sept. 4, 1984, the Progressive Conservative Party scored an overwhelming victory, fundamentally changing the country's political landscape. The Conservatives, led by Brian Mulroney, won the highest political majority in Canadian history. The dominant foreign issue was a free-trade pact with the U.S., a treaty bitterly opposed by the Liberal and New Democratic parties. The conflict led to elections in Nov. 1988 that solidly reelected Mulroney and gave him a mandate to proceed with the agreement.

The issue of separatist sentiments in French-speaking Quebec flared up again in 1990 with the failure of the Meech Lake Accord. The accord was designed to bring Quebec into the constitution while easing its residents' fear of losing their identity within the English-speaking majority by giving it status as a “distinct society.”

The economy continued to be mired in a long recession that many blamed on the free-trade agreement. Brian Mulroney's popularity continued to decline, causing him to resign before the next election. In June 1993 the governing Progressive Conservative Party chose Defense Minister Kim Campbell as its leader, making her the first female prime minister in Canadian history. The national election in Oct. 1993 resulted in the reemergence of the Liberal Party and the installation of Jean Chrétien as prime minister.

The Quebec referendum on secession in Oct. 1995 yielded a narrow rejection of the proposal, and separatists vowed to try again. Since then, however, the Quebec Liberal Party has replaced the Bloc Québecois as the ruling party.

On April 1, 1999, the Northwest Territories were officially divided to create a new territory in the east that would be governed by Canada's Inuits, who make up 85% of the area's population.

In July 2000, Stockwell Day of the new right-wing Canadian Alliance Party unexpectedly emerged as the leader of Canada's opposition. In Nov. 2000 elections, however, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien of the Liberal Party won a landslide victory for a third five-year term. After the election, the conservatives rapidly lost steam.

In recent years, Canada has introduced some of the world's most liberal social policies. Medical marijuana for the terminally or chronically ill was legalized in 2001; the country began legally dispensing marijuana by prescription in July 2003. In 2003, Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage; and more provinces and territories followed in 2004. In July 2005, Canada legalized gay marriage throughout the country, becoming one of four nations (along with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain) to do so.

Canada sent 2,000 soldiers to help fight the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, but its relations with the U.S. were strained when it refused to join Washington's coalition supporting the war in Iraq.

In Dec. 2003, Chrétien stepped down and handed the prime ministership to the new leader of Canada's Liberal Party, former finance minister Paul Martin. Chrétien had announced in 2002 that he would not seek a fourth term—conflict between Chrétien and Martin had divided and weakened the Liberal Party in recent years. In June 2004, Martin was reelected prime minister, but the Liberal Party lost its majority in parliament, which it had dominated for 11 years. In 2005, a scandal involving the misappropriation of government funds by the Liberal Party threatened the stability of Martin's government. Martin himself was not implicated in the scandal, but his predecessor came under fire. In Jan. 2006 parliamentary elections, Conservatives won 36% of the vote, ending twelve years of Liberal rule. Conservative leader Stephen Harper became prime minister in February. In June 2006, police arrested 17 suspected Islamist terrorists in Toronto and are believed to have foiled a major terrorist attack on the country. In November, Prime Minister Harper succeeded in passing a motion to recognize Quebec as “a nation within a united Canada.”

In February 2007, Canada's Supreme Court struck down a law that permitted foreign terrorism suspects to be detained indefinitely without charges while waiting for deportation. “The overarching principle of fundamental justice that applies here is this: before the state can detain people for significant periods of time, it must accord them a fair judicial process,” said Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin.

Prime Minister Harper was re-elected in October 2008 in elections that were held a year ahead of schedule. His Conservative Party defeated the Liberal Party, 37.6% to 26.2.%. The Conservatives, however, failed to win a majority in the House of Commons and will form a minority government, the third in four years.

2008-11-30T04:30:00.000-08:00

Spain

A country of southwest Europe comprising most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Inhabited since the Stone Age, the region was colonized by Phoenicians and Greeks and later ruled by Carthage and Rome (after 201 B.C.). Barbarians first invaded Spain in A.D. 409 but were supplanted by Moors from North Africa (711–719), who organized a kingdom known for its learning and splendor. The Moors were gradually displaced by small Christian states and were ousted from their last stronghold, Granada, in 1492. Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile then became rulers of a united Spain, which became a world power through exploration and conquest. After the empire was lost in the 18th and 19th centuries, Spain experienced social and economic unrest that culminated in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the rise of Francisco Franco. After Franco's death in 1975 the monarchy was restored under King Juan Carlos, who oversaw the creation of a parliamentary democracy. Madrid is the capital and the largest city. Population: 40,400,000.

2008-11-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

China

Stretching from its southern borders in the Himalayas to the deserts of Mongolia in the north, and from the East China Sea through the Yangzi River Valley plains, to the Tibetan Plateau in the western mainland, China covers an area of 9,596,960 square kilometres.

China also encompasses over 5000 islands, not to mention the disputed territories such as the Spratlys and the Paracels.The nation comprises five autonomous regions and twenty-two provinces, as well as Hong Kong, which is now titled a 'Special Administrative Region'.The seat of government, Beijing, is a large city of 11 million people, and like all of China's urban metropolises, life here contrasts immensely with that of the peasant farmers in rural areas.

Due to its size, China's climate is obviously very diverse, ranging from an unbearable 48ºC in the northwest during Summer to an equally unbearable -40ºC in the far north in winter.

The official language in China is Mandarin, as spoken in Beijing, but there are also many different dialects to listen for.

Chinese food (and much of the ingredients used to create it is like no other cuisine - and again, this differs greatly between regions.

Art in China is also stunningly unique, perhaps best typified by calligraphy, performed with ink and brush, and held in extremely high esteem by the Chinese.

2008-11-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

Switzerland

Called Helvetia in ancient times, Switzerland in 1291 was a league of cantons in the Holy Roman Empire. Fashioned around the nucleus of three German forest districts of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden, the Swiss Confederation slowly added new cantons. In 1648 the Treaty of Westphalia gave Switzerland its independence from the Holy Roman Empire.

French revolutionary troops occupied the country in 1798 and named it the Helvetic Republic, but Napoléon in 1803 restored its federal government. By 1815, the French- and Italian-speaking peoples of Switzerland had been granted political equality.

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna guaranteed the neutrality and recognized the independence of Switzerland. In the revolutionary period of 1847, the Catholic cantons seceded and organized a separate union called the Sonderbund, but they were defeated and rejoined the federation.

In 1848, the new Swiss constitution established a union modeled on that of the U.S. The federal constitution of 1874 established a strong central government while giving large powers of control to each canton. National unity and political conservatism grew as the country prospered from its neutrality. Its banking system became the world's leading repository for international accounts.

Strict neutrality was its policy in both world wars. Geneva was the seat of the League of Nations (later the European headquarters of the United Nations) and of a number of international organizations.

Allegations in the 1990s concerning secret assets of Jewish Holocaust victims deposited in Swiss banks led to international criticism and the establishment of a fund to reimburse the victims and their families.

Surprisingly, women were not given the right to vote or to hold office until 1971. Switzerland's first woman president—as well as the first Jew to assume the position—was Ruth Dreifuss in 1999.

In Sept. 2000, the Swiss voted against a plan to cut the number of foreigners in the country to 18% of the population (in 2000 foreigners made up 19.3%). Since 1970, four similar anti-immigration plans have failed.

On Sept 10, 2002, the Swiss abandoned their long-held neutrality to become the 190th member of the UN.

In Oct. 2003, Switzerland took a turn to the right when the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) had the strongest showing in parliamentary elections, garnering 28% of the vote. Its virulently anti-immigration, anti-EU leader, Christopher Blocher, was given a cabinet position. The SVP fared well again in October 2007 elections, winning 29% of the vote and gaining seven seats in Parliament. The party took the most votes in general election history. Immigration dominated the election, and the SVP was accused of running a racist campaign. In December, the coalition that has run Switzerland since 1959 fell apart when the SVP withdrew from the government to protest Parliament's ouster of Blocher as justice minister. The move shifted the government to the center-left. Also in December, Parliament elected Pascal Couchepin as president.

On June 1, 2008, 64% of voters opposed a law initiated by the SVP that would allow secret votes by the public to grant citizenship to foreigners in their towns.

2008-11-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

Greece

Located near the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Greece forms the southern extremity of the Balkan peninsula in south-east Europe. Its territory includes more than 2 000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas, of which only 170 or so are inhabited. Mount Olympus is the highest point in the country.

Greece is one of the cradles of European civilisation, whose ancient scholars made great advances in philosophy, medicine, mathematics and astronomy. Their city-states were pioneers in developing democratic forms of government. The historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern world - in literature, art, philosophy and politics.

Modern Greece has a republican structure based on the constitution of 1975. The 300 members of the single-chamber parliament are elected for a period of four years. The country is divided into 13 administrative regions.

More than 50% of Greek industry is located in the Greater Athens area. Greece's main economic sectors are agriculture, tourism, construction and shipping.

The best-known contemporary Greeks include the film-maker Kostas Gavras, the Nobel Prize winner Odysseus Elitis and composer Mikis Theodorakis.

Greek cuisine is based on goat meat and mutton. Fish dishes are also popular. Olive oil, which is produced in large quantities, adds to the distinctive taste of Greek food.

2008-10-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Ireland

Ireland is the smaller and most western of the major two islands of the British Isles. The island is not a wealthy land or a powerful one, but it was once the home of one of the most advanced civilizations in the entire Western Worlds. The island's reputation as a center of progress was eclipsed by centuries of intermittent warfare against foreign domination and by internal strife. The sons and daughters of Erin, or the Emerald Isle, as Ireland is popularly called, have settled all over the globe and their songs and stories of the homeland have given it a unique appeal.

The many names of Ireland

1. Island of Woods
2. Land at the Limit of the World
3. Noble Island
4. Eire
5. Inis Fail
6. Isle of Mists
7. Scotia
8. Hibernia
9. Irlanda
10. Ériu
11. Ogygia
12. Ireland

2008-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Iran

Iran, a Middle Eastern country south of the Caspian Sea and north of the Persian Gulf, is three times the size of Arizona. It shares borders with Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The Elburz Mountains in the north rise to 18,603 ft (5,670 m) at Mount Damavend. From northwest to southeast, the country is crossed by a desert 800 mi (1,287 km) long.

2008-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Japan

Japan is surrounded by four oceans and seas: the Pacific ocean, the sea of Japan, the Philippine Sea, the east China sea, and the sea of Okhotsk. Japan faces to Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia. The capital city of Japan is Tokyo (東京), which is the most expensive city in the world. Japan has 47 prefectures like states. Japan is composed of about 7000 islands. There are four major islands in Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. Okinawa lies to the south of Kyushu. According to Wikipedia, Japan is the 62nd largest country in the world. Also, the Greater Tokyo Area, with over 30 million residents, is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Total area of Japan is 145,883sqmi, and the population is 128,085,000.

2008-10-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Netherlands

Netherlands are one of the most densely populated countries on the world। No matter where you go, you are never far away from civilization. Cities can be crowded especially in the Randstad area, where congestion is a serious problem. Much of the country is flat and at or below sea level making it an ideal place to cycle. Hills can only be found at the Veluwe and Southern Limburg. Much of countryside is dominated by highly industrialised farming - despite its population density, the Netherlands are one of the largest foodexporters in the world. Though there are some beautiful spots scattered across the country, the tourist expecting a countryside full of picturesque villages, tulips and windmills may be in for a bit of a shock. The villages, tulips and windmills are there for sure, you just have to find them. The most beautiful places are most of the times the places only known by the Dutch themselves. Asking a Dutch(wo)man for some ideas of what to see could be helpful. Otherwise just visit local 'tourist shops', known as the VVV, they can be found in all the larger towns.

The geography of the Netherlands is dominated by water features. The country is criss-crossed with rivers, canals and dikes, and the beach is never far away. The western coast of the Netherlands has one of the most beautiful North Sea beaches that can be found, attracting thousands if not millions of people every year, among them a lot of Germans as well.

2008-10-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

Denmark

Denmark is situated in Northern Europe between the North Sea and the Baltic, and is the only Scandinavian country connected to the European mainland. All in all, Denmark consists of 406 islands, yet only about 80 of these are inhabited.

The most densely populated part of Denmark is the main island, Zealand. The capital, Copenhagen, is situated at the far east of Zealand and the city itself counts about half a million inhabitants, while if including the suburbs the number reaches one million.

Having a well-developed welfare and health care system, the Danes tend to live longer than they did just decades ago. The average age is now just around 75 years for men and 79 years for women. Most people work until they are well into their sixties and Denmark is characterised by having a very little gap between those who are rich and those who are poor, placing most Danes in a large and thriving middle and upper-middle class.

2008-10-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

And the rest of our countrys' photos .

Hungary

This central European country is the size of Indiana. Most of Hungary is a fertile, rolling plain lying east of the Danube River and drained by the Danube and Tisza rivers. In the extreme northwest is the Little Hungarian Plain. South of that area is Lake Balaton (250 sq mi; 648 sq km).

2008-10-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody !

Today's photos are not related to countries . They show beautiful rainy weather - a part of me - look at them and enjoy .

The rain is falling all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.

Spirits
falling in puddles of grief,
disappointment drowning hope,
tissues soaked in sadness, umbrellas
raised in futile defense, ears closed to
the rain song. Eyes swollen, moist and red,
fingers gripping an offered hand, feet unable
to move, flowers surround, unseen by one who is
unaware of the rain song. Music, soft, sweet, and low,
prayers mumbled respectfully, love shared with family and
friends. Memories linger, vibrant and warm as hearts beat in
time with the rain song. Emptiness, loneliness yet to come, fears
for tomorrow, tears for today, self-pity and doubt, anger and pain
haunting
and
howling
about
in
the
wind
unable
to
hide from
the rain
song

2008-10-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

Germany ,Country of Poet and Thinkers

A country (Germany) that stretches from the North and Baltic Seas south to the borders of Austria and Switzerland, Germany, besides the powerful economy, the efficient organization, and the high standard of living, is also a country with charming villages, well preserved medieval and baroque towns, peaceful lush landscapes, and rich traditions. No other region of the country exemplifies those attractions better than Bavaria .Germany is a land of many variations of German culture and steeped in centuries old history. Elaborate and historic buildings such as Castles and Monasteries are common place in Germany. Cultural festivals are also common place which induce people from small villages to don their traditional attire and celebrate.Germany has been the country of many great historical figures from mathematicians, scientists, to musicians. Germany is known as the land of poets and thinkers!

2008-10-12T02:48:00.000-07:00

New Zealand - pictures

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. During its long isolation New Zealand developed a distinctive fauna dominated by birds, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.

The population is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Māori being the largest minority. Asians and non-Māori Polynesians are also significant minorities, especially in the cities. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New Zealand, is the Head of State and, in her absence, is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. The Queen 'reigns but does not rule.' She has no real political influence, and her position is essentially symbolic. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the head of government. New Zealand's open economy is known for being one of the world's most free market capitalist economies.

2008-10-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Another atypical Middle Eastern nation, the UAE is a modern & developed nation with a world class luxury travel trade.

2008-10-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

Vatican City, Western Europe

we all know how safe the Vatican is, it only has one resident, THE POPE! And then there's the matter of the Swiss Guard which keep the tourists inline.

2008-10-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

Finland, Northern Europe

Finland is part of that wonderful Scandinavian trifecta of beautiful nations, friendly people, & high prices. But while it may be expensive, it is definitely safe, in fact Helsinki (the capital of Finland) is routinely named the world's friendliest city.

2008-10-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sweden, Northern Europe

Sweden is as safe as they come. The only crime you'll experience here will be that of your heart being stolen by all the beautiful women.

2008-10-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends had found very interesting site to search different informations and photos about different countries around the world , I'll try to use this site's and other sites' informations in my web blog .
Today's subjects are from this site :

http://travelintospain.blogspot.com/2008/10/worlds-safest-destinations-part-2.html

Brazil-Source of Wild life

Brazil covers nearly half of South America and is the continent's largest nation. It extends 2,965 mi (4,772 km) north-south, 2,691 mi (4,331 km) east-west, and borders every nation on the continent except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil may be divided into the Brazilian Highlands, or plateau, in the south and the Amazon River Basin in the north. Over a third of Brazil is drained by the Amazon and its more than 200 tributaries. The Amazon is navigable for ocean steamers to Iquitos, Peru, 2,300 mi (3,700 km) upstream. Southern Brazil is drained by the Plata system—the Paraguay, Uruguay, and Paraná rivers.

article

2008-10-09T00:26:00.000-07:00

hello everybody

I'm so happy that finally could be able to design this web log to share my photos with you , I want to make a wide collection of different countries' pictures , flogs and natures . I'll be so glad you help me to achieve this goal .