Along the Omo River

Traveling through this amazing country, you quickly realize that many North Americans have a pre-conceived image of Ethiopia; one that’s molded by frequent news stories about drought and hunger along with the crushing poverty that exists in some places.

But while these remain serious issues (particularly in the country’s north), Ethiopia is also a land with an intriguing history, many diverse and unique landscapes, and stunning, centuries-old monuments.

The country’s south-western sector, bisected by the Omo River, is also widely known as one of Africa’s most unique and intact cultural landscapes.

Iron Beauty of Paris

The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France and main sightseeing of Paris. Every year it is visited by millions of tourists who take tons of photographs of it. Here is another portion of its photos taken in the evening and a brief story about its creation.

As many know, the tower was originally erected as temporary. But why was it left standing in the very heart of Paris? You may guess, the giant black colossus completely spoiling the panorama of the city wasn't probably the thing the Parisians of that time dreamed about. Further we will know the answer.

The history of the tower began with the Paris World's Fair by which the tower had been built in 1889. Then it was a great and immediate success.

People were so astonished with its beauty that dropped their hats and cylinders onto the pavement right from the open carriages.

More than 2 million visitors had come to see the "iron lady" over the half a year of its exhibition.

But local intellectuals were against its construction from the very beginning. They stamped their feet and sent their outrage to the Paris City Hall demanding to stop its construction. "We will be forced to look at the ugly shadow of the hated iron columns and screws, which extends over the city like an ink-blot," they said.

Among those who wrote the shameless libels was Guy de Maupassant. This fact though didn't stop him from regular dinners at the restaurant at the first level of the tower. By the way, the current cafe is pretty lousy.

To the question of why he does it if he really does not like the tower, the writer answered: "was the only place in Paris from which it could not be seen". The story that is certainly known to many.

During its construction, the builders faced a difficult problem of transportation the future visitors.

Elevators should have moved on a curved trajectory with the changing radius of curvature.

The problem was solved and even nowadays two elevators of the "Fives-Lill" company established in 1899 operate in the tower.

Eiffel, of course, was pleased with his creation and absolutely did not want to take it to pieces. Besides, he rent the tower from the city authorities.

As for the Parisians... They reluctantly became accustomed to it. 

In 1906 the radio station was placed in the tower. Having made sure that his child was not in danger anymore, Gustave Eiffel safely died in 1991.

This is the third level, 247 meters high, it has almost no protection from bad weather. Views of Paris amaze. Those who want can enjoy some champagne here. 

Icons, postcards and other souvenirs are sold annoyingly nearby the tower. All the goods are quite similar - iron and plastic towers illuminated with different colors.

Inspection having fun.

Another, one of 243 million the same photographs of the Eiffel Tower.

View from the tower.

This is the left bottom of the previous picture. The square of Ecole Militaire (Military School, it's easy to translate). Looking at this photograph one can make some conclusions about Parisian life in general: architecture is beautiful, compact cars are compactly parked in the streets and the trees are tried to be preserved. But what is the most remarkable - it's the lack of street wires. In Paris they are hidden underground.

View of the Palais Bourbon.

The history of a ferris wheel is similar to the history of the Eiffel Tower. The wheel was also erected as a temporary construction to celebrate the Millennium. But its master refused to demolish his offspring. Nevertheless, the court decided to remove the wheel from the city, so it started its long trip about different European areas and fairs so that many years later to come back to Paris, to the Place de la Concorde.

There, in the distance, on the highest point of Paris (the hill of Montmartre) the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur) is located.

On further left there is an arch. Well, who does not know it?

The north-west. La Defence, the Paris downtown, was wisely built on the outskirts of the city.

The relatively young (built in 1937) Palais de Chaillot.

Closer. Varsovi Square in front of the palace.

The south-western direction. Somewhere in the distance is Versailles, and at the bottom - the Seine.

One of the numerous stadiums of the city situated at the foot of the tower.

10 pm and there are still some players on the field.

One more stadium.

The Montparnasse Tower.

Red Canyon of Vietnam

This red canyon is one of the Vietnamese sights, it is located in Mui Ne village.

Here annoying boys will do everything to accompany you along the river.

A curious natural formation - ravines with queer "ragged" edges, washed up in the clay loam.

This waterfall is not probably the best thing you've seen, but the way here is full of picturesque views.

Essaouira - When a Small Village Becomes A Tourist Resort

About 30 years ago, Essaouira was a quite fishing village, but now it's another place for tourists. The streets of the old town look like endless lines of gift shops and cafes overcrowded with tourists.

The town has an ancient history. The place was first occupied by Phoenician merchants and  the Romans. In the 16th century here came the Portuguese but two ages later a local sultan decided to turn the town into a big merchant port. At the beginning of the 20th century the French renamed the Essaouira into Mogador and reduced the trade. And finally, after the re-establishment of Morocco's  independence, it became a quiet place Essaouira again. In the 60's here came hippies and then came mass tourism as well.

Among the souvenirs there is a lot of colorful pottery...

...paintings of local craftsmen, depicting national subjects...

...and African fetishes typical of the Sub-Saharan part of the continent.

Such cats-leopards are very popular souvenirs in Morocco.

The puppet International!

Non-tourist marketing goes ahead mainly in the central street. It also looks like a long stretched marketplace.

There are small pigeonholes branching off the cental street - specialized markets. Here is, for example, the jewelers' street entrance.

Fish market.

Not all the fish is so tiny...

The majority of tourists live in the walled-off old town built in the 18th century.

A single room in the new town costs 60 Dh (about 5,5 Euro).

Horse taxi is even today popular in many towns and cities of Morocco.

The local industrial area.

A good view of Essaouira opens from the stronghold in the port. Admission costs about 1 Euro.

One more classical view.

It's very hard NOT to catch a flock of seagull in shot.

The reason for such a great amount of gulls here is probably this place, where fish scalers of local restaurants do their work...

... or maybe this small fish market in the port.

Local boats are all painted blue.

In the evening one can enjoy beautiful sunsets from the town-walls...

Joiner's shops in the town.

Lesson In a Cambodian School

Now we are going to an ordinary village school to see how works the educational system in the poorest country of Southeast Asia.

Each society starts from a school desk so it's always interesting to visit a class at school of some definite country.

"SIT International School" in Kampong Cham village, Cambodia is a private school with advanced study of English and computer technologies. This school stops working only for two months in summer. State education is free in the country, but in this private school it costs 10-12 USD per month.

Officially legacy rate among adults of the country is 70%. At this school children of neighbouring villages study. Lessons start at 8 a.m. After-school club also works - where children do homework or get additional classes.

These desks are small for three pupils but still they sit and study ...

Poster on the wall

This school also has advanced study of IT. Here's a computer classroom. The Internet is available only in the teacher's common room. 

Staff organogram

Another classroom

Faces of the party hang in each classroom.

For Europeans this map seems unconventionally oriented where Asia is in the centre. 

Class all together.

Kids playing a popular in Asia game - stones tossing.

And here is a sailing school in a sailing village.

In a classroom there is a poster offering to buy stationery, 10 thin copybooks cost $25!

Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel in Turkey

It would seem that people have long since done away with living in caves, and even now no intention of returning to them. However, in Cappadocia (Turkey) is a cave, a room in which people are willing to pay more and more. It is a cave hotel Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel. The hotel consists of 6 separate systems, which in total has 30 rooms carved into solid rock.

Most expensive house in America is sold

 This 57,000-square foot Los Angeles home, listed at $150 million, was sold to a 22-year-old U.K. heiress.
Photo: Realtor.com

The long-running drama over the sale of the highest-priced home in the U.S. appears to be heading to its finale.

The 57,000-square foot Los Angeles mansion built by the late TV producer Aaron Spelling is slated for sale to a 22-year-old heiress to a Formula One racing fortune. The home on five acres of property in Holmby Hills has a bowling alley, beauty salon, several gift-wrapping rooms and parking for 100 cars.
"The Manor," as the property is known, had a list price of $150 million that didn't budge during the real-estate downturn that sent prices in Los Angeles down by more than a third. The sales price was not disclosed.