In excess of 30 old castles still remain in the southeast area of England as a reminder of the days when Great britain was a country partioned by dominating families who constructed formidable fortresses to shield their lands from invaders, both overseas and local. Modern castle tours allow visitors to acquire an idea of how important these beautifully safeguarded buildings are to the rich historical past and culture of Great britain. Exploring the the royal collections of noteworthy aristocrats including Mary Queen of Scots during guided tours of the Arundel Castle in West Sussex offer tourists a sense of the splendour and style that were all around the British aristocracy in medieval days. The skilled guides tell tales that bring the past to life as they retell popular battles and legends that beseige this interesting castle. At the majestic Guildford Castle, visitors can safely go up to high on top of the Great Tower to see the wide ranging view that was utilized by the castle’s defenders to see approaching enemy troops. Inside are exhibits that let tourists study models of the castle as it was originally built in the 1300s. Informative videos describe the function that Guildford Castle performed in British background. Whenever the magnificent Herstmonceux castle comes into sight, tourists are astounded by the moat that stresses how sturdy defenses were required to discourage invaders when this castle was built in the violent times of 15th century England. Although once in ruins, the castle has been magnificently restored and is now house of the Queen’s Bader Institute. Encircling the castle alongside the moat are public grounds that echo the Elizabethan time when lands were exquisite play grounds for the aristocracy. After the twisting forest paths that head towards wood land sculptures that are shown in the Shakesphere garden, Rose Garden and the Herb Garden offer tourists a feeling of how the romance of courtliness was once performed amid these dramatic surroundings. High atop the famed white cliffs of Kent, the Dover Castle’s breath-taking views across the English channel make it apparent why this old site has been put to use for centuries to defend the south eastern shores of Britain. Dover Castle was developed by William the Conqueror in 1066 after his triumph at the Battle of Hastings, but there are damages encircling the castle that date back much further, and proof of developments through the years. Viewing the many variations of this strategic site, including a hall once referred to as Arthur’s Hall, gives modern day visitors a taste of Britain’s rich history. When you come into Hever Castle, the childhood household of Anne Boylen, the homely ambiance is quite distinct from other southeastern English castles. The displays of individual items and recreations of the gowns worn by the six wives of Henry the VIII echos the richness of 16th century Tudor lifestyle. But the group of weapons, armour and devices of torture and execution in the Council Chamber speak of a much darker side of life full of high intrigue and authentic risk that lurked in the medieval courts. Find out more information about some of the numerous Castles in England


15.06.2010. | Categories: Travel Tips + More, History Parlor | Comments Off

Paris is the capital of France and one of the most best-known and
gorgeous cities in the world. It is currently the most populated city
in France with a population of about 2,200,000 people. Paris is also considered one of the main cultural and business hubs and Paris is considered as one of the global cities of the Europe. Paris has
a lot of influence in politics, fashion, media, art, and entertainment. In addition, Paris is also a leading business district with a revenue of about US$731.3 billion in
2007 and accounting for more than a quarter of France’s gross domestic product(GDP). Paris is one of the far-famed tourist destinations where there are about 45 million tourists (60% of them are foreign) visit Paris every
year. There are many institutions and landmarks that make Paris the ultimate destination of the Europe.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel tower is the first thing which comes to anyone’s mind when they refer to Paris. It is considered a global icon which
represents France and is among the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel tower is a lattice tower made from iron and was
constructed in 1887 as the entrance arch for the 1889 world’s fair. It was named after Gustave Eiffel who was the engineer of the construction project.
Furthermore, the Eiffel tower is the biggest building in Paris and the world’s most visited paid monument.
Therefore, a visit to this historical landmark is a must to anyone who visits Paris.

The Louvre; the Intellect of Paris

The Louvre, the greatest museum in France and the world’s most visited museum, is also a must see for a tourist. This museum
alone houses some of the most notable and priceless pieces of arts and sculptures in the globe. There are about 35,000 pieces of art and and 380,000 objects in total in
the museum. Among its most prized possessions include the paintings, Mona Lisa and Madona of the rocks by Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci and sculptures such as the
Dying slave by Michelangelo. In
addition, the Louvre also houses a collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman, and Islamic art. Along with the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay is also a popular museum although it
mainly contains French art in the form of paintings, sculptures and photographs. This museum is also one of the main attractions of the city of Paris.

And More…

Apart from the mentioned
attractions of the city of Paris there are many other places such as Palace of Versailles (former palace of French kings), Château Villette, Notre Dame de Paris
(Cathedral of Notre Dame) which is 12th century Gothic cathedral and the Saint Dennis Basilica which is also a Gothic cathedral where the French monarchs were buried. Many of these
buildings, particularly the Saint Dennis Basilica are world best-known for their architecture. Moreover, one could enjoy a cruise down the scenic Seine river while enjoying the stone bridges and monuments that exist around the river.

Although Paris is renown for traditional entertainment, Paris is also a place where the modern amusement is invented. In addition to that, there are many restaurants the visitors can enjoy passim the year.


25.03.2010. | Categories: Travel Tips + More, History Parlor | Comments Off

Do you know your family’s background? Have you wondered where your ancestors may have lived? It’s a wonder that — through all the wars, floods, fires, and other disasters which have afflicted our society — we have not completely lost touch with all our ancestors. Remarkably, nature, the universe, and some vital record keeping by various governments and non-governmental organizations have helped preserve millions of families’ roots data. And today the Internet makes it easier than ever before to trace one’s family roots back many generations.

Take families of Polish descent, for example. The people of Poland have very ancient roots going back many thousands of years. While it is not possible to trace one’s ancestry back that far, Polish ancestry records do exist for recent generations and many people have taken advantage of their existence to learn more about where their families have come from and what regions of Europe (Poland, obviously) their families once lived in.

Researching your family’s background can be an exciting project for parents and children alike. Kids of all ages may want to learn how to perform simple public records searches to help them with school history and social studies projects. Wouldn’t it be great to see your son or daughter go to school with a report on your family’s Polish ancestors, where they lived, how they worked, and when they came to America?

Of course the rich Polish heritage has been carried to many shores, not just North America. For example, even in Great Britain it is possible to research one’s Polish ancestry records. That the Polish emigre experience has been documented at so many points around the Web provides some hope of establishing clear family histories and traditions for many children.


24.11.2009. | Categories: Tips & Infos, History Parlor, Education + Training | Comments Off

Test your Patriotic Knowlege of the American Flag:

Question: Is it ok to fly the American Flag upside down?
Answer: The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

Question: My flag was accidentally dropped and got dirty. Does it have to be destroyed?
Answer: The flag should never be allowed touch the ground, the floor or water. If it does accidentally touch the ground, it does not have to be destroyed. It should merely be cleaned.

Question: I’m thinking of making a quilt out of old flags. Is this ok?
Answer: The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or curtains.

Question: Is it alright to print a picture of the American Flag on my parent’s 50th Anniversary party napkins?
Answer: The flag should never be embroidered on fabric or printed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed to be used once and then thrown away.

Question: Is it ok to fly my American Flag outside 24/7?
Answer: The flag is usually flown only from sunrise to sunset. The flag may be displayed at night if it is lit during the hours of darkness.

Question: Should I raise my American Flag slowly, ceremoniously?
Answer: The flag should be raised quickly and lowered slowly.

Question: Should I take my flag down when it’s raining, hailing or snowing outside?
Answer: The flag should not be flown on days during bad weather, except when using an all weather flag.

Question: Where should I expect to see the American Flag being flown?
Answer: The flag should be displayed daily at the main administration building of every public institution, including schools and polling places on election days.

Question: During parades, where should the American Flag is placed?
Answer: The flag should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when flags of states, cities or other groups are displayed.

Question: When a group of flags are displayed which one should be raised first?
Answer: When the flags of states are flown on neighboring staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No other flag may be placed higher than the flag of the United States or to the United States Flag’s right.

Question: During the Olympics, why were all the countries flags flown at the same height? Shouldn’t the gold medal winner’s flag be flown higher?
Answer: When displaying the flags of two or more countries, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids flying the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

Question: How should the American Flag be used when hanging over our Main Street on Memorial Day?
Answer: When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

Question: Can the American Flag be used to unveil our town’s new statue?
Answer: The flag can be used at the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

Question: Is there a special way of raising the American Flag for half-staff?
Answer: When flying the flag at half-staff, it should first be raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

Question: How should the American Flag be used during a funeral?
Answer: When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union (stars) is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

Question: What do the colors of red, white and blue stand for on the American Flag?
Answer: The flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. Red stands for Hardiness and Valor, White stands for Purity and Innocence and Blue stands for Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

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30.06.2007. | Categories: History Parlor | Comments Off