Unique Travel Photos

Mohonk Mountain House

2008-10-06T03:18:00.014+03:00

Mohonk ("lake in the sky") mountain house is a historic American hotel in Ulster County, New York. The site was designated as a national historic landmark in 1986 more than 70 years after it hosted the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration that led to the creation of the Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The resort offers many recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, tennis, golf (on a traditional 110-year-old Scottish golf course), horse riding, and picturesque hikes.
Most recently it made the news for its detailed record of the weather in the area for the past 112 years.

A national historic landmark since 1986.

The resort offers spectacular hikes and rides with romantic places for rest ...

... and magnificent views.

The lake is perfect for swimming, boating, and fishing.

The trails are ideal for hiking and rock scrambling.

Scenic view from a hiking trail.

The Skytop observation tower

The Ancient Nesebar

2008-09-12T22:32:00.018+03:00

Nesebar (or Nessebar) is situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, Bulgaria. This small piece of land (about 25 ha) is tied with a narrow rope-like neck to the continent. Its abundance of historic buildings prompted UNESCO to include Nesebar in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1983.

The most interesting sightseeing places are:

- fortress wall (built and used since 7th–6th century BC until 14th–15th century);

- more than 10 churches (Nesebar is sometimes said to be the town with the highest number of churches per capita);

- wooden houses built in the 19th century (typical of the Black Sea architecture of the period).

General view

Fortress wall

The Church of St Sophia or the Old Bishopric

(Stara Mitropoliya) (5th-6th century)

The Church of John the Baptist (11th century)

The Church of St Stephen or the New Bishopric

(Nova Mitropoliya)

(11th century; reconstructed in the 16th-18th century)

The Church of St Stephen (inside)

The Church of Christ Pantocrator (13th-14th century)

The Church of St John Aliturgetos (14th century)

Typical house

At night

Link: Unique Bulgaria: Старият Несебър (Bulgarian).

A last Friday for Astroland ... or not

2008-09-10T05:47:00.020+03:00

On a sunny Friday (Sept. 5) the future of the historic Astroland amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City (NYC) is unsure. The 'space-age' theme park first opened in 1962 and is home to one of the NYC and National Historic landmarks -- the wooden roller coaster Cyclone.

The fate of the Cyclone looks "bright" as it is scheduled to stay open even if Astroland closes.

The bumper cars are one of the more grounded attractions at the park.

Dante's Inferno is for the dark-ride connoisseurs.

The top spin ride will definitely give you the thrills.

A view from the beach.
In 1867, Charles Feltman opened the first ever hot-dog stand in Coney Island.

The wonder wheel in the background.

A view from the pirate ship

The break dance ride

The water fume booth.

The Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós

2008-08-16T11:25:00.021+03:00

The Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós is a valuable collection of twenty-three 10th century gold vessels found in 1799 in Nagyszentmiklos, Torontál County, Hungary -- now Sânnicolau Mare, Transylvania, Romania. The vessels are of different shapes and sizes and are manifactured using very high quality gold, mostly 21- and 22-carat gold. Their electic nature gives rise to many different theories about the treasure’s origins. After deciphiring the vessels’ inscriptions, it is assumed that the treasure was collected and kept in the dining halls and treasury of the Bulgarian khans and tsars since their migration across the Caucasus; it was exhibited and kept in the throne room of the palace built and lived in by Tsar Simeon the Great after the transfer of the Bulgarian capital-city from Pliska to Preslav in 893 (Prof. Ivan Dobrev).

No. 1. Ewer

No. 2. Ewer

No. 3. Ewer

No. 4. Ewer

No. 5. Ewer

No. 6. Ewer

No. 7. Ewer

No. 8. Bowl

No. 9 and No. 10. Bows (the two bowls are similar -- only one is shown here)

No. 11 and No. 12. Cups

No. 13 and No. 14. Goblets with an ox head

No. 15 and No. 16. Flat-shallow ladles

No. 17. Drinking horn

No. 18. Zoomorphic bowl

No. 19. Box

No. 20. Small bowl with a clasp for hanging

No. 21. Small bowl with a clasp for hanging

No. 22 and No. 23. Cups

Currently, the treasure of Nagyszentmiklós is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Copies of the vessels are also on display in the National Museum of History in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Links:
Unique Bulgaria: Съкровището от Наги Сент-Миклош (Bulgarian).
Unique Bulgaria: Коментар към едно писмо (Bulgarian).

Baba Vida - the only authentic castle in Bulgaria

2008-07-05T22:13:00.019+03:00

Baba Vida is a medieval fortress in Vidin, northwestern Bulgaria. The name of the castle means "Granny Vida".

A common view

The construction of the fortress began in the 10th century over the foundations of the Roman fortification „Bononia”. It was finalized in the 14th century during the rule of tsar Ivan Sratsimir when it was the most important fortress and the tsar’s dwelling in the capital Vidin. The main parts of the structures are preserved to this day.

The moat surrounding the fortress.
When necessary, the moat was filled with water from the Danube river

The single entrance to the fotress

The court
(The reconstructed entrance and exhibited stone cannon-balls /bottom-left/)

Inside door

Part of the museum exhibit

Night photo

Link: Unique Bulgaria: Баба Вида - най-добре запазената крепост в България (Bulgarian).

The Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

2008-06-05T22:56:00.024+03:00

In the year of 865 prince Boris I (baptismal name Michail) converted the Bulgarians to Christianity. In the begining of X c. hermit Saint John of Rila, The Miracleworker, established a great confraternity of his disciples and followers, not far from the today’s monastery's location. Through the ages The Holy Rila Monastery became the Bulgarian Jerusalem. It was a seat of spiritual learning for monks, bookmen, teachers, painters, wood-carves, icon-painters. The Monastery has been a lighthouse and a place of wonderworking power and spiritual support to the Christian people of Bulgaria, especially during the time of slavery under the Turks (XIV-XIX centuries).

The main church of the Rila Monastery

The Tower of Hrelyu (the oldest surviving structure in the monastery)

An exhibit in the monastery’s museum

A monk’s chamber in the monastery

Here are some of the frescoes in the main church of the monastery:

Last Judgement

The Holy Virgin surraunded by 32 saints

The dormition of Saint Ivan Rilski

Archangel Michael

Link: Unique Bulgaria: Rila Monastery (Bulgarian).

Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico

2008-05-26T06:12:00.018+03:00

If you happen to visit Mexico, do not miss to visit Teotihuacan, one of the largest cities of its era. It is a relatively short bus ride from Mexico city and is a common destination to meditate and explore. Do not forget to try some of the traditional food and cactus drinks.

The Sun Pyramid

Climbing the Sun Pyramid to touch the top

From the top of the Sun Pyramid

The Moon Pyramid ("Piramide de la Luna") from the top of The Sun Pyramid

From the top of The Sun Pyramid

Walking on the Avenue of the Dead, one can see the Puma Murial.
The background symbolizes the aquatic atmosphere and green screen on the molding represent are precious stones.

The Sun Pyramid from the top of The Moon Pyramid

The columsn in the Quetzalpapalotl Palace

The middle of the floor

Eyes