Category: Around The World Travel Planner

What are the Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions ? Christopher Columbus discovered Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, on his route to America in 1492. Soon, the island became a crossroads linking Europe and America for the mercantile trade of the 1600s, but it also became an indispensable part of the slave market that delivered innumerable African captives to America.

Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions

Over time a unique culture with rich folklore has developed. Today’s Dominican Republic culture is made up of a vibrant mix of communities and customs dating back hundreds of years.

With these beliefs, the Dominican women have faithfully embraced the following traditions.

• Gender traditions

From the moment of birth, boys and girls are treated unevenly in the Dominican Republic. Boys are permitted to run unclothed as youngsters, while girls must be clothed properly or they and their families will be subjected to civil reprimands.

Dominican misses must be attended at all times and tradition appoints that a girl who is polite and cooperative will improve her chances of a future good marriage. To that end, remaining a virgin unto matrimony is of absolute relevance to the code of conduct for women in Dominican society.

However, in the society of the Dominican Republic, being a mistress and having children outside of marriage is publicly allowed and custom directs that the man give up to his girlfriend the house in which they reside if the relationship ends. As in most Latino communities, Dominican ladies always yield to men, although a woman can hold the usual position as the head of the family if she is single.

• Dominican Republic Pop Culture

Playing music with the family is an essential part of the Dominican Republic Pop Culture . Mothers encourage kids to play the island’s three most famous instruments: (all displayed in the above picture).

Women also maintain dance rituals, performing the most famous dancing routine, the merengue dance, at gatherings, on social occasions, and mainly during the spring festival.

Concerning literature, Dominican gals are the defenders of a precious legacy of spoken storytelling. It has always gravitated to the women of the island to carry on folk tales, myths, species novels, and other social anecdotes.

In the 19th century, Spanish colonizers preceded rousseauistic European books to the Dominican Republic, yet because only a few women could read, traditional stories were the ones always recited distinctly, becoming part of the articulated custom of the community.

Hora Loca Dominican Republic

A tradition termed “La Hora Loca” or “The Crazy Hour,” if translated from Spanish, is a burgeoning trend in wedding receptions in many countries including the Dominican Republic. Arising in Venezuela, this folklore party has undertaken to expand to the US and other places.

Basically, la hora loca begins by dimming the lights, and then abruptly a riot of vitality, sounds-makers, confetti, shine, flashy feathered ballerinas matching those from Brazil’s festival, and musicians pervade the place to get the party started providing the guests with masks to inspire them to dance with them. Prices can range from $500 to $3,000.

• Art folklore

Dominican amber is deemed one of the most impressive excavated jewels in the Caribbean regions, so it came as no wonder that jewelry manufacturing with amber gemstones dotted with red, green, orange, blue, and purplish colors has become a common profession among many Dominican ladies.

Another handcrafted stone to the island is larimar, a large stone that comes in intense azure and green tones. Tour the local Dominican bazaars to view these individual artisan gems on display; And if you’re there around the holiday season, you can try on the showy costumes and traditional headpieces worn by the island’s gals.

• Dominican Christmas Traditions

Girls anxiously await the seasonal break to wear the traditional Dominican dresses that embrace both African and European fashion styles to sway to the music of inherent rhythms during the spring festival march. However, no celebration compares to that of New Year’s Eve.

Before the housewives serve their families a second hearty Christmas dinner, they mimic the Dominican Christmas Traditions of cleaning the house from top to bottom so that the people who live under their roof have a wealthy year.

Dominican women are also responsible for other Dominican Christmas Traditions such as demanding all family members to eat 12 grapes, one each time the clock strikes, so that the upcoming year will be sweet.

Women and family members dress in the traditional colors for good luck in the New Year:

• green to find money,
• red to express a bright future,
• yellow to promote work-life,
• and white to boost well-being.

Once the holiday clothes have been chosen, Dominican Christmas Traditions requires that women throw away their old brooms before midnight and buy new ones that will have to be kept outside until New Year’s Day.

• Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions

Each Dominican bride receives 13 coins, ceremoniously relinquished to her on a silver platter. A child begins the transfer from hand to hand, giving the tray to the priest, the groom, and then the bride to express their loyalty and confinement received from each other.

Another of the most prominent Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions is honoring the mother-in-law. The groom arrives with his mother at the church before anyone else can access it.

In addition to the Dominican wedding ceremony, the cultural gift traditions prevent women from bringing wedding presents to the ceremony or reception; Gifts must go to the bride’s house before the wedding day.

Facts About Malawi Africa – The essence of any Malawi vacation is centered around the nature around Lake Malawi. But also small amusement parks and round trips would make your vacation an adventure!

Malawi is still hardly known to tourists. But it is growing- and attracts visitors with its recultivated national parks, the picturesque underwater world of Lake Malawi, and grotesque masquerades.

A man dressed in a monster costume with a red and white giant head race towards children and women. It spins around in circles, whirls up sand until it almost disappears in a cloud of dust, and moves stones into the crowd. It kneels, jumps up again, hops, rages, looks bitterly angry. His fringed fur bobs along, following each of the chaotic movements.

A dance of St. Vitus in the African forest. A large ring of people under an old marula tree on the edge of the village on Lake Malawi is always watching. However, the locals obviously consider this mixture of devils, humans, and animals to be dangerous.

Interesting facts About Lake Malawi – Nyassa

A Fun Fact About Malawi For Kids Is That when the British explorer David Livingstone was the first white man to stand on its shores in the middle of the 19th century and asked the natives what name this lake had, they answered “Nyassa”. Livingstone had no idea that the Chewa people had never thought of giving this lake a name. They called it simply “Nyassa – waters”.

Up until the present day, the Nyassa Sea was marked on African maps, and one of the great errors in the history of the Black Continent was only corrected after the country gained independence when it was renamed Lake Malawi.

Which, by the way, does not prevent English cartographers from sticking to the historical name of the water: Lake Nyasa.

Lake Malawi – as big as a sea.

The inhabitants are almost without exception dependent on the fruits of their “sea” and the fisherman’s profession has a very high priority in the small country. This is a quiet lake because it knows neither currents nor tides and anyone who moves on it in a kayak will be amazed because they hardly ever come across a motor ship.

The MV Chilembwe ship alone transports its passengers between Malawi and Mozambique and the legendary MS Ilala ship is the only connection with the outside world for many. The previous model of the Ilala came here on an adventurous journey on the Zambezi. On the way, the ship was dismantled and transported over rapids by eight hundred porters.

Green hills and lonely beaches

Thanks to secluded shingles with tropical shorelines, Malawi beach holidays offer heavenly conditions for romantic couples! A warm breeze flows from the lake to the luxurious lodges, which were built on green hills or directly in the sand of a bay. Snorkeling in the mesmerizing Lake or diving in the warm springs is something of a national sport here.

Vacationers experience fascinating underwater spectacles with countless colorful fish in Lake Malawi. In no other inland lake on the globe is there such a great diversity of species. This is one of the reasons why people in Malawi have now discovered that the colorful creatures of their lake are becoming commodity hits for aquarium enthusiasts all over the world.

Since the country found a peaceful path from dictatorship to democracy in 1994, tourism has also grown. Malawi has earned a reputation for being a sparkling little diamond among African nations, and it truly deserves it.

The “Big Five” are back too

However, Malawi, the country on the lake, which takes up a fifth of the landmass, has more to offer than beach holidays and snorkeling adventures. The “Big Five” are again at home in the national parks that are worth seeing and are protected by law and numerous rangers.

Elephants, buffalo, rhinos, lions, and leopards were almost completely eradicated, and great efforts had to be made to correct this decay through poaching. The lion is the heraldic animal of Malawi and is wandering the bush and tree savannahs again today.

When the long-abandoned preserved areas were reopened, there were only bushbuck and kudu left there. It is thanks to a non-profit organization that large animals can now be found in this region again. And so is a Malawi safari absolutely another unforgettable adventure.

The wild animals were relocated

The chosen place to relocate those wild animals is between the south shore of Lake Malawi and the lifeline of Liwonde National Park. On a traditional Malawi safari, the participants are driven through areas that are often swampy and are therefore populated by numerous crocodiles on the shore zones.

A visit to the Majete Wildlife Reserve, which has recently also benefited from pursuits reminiscent of the biblical Noah’s Ark, is also informative and diverse. About 2500 animals were relocated and apparently feel very comfortable in their new terrain.

The lion families have grown and herds of elephants again dominate the scene. On a round trip through the national parks of Malawi, the days always end in cozy lodges where the animals go out of their way to gratify their visitors.

“Grass and Flowers – The Colors of Europe”

Malawi is very proud of its five national parks and four game reserves. Those who want to escape the tropical heat of the south for a few days will love the cooler north of the country, where the Nyika National Park extends to heights of 2600 meters.

The South African writer Laurens van der Post once described this fascinating area as follows: “It was like nowhere else here. It was deep in the heart of Africa- with the animals of Africa. The landscape, however, was covered with grass, the flowers and the colors of Europe “.

It is the realm of the leopards – surrounded by the fog that always makes nature green and bloom. A region that, like no other region on the black continent, has its natural and has retained its pristine charm.

Visit this paradisiacal place and stay in one of your preferred Malawi lodges. Malawi is said to be the “warm heart of Africa”. It is a heart that beats happily again after years of dictatorship.

Average Cost Of Living In Switzerland VS USA – For more Americans who move abroad, the change can be jumpy or not. Of course, it depends on where you move and how much the new country resembles your home country.

Switzerland is a never-ending winsome expatriate destination. It’s a European and global center for investment, technology, and growth abilities, which implies there are numerous, well-paid careers for immigrants in all the major cities.

Yet, it can be a bit high-priced to move there. Actually, Zurich is listed as the most costly city on the earth (21% more expensive than London), and Geneva is the 3rd most expensive city in the world as well.

Average Cost Of Living In Switzerland VS USA

In some cases, you may not even be able to choose where to move but instead prioritize the job itself rather than the country.  In other cases, it is only the environmental change that attracts, and then it can be very exciting to read about different countries and cities to get an idea of ​​where to thrive best.

Moving abroad is often exciting, interesting, stimulating, and enriching. One factor that can be decisive for which country you choose to move to is the cost of living in the intended country. Together with other factors such as climate, culture, opportunities to find housing and work, and so on, they often form a basis for the decision to move.

Switzerland is indeed expensive – however, the salaries are usually high to balance the cost of living there. Still, if you’re retiring, or moving to Switzerland for good, it’s important to have a representation of what life there will require as an ex-pat.

Here’s a detailed guide to help you avoid any surprises later.

• The Economy and Its Relation To The Average Cost Of Living In Switzerland VS The USA

Unless you have unlimited resources and are financially independent, the economy probably plays a certain role, and that of course includes the cost of living in the new country.

• • Do you already have an income that you can carry in the move?
  • or saving money to live for the first time?
  • Have you planned to apply for a job in the new country, and what type of jobs do you have the opportunity to get?
  • What does the income look like in your particular profession?
  • What does your lifestyle look like and how much money do you want to spend around with?

As you can see, there are many issues to consider. Together with the income, the country’s living costs must go together in a reasonable balance in order for you to have a good quality of life and security after emigration.

• Consumer Price Index – CPI

Consumer Price Index (CPI)  is a measure used when measuring and comparing the cost of living in different countries. This includes factors such as food, transportation expenses, and housing costs. It is based on the cost of living for the inhabitants of a major city like New York and has set this to Index 100.

Countries that are on a higher index number thus have a higher average cost of living, while a lower number indicates that it is cheaper to live there.

CPI is therefore a good measure to get an idea of ​​what the cost of living looks like in the country (or region for that matter) that you are considering moving to. However, one should take into account that wage levels, taxes, and so on look different in various countries, which is important to keep in mind when putting together the overall picture.

• • If you are Swedish or have been living in Switzerland and been saving your income and then decided to move to a country with a low CPI, you will probably feel that you have a lot of money left over.
  • But if you are an American and decided to move to Switzerland depending on your previous American savings, then it can be very clingy to survive there.

CPI is only calculated on the actual costs independent of the residents’ income. Therefore, it can give a somewhat skewed picture of what it is like to live in a particular country, and one can therefore also make use of other measures such as gross domestic product (GDP), which is explained below.

As a comparison, it may be good to know that Sweden is in 15th place out of 123 countries with a CPI of 77.63 (mid-2016). CPI is a good measure to get an overview when you start thinking about moving abroad. Together with GDP and research on the jobs, you have the opportunity to get, you can then get a good overall picture.

Average Cost Of Living In Zurich Switzerland

• Salary in Zurich (monthly) What is the average salary in Zurich?

• Average net salary zurich = 5,691.69 €
• Salary of an auditor zurich = 6,230.00 €
• Salary for an architect zurich = 7,420.82 €
• Salary for babysitter zurich = 2,427.92 €
• Salaries for a waiter zurich = 3,618.74 €
• Dentist’s salary = 18,139.98 €
• Cashier CHF 21,264
• Copywriter CHF 58,668
• Financial analyst CHF 104,355
• Graphic designer CHF 34,120
• Mobile developer CHF 115,743
• Product manager CHF 81,583
• Receptionist CHF 44,381
• Software engineer CHF 68,989
• Teacher CHF 40,955
• Web developer CHF 61,930

• Average Cost to buy or rent price for houses or apartments in Zurich Swi

How much does it cost to rent or buy a house in Zurich?

• ?Monthly rental of a 1-room apartment in the middle = 1,645.61 €
• Monthly rental of a 1-room apartment in the suburbs = 1,211.01 €
• ?Monthly rent for apartment, 3 rooms, center = 3,061.31 €
• Monthly rent for apartment 3 rooms on the outskirts = 2,263.89 €
• Price per sqm of an apartment in the center = 12,347.77 €
• Price per sqm of an apartment in the suburbs = 7,809.51 €

•  Prices in Grocery Stores in Zurich 

How much does it cost to fill a shopping cart in Zurich? Here you can find prices for meat, fruits, vegetables, legumes, lactose, cereals, and non-alcoholic beverages:

• ? Baguette (250 g) = € 1.34
•  A dozen eggs = 5.03 €
• One kilo of chicken wings = 25.78 €
• ? 1 kilogram of apples = 3.84 €
• One liter of milk = 1.57 €
• One kilogram of cheese = 23.4 €
• One kilogram of ceasar salad = 2.35 €
• One kilogram of onion = € 2.35
• ? 1 Kilogram of potatoes = 2.52 €
• ? 1 Kg tomatoes = 3.82 €
• ? 1 Kg oranges = € 3.87
• ? One kilogram of banana = 2.67 €

• Restaurant prices in Zurich

How much does it cost to eat in Zurich? Here you can find prices of coffee, water, soft drinks, daily menus, burgers, and restaurants. :

• Food for one person, cheap restaurant = 22.94 €
• Food for two in a good restaurant = 91.76 €
• Macdonalds menu = € 12.34
• ☕️ Coffee with milk in a cafeteria = 4.57 €
• Can of Coke or Pepsi (0.33l) = € 3.97
• Bottle of water (0.33l) = € 3.32

• Price of shoes and clothes in Zurich Switzerland

Here you can find prices for sneakers, jeans, dresses, and shoes: Zurich

• ? A pair of leather shoes for suit = 167.82 €
• ? A pair of jeans = 103.11 €
• ? Ladies summer dress = 46.51 €
• ? A Nike = 114.53 €

Service prices in Zurich Switzerland

How much does it cost to rent mobile data/internet or a phone call in Zurich?

• ?Internet Amount = 51.67 €
• One month water and electricity for an apartment of 80 square meters = 173.53 €
• 1-minute phone call with a prepaid phone = 0.25 €
• A movie ticket = € 16.52
• Monthly fee, gym = 73.08 €

•  Average prices for transportation in Zurich

How much does an urban transport ticket or a liter of petrol cost in Zurich?

• Ticket in public transport = 3.67 €
• ?First fare standard taxi = 6.42 €
• Monthly public transport card = 78 €
• One hour taxi ride = 73.23 €
• 1KM standard AND taxi = 3.67 €
• Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW = 20,177.9 €
• Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline = 22,023.3 €
• 1 liter of petrol = € 1.54

Travel guide in Zurich

• ?Power connectors = 230V 50Hz
• ⏱Average travel duration = 5 days
• ?Air quality (annual average) = 20 µg / m3
• ?Best application to order taxi = Uber
• ?Best wireless carrier = Swisscom
• ?Cashless society = No, only cash (esp. For foreigners)
• ÄBest collaboration space = CoLab Zurich
• ?Safe tap water = Yes, drinkable
• Religious government = Non-religious
• online electronics store online = Digitec
• ✈️Best airline with short-range = Swiss
• ✈️best international airlines = Swiss
• ?Internet speed avg = 28 Mbps
• ?Tipping = No

• Budget for travelers in Zurich

How much money do you need in a day in Zurich?

• Budget for song cost traveler * = 72.68 €
• ?Travel budget for a family with 1 child = 300.67 €
• Travel budget for a family with 3 children = 575.13 €

* Amount of cheap travel expense (1 person for 1 day): This budget is for backpackers and entrants, 2 meals (on a street or in a store, one night in a hostel, two bottles of water, a beer, and a ticket for the train or bus.

The Average cost of studying in Switzerland

• Tuition fees

Swiss universities charge tuition fees. Tuition fees are usually CHF 500-2000 (Swiss francs) per semester, but there is a lot of variation in tuition fees. Tuition fees at certain colleges can be as high as CHF 10,000 per semester. In addition, some colleges may charge higher tuition fees for international students.

Cost of living and housing for students

In Switzerland, the cost of living is high. Because living in Switzerland is relatively expensive, students prefer a roommate. Students may have to acquire their home away from school or change their home several times during their studies, as there are few affordable homes available. Due to the high price level, some students work during their education to finance their housing expenses.

Finding an apartment can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to start your search early enough. Only a few universities have student housing, but they may also require charges for their students’ housing.

In higher education, teaching is available in local languages ​​(German, French, Italian, and Romansh) as well as English. Many universities offer free language courses to their students

Most expensive and cheapest countries in the world

The figures that follow here are calculated on the 2016 half-year report.

• Bermuda has the highest CPI in the world with 140.31
• closely followed by Switzerland with 125.67.
• India has the very lowest cost of living at 24.02.

But as I said, the earnings figures look completely different in India compared to Switzerland and other top CPI countries.

Low cost of living in Eastern Europe

In Eastern Europe, there are many countries that in recent years have been modernized more and more, but where the cost of living is still rather low if compared to Sweden, among others. Countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, and Russia are relatively cheap countries to live in.

Many international companies invest and open new offices and new entrepreneurs in Europe start new companies in these countries as the workforce is vigorous and the wages are relatively low.

Although the cost of living in Eastern European countries is lower than in Sweden, it is worth mentioning that these countries have also had an increased CPI in recent years, and many of them have had a good positive economic development.

This means that it can be a good idea to invest in these countries, but also interesting to take part in the development that is taking place. There are many companies in Eastern Europe that have a continuous recruitment need of Swedish-speaking employees in customer service, sales, administration, finance & finance, etc.

Do you yearn for the warmth?

Do you long for a warm climate and exotic cultures? Then you can look even further east towards countries such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia to find countries with low cost of living. South Korea has slightly higher costs than many other Asian countries but is still cheaper than Sweden, and if you, like many others, are interested in Japan, they are actually higher in CPI than Sweden. However, many countries in southern Europe, such as Spain and Portugal, have lower living costs.

The Dominican Republic is a Latin American country that has about 10 million citizens. Its capital is Santo Domingo, it is an island in the Caribbean Sea of great ​​over-visited by tourists especially in summer times. It attained its independence in the 20th century and has an expanse of ​​about 50,000 square kilometers. Let’s see some Cool, Fun & Interesting Facts About The Dominican Republic.

Fun & Interesting Facts About Dominican Republic

1- The Dominican Republic has one of the top 10 largest economies in both Central America and the Caribbean. And it is the tenth most populated island in the world.

Cocoa exportation is one of the country’s principal sources of income. 2% of the worldwide is cocoa consumption is of Dominican origin.

2- Its capital Santo Domingo was founded in the 15th century and it was the prototype to which the rest of the cities of America were supposed to be similar. The city has the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Its first stone was established in 1514 by Diego Colón, Christopher Columbus’s son.

3- Baseball is their official national sport having presented some of the best players in the history of the sport. The game was first introduced at the end of the 19th century, it soon became the most widespread game on the island.

4- The beaches of Punta Cana are rated among the best in the world, welcoming millions of vacationists every year. Tourism is the island’s foremost source of national income. The government has taken full use of this prosperity, which has driven the building of hotel networks, shopping centers, and other recreational hubs.

Its beautiful shores, kind-hearted people, tropical weather make it one of the most visited Caribbean destinations especially by adventurers from Europe, the United States, and Canada.

What are the Dominican Republic Wedding Traditions ?

5- The first university in America was founded in 1538 in Santo Domingo is actually the “Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino”. Papal Bull In Apostolatus Culmine approved the construction on October 28, 1538. Santo Domingo university belonged to the Spanish crown and had to comply with the Spanish laws.

6- Dominicans are the first innovative producers of the sung genres of Merengue and Bachata. The Dominican Republic is acknowledged for producing and perfecting a harmonious singing and dancing technique known as merengue. Distinguished by its fast-paced rhythmic music.

Also, there’s Bachata, yet another type of popular Dominican music basically arose in the countryside and rural villages, has become quite famous in recent years.

7- The Country is named after “Santo Domingo de Guzmán”, the founder of the Dominican order.

Fun & Interesting Facts About Dominican Republic

8-  Larimar is a semi-precious gem of volcanic source, obtained from the underground thick layers of the cliffs in the southwest of the Dominican island. Its unusual sky-blue colors make it something extremely desired by the country’s visitors.

A reverend first found that unique stone, then it got rediscovered in 1974 by Miguel Méndez, a local goldsmith. He suggested joining two words to form the name of the turquoise stone: Lari (the initials of his daughter’s name Larisa) and Mar (the Spanish word for sea).

9- La Española or Hispaniola islands was the first European settlement in America. It was actually one of the first places Christopher Columbus has landed on his first arrival in the new world in 1492.

Pico Duarte is a mountain in the Cordillera Central range(3,087 meters above sea level). It is deemed to be the highest of the Greater Antilles. Mountaineers and school assemblies love to climb it. It’s probably why are the islands  Taino indigenous people of the Caribbean, named the island Ayiti or Hayti (meaning high lands).

10-Spanish is the official language of the country and the most widely spoken since the Spaniards colonization in the 19th century. Then English was also commonly used upon the arrival of slaves from the US, and it kept spreading till today.

Also, in places that are at the Haitian borders, French is widely spoken, and French-mixed idioms and words can be noted across the island.

Sydney is the most emblematic city to see in Australia even if it is not the capital. It was the first point of arrival for Europeans and many years later, in 2000, it became known to the world by hosting the Olympic Games. These are some of the events that have left their imprint on the beautiful city … If you want to know more about it, we’ll tell you Some Interesting Facts About Sydney Australia.

Historical Facts About Sydney Australia

• A very young country … or not so young?

Australia is one of the most recent countries to be added to the world map. Having been founded as a nation only in 1901. However, Sydney was the first European settlement even many years before that, in 1788. A very short time later they arrived in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Still, not everything in Australia is this recent.

It is considered the oldest territory and, based on radiocarbon dating, Sydney is believed to have been inhabited by indigenous people in about 30,000 BCE.

•  A little-known name change

It’s hard to imagine another name for Sydney, but it was originally called New Albion, referring to the poetic name for Great Britain. But Captain Arthur Philip renamed it in honor of the then English Home Secretary, Lord Sydney, who permitted him to establish the colony.

Its original name is still important in the city since in Albion Street you can find a lot of historical buildings to remember its beginnings. Without a doubt, one of the best Unkown Facts about Sydney Australia.

 Facts About Sydney Harbour Bridge In Australia 

The Harbor Bridge is also affectionately known as “The Coathanger”  for its characteristic arched shape. It is the largest steel bridge in the world. When its construction was planned, more than 800 families had to leave their homes to leave enough space for the massive project.

If you think the Sydney Opera is huge, imagine how impressive the 3,770 feet high bridge …

Fun Facts About Sydney Australia

•  A Weird incident at the opening

When the Harbor Bridge was to be inaugurated in 1932, a man in a military uniform broke into the ceremony. Before the ribbon was symbolically cut by the Prime Minister of New South Wales, this intruder did so on horseback with a sword. Logically, he was arrested by the police.

•  The most masculine beach

One of the curiosities of Sydney is the name of this beach, perhaps that’s why it became the most famous after Bondi The famous Manly Beach is named so as the founder of the city Capt. Arthur Phillip was impressed by the manly behavior of the indigenous inhabitants.

• Very valuable 1 cent coins

In 1991 the 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation, but nine years later they became very valuable. They were fused to make the bronze medals for the 2000 Olympics. Now, they are the world’s most precious cents.

• The Rum Rebellion

This is the name of the only successful coup. At the beginning of the Sydney colony, rum was a very common form of payment, so when the governor banned it in 1808, the leaders of the rum trade plotted a coup to remove it from power.

•  Beware of spiders!

The Sydney spider has longer fangs than many snakes and its bite causes death in less than 15 minutes. It is called a Sydney funnel-web spider but the truth is that it can be found all over the east coast of Australia, so watch out for them!

• The Origin Of The World’s Only Floating Forest

The Homebush Bay area was remodeled for the Olympics. It was one of the most polluted parts of Sydney from industrial waste and rust from the dozens of abandoned ships on the Parramatta River.

Most of the boats were withdrawn, but the SS Ayrfield was left with a completely rusted deck to host a floating forest. The 102-Year-Old Abandoned ship where even seagulls board in the breeding season.

• A risky way to get to Sydney

In 2010, four men tried to go from London to Sydney by jet ski. Nothing more and nothing less than 31,000km … Against all odds, they managed to reach Greece, where their vehicles sank due to a storm in the Mediterranean. The Greek coast guard had to intervene in their rescue. This is undoubtedly one of the craziest facts about Sydney Australia.

• An Olympic trap

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra was supposed to play at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. However, the music played was a recording by their rivals, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

•  A peculiar train

Like the London Necropolis Railway, Sydney had its own “funeral” rail network. Trains carried the coffins and relatives of the deceased from Mortuary Station (near present-day Central Station) to Rookwood Cemetery. The trip occurred in 1867 when the city’s cemeteries were already full.

Facts About Australia Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Surely, when you think of Australia, or more specifically Sydney, this spectacular work of art comes to mind. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007 , it is the main attraction of the city, the largest in Australia.

In the late 1940s, Sydney wanted to be a world-class city, but intellectuals thought it was not a pioneer in culture . Among other things, this city lacked a stage to host large theatrical performances, including works of classical music.

It is made up of three different buildings that give the impression of being one. About 10,000 workers participated in its construction. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 20, 1973, months after the completion of the work

Apart from having a great story, it also hides many curious facts. Next, we will tell you some interesting Facts About Australia Sydney Opera House so that you can learn more about one of the most photographed buildings in the world. We also give you useful information to visit the opera.

• One-of-a-kind glass

The glass used in the construction of the building is unique to the Sydney Opera House and comes from France. It was commissioned by the builders and tailor-made for the occasion, so there is no other building in the world using it.

• When building the Sydney Opera House, they went SLIGHTLY over a budget …

The building ended up costing almost 15 times more than expected. This was one of the main reasons why the work stopped for a while. Finally, the cost of the construction was 102 million Australian dollars, instead of the 7 million that they had planned to spend.

• It replaced a fort

On the ground on which the Sydney Opera House stands there once was a well-known fort, located in the same strategic position on Sydney Harbor.

• Is it very big?

The Sydney Opera House is 187 meters long and 115 meters wide, much larger than the size of a football field. It sits on 5,798 hectares of land, a space enough for 8 Boeing 747 models to fit from wing to wing.

•  It owns the largest mechanical instrument in the world

The great organ in the Opera House took more than 10 years to get built. Today, it is the largest mechanical music instrument in the world with 10,154 pipes.

• What is the largest hall in the Opera?

Despite having six halls to host shows, the largest and best known is the concert hall, which contains 2,679 seats. Not only art is shown, but it also has a very prestigious recording studio for musicians and filmmakers inside the opera.

• How many light bulbs are changed each year?

For maintenance tasks, 15,500 light bulbs are changed annually at the Sydney Opera House.

• An early opening concert

The first person to perform at the Sydney Opera House was Paul Robeson and he did so despite not being finished. It happened in 1960 when Ol ‘Man River sang to construction workers over lunch.

• Funny accident

In the 1980s a chicken fell on the head of an orchestra musician while he was performing at the Opera House. A net was later installed over the musicians so that another accident like this would not happen again.

• More than 350 kilometers of steel cable were used in the construction

Long enough to go from Sydney to Canberra or from Barcelona to Saragossa.

• The architect did know Sydney

Danish Jørn Utzon won the competition to design the building despite never having been to Sydney. But he had a great advantage: a former naval experience that helped him study the shape of the port and the location of the Opera.

• The project won by a hairbreadth

Three judges rejected Utzon’s design in the competition, but the prestigious American architect Eero Saarinen was also part of the jury and convinced the rest that Utzon had to be chosen ahead of 232 other projects. The winner was awarded a modest £ 5000 as a prize.

• Inspired by an orange

Jørn Utzon is believed to have been inspired by the opera’s arched ceiling design while he was peeling an orange. There are other sources that say that the Danish architect was also inspired by snails, palm leaves and Mayan temples.

• Its designer did not witness its completion

Utzon was an architectural genius, but he never saw any of his seven works completed , including the Sydney Opera House. A change of government in New South Wales caused the funding to stop. The Dane had to leave Australia in 1966 and never returned. However, his work will be remembered for eternity.

• Record-breaking concert

The largest concert ever held at the Sydney Opera House in terms of attendance was by the Crowded House band in 1996. It is estimated that there were around 250,000 people.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger won his last Mr. Olympia title at an event held at the Sydney Opera House

It was a very controversial and surprising contest, since the actor decided to appear the day before the event when he was supposed to have already left the bodybuilding profession.

New Orleans is the capital of beautiful Louisiana and one of the most influential municipalities in the US. If you ended up here looking for some Fun Facts About New Orleans, search no more…

You’ll get to know all about NoLa with this collection of Amazing And Probably Unknown historical Facts and surprising information.

A country full of sumptuous, historic, and modern German Landmarks ! Touring the best cities to visit in Germany is the choicest resolution to make

Germany is not a country like the others, both by its cultural and natural diversity. There are dozens and dozens of Cities & German Landmarks to visit, so it’s hard to know where to go, as there is something for everyone. Here is a small, subjective overview of the different best cities in Germany to visit

The Best Cities in Germany Are:

1. Berlin
2. Munich
3. Cologne
4. Dresden
5. Frankfort
6. Hamburg

Germany is one of the most historic European countries. Long known as Germania, it is full of works of art and historic monuments that perfectly reflect its cultural charm. This country attracts millions of people every year from all over the world who want to discover all the history, all the specifics and the beautiful German Landmarks in the big best cities in Germany to visit like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg …

Do you want to visit Germany and you don’t know where to start? Do you want to discover the symbols of German power? This article is for you!

BERLIN

Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

The capital of the country, Berlin is known mainly for all its historical monuments from the Prussian era. So there is a lot of amazing German Landmarks to see and even much more activities do during a weekend in Berlin:

• the Brandenburg Gate
• the Goebbels and Goering buildings
• the Charlottenburg Palace (former summer residence of the Prussian kings)
• the Reichstag (Parliament) or the famous Berlin Wall and the Museum Island, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Still, Berlin is also known for its nightlife, during which revelers from all pathways of life can find themselves in the hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs, and cafes in the capital.

MUNICH

Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

This Bavarian Capital is considered the second capital after Berlin, Munich is undoubtedly one of the three most beautiful best cities to visit in Germany and a weekend will not be enough for you to see all the German Landmarks there. If you are a fan of green open spaces, you will not be disappointed with more than 30% of the city covered by parks or other types of gardens (including the “English gardens”).

To visit Munich is all about enjoying its incredible museums and its department stores and shopping centers. For culture fans, you can visit the old town and then the more modern Munich.

COLOGNE

Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

Smaller than Berlin, Cologne is known for its drinks, the Kölsch. Although Cologne is smaller than Berlin, it is one of the best cities in Germany.  It has many other attractions, including cultural German Landmarks such as the Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (ancient Roman city), the dome of the city or the 12 basilicas Romanesque and the Cologne Museum (including the cathedral cited as one of the most beautiful German Landmarks).

I also advise you to visit the city during its carnival, considered the most important holiday after Christmas and taking place from November to the end of February.

With an architectural style oscillating between the 18th century and the 19th century, all the German Landmarks of Munich are just impressive!

DRESDEN

Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

Dresden, the capital of Saxony. If you are a history lover, do you want to discover new historical German Landmarks, then Dresden is made for you thanks to all its monuments and various buildings such as the Taschenberg palace, the Brühl terrace, the equestrian statue of King Johann on the theater square or the Bath of the Nymphs.

Dresden was not spared during the Second World War, but it has since been able to rebuild itself, to the delight of Germans and tourists. And it is not for nothing that the city is called (“the Florence of the Elbe”)!

The city of Dresden concentrates on many cultural treasures, indeed, you can attend different cultural events at the Semper Opera!

FRANKFURT

Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

As a tourist, the city of Frankfurt is not as interesting as other best cities to visit in Germany, as it is mainly the financial heart of the country with many banks, the office of the European Central Bank, as well as the 3rd most important airport in Europe (after Roissy and Heathrow).

But that’s not all! This city puts at your disposal several impressive historical German Landmarks such as the cathedral of Frankfurt, the medieval-style houses in the Dom Römer district also modern buildings and skyscrapers such as the Main Tower and its panoramic restaurant offering a breathtaking view of the whole the city!

HAMBURG

Hamborg Best Cities & German Landmarks To Visit In Germany

Hamburg, a heterogeneous city. Hamburg, with its 1.8 million inhabitants, is one of the most important and best cities to visit in Germany. Between mixed tradition and thrilling modernity, Hamburg has its own charm. By visiting this magnificent city, you will be able to discover its majestic port, the Saint-Michel church, its old tunnels under the Elbe and its fish market La Fischauktionshalle. Also, the city center made up of industrial buildings made from bricks as well as the night district “Sankt Pauli”.

Other German Landmarks To Visit

• Neuschwanstein, the castle of Louis II of Bavaria
• Heidelberg Castle in Baden-Württemberg
• Sanssouci Castle in Potsdam
• Hamburg: The port, the fish market

WHEN TO VISIT GERMANY?

The weather in Germany is not always mild. The ideal period is between May (13 degrees on average) and September (14 on average), to be able to enjoy touring the country without being too cold. other than this period, the temperature may fall to a negative point at the end of the year.

For weather and temperature updates in Germany, I advise you to use Meteovista which provides all the necessary information on the current and future country weather.

At The End

With its large industrial cities, this country is today a real economic power. Germany is a very developed country, it has even become the symbol of European modernity. But the real strength of the German people lies in their ability to mix modernity, culture, and history to ensure a future full of success.

As proof, the German flag perfectly reflects the history of this country with its three horizontal bands of black, red, and gold!

It is for its different historical, cultural places, and its wealth that this country attracts millions of tourists. Germany is today a symbol of the future-oriented power of the European Union!

Finally, Germany is a country full of sumptuous, historic and modern places! Visiting such a beautiful country is the best decision to make, whether in winter o in summer!

And you, do you have other best cities to visit in Germany or German landmarks to recommend us?