Discover Honduras long hidden secrets

NEWLINK Group has banded together with the Honduran Institute of Tourism to promote the distinct beauty and history of Honduras to world-travelers and archaeological buffs alike. #Honduras has long been the home to some of the world's most well-known archeological sites, but with others of legend only recently discovered, the Central American country continues to add to its robust archeology offering. 

With years of speculation and searching, Honduras' legendary "The Lost City of the Monkey God" was discovered in 2015. Located in the Mosquitia region in eastern Honduras, "Kaha Kamasa," meaning White City in Misquito dialect, is home to ruins dating between A.D. 1,000 and 1,500. 

The new Archeology Research Center, located in the El Aguacate sector of the Olancho province, will house artifacts excavated from the site and serves as a place for educational tourism, welcoming visitors to learn about the scientific procedures that have been applied to study the found relics.

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Check Mate & a Dancing Fiddle

FROM a Roman distance slab to a medieval football, Antarctic goggles to a dancing fiddle- VisitScotland has revealed the top 25 objects that have shaped Scotland’s history in a stunning 25 objects ebook.

The list was unveiled on International Chess Day (20 July) as a special nod to the most famous chess pieces in history – the Lewis Chessmen - who feature at number 9 on the date ordered list.

Compiled by an expert panel for the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, the 25 objects cover over 5000 years of Scottish history and the length and breadth of the country from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway.

The objects were chosen based on chronological and geographic spread alongside their individual interesting stories. The final 25 were chosen by a panel that included representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, National Museums of Scotland, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and VisitScotland.

VisitScotland hopes that visitors will go on a trail this summer to discover as many of the objects as possible and in turn discover more about Scotland’s fascinating past.

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Jordan tourism seeks to capitalize on Petra discovery

#JORDAN’S tourism and antiquities ministry has confirmed the discovery of a significant monument in #Petra. 

The discovery was recently reported by archaeologists Sarah Parcak and Chris Tuttle in a study published in The Journal of American Schools of Oriental Research.

The find – aided by Google Earth, satellite imaging, and drone technology – suggests that the ancient city of Petra was larger than was previously thought. Although the site has not been excavated yet, pottery found near the structure dates it back to the 1st century AD.

‘We’re very excited to see the enthusiasm with which this amazing finding has been welcomed globally, hoping it bodes well for Jordan’s tourism industry,’ said Lina Annab, Jordan’s minister of tourism and antiquities.’

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See the Hadron Collider in Edinburgh

A SECTION of the world's biggest scientific experiment – the #LargeHadronCollider (LHC) – will be part of an exhibition at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth starting on July 31.

A life-sized mock-up of part of the 17-mile particle accelerator will be on display at the attraction until August 24.

The exhibition will feature walk-through section of the LHC tunnel and accelerator, the machine that confirmed the existence of the Higgs Boson particle, as proposed by University of #Edinburgh professor and Nobel prize-winner, Peter Higgs.

Hermione Cockburn, scientific director at Dynamic Earth, said: ‘The CERN Hadron Collider is pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery, and changing what we know about the composition of our universe. It's incredibly exciting to have a section of the world's largest experiment on display, and fitting that it should visit us here in Edinburgh, where Professor Higgs theorized the existence of his proposed particle.’

Eilidh Massie, marketing manager at #Dynamic Earth, adds: ‘Alongside this impressive machine section, there will also be iconic images from the world of science, and interactive exhibits.’

Access to the exhibition is free with admission to Dynamic Earth.
www.dynamicearth.co.uk

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Off to the Azores!

AS BOTH Ryanair and SATA International now fly direct (in under five hours) to the Azores from London, holidaymakers have the opportunity to explore the relatively little-known Portuguese archipelago for the first time this summer.

The nine islands in the group offer a world of green volcanoes and wildlife hidden in the middle of the Atlantic.

Here are some of the things to do on #TheAzores:

Swim with wild dolphins –The #Azores is the only destination in Europe where wildlife lovers can swim alongside numerous species of dolphin in their wild, natural habitat. Species include the bottlenose, spotted, and striped dolphins. No pens involved; just jump off the boat into the ocean. Swimming with dolphins excursions with local operator Futurismo (www.futurismo.pt) on Sao Miguel Island.

Stand up paddle board in a volcano crater –Few can claim to have glided across the waters of a lake in a volcano crater. Rent a paddle board or take to the water with an instructor for a stand-up paddle boarding lesson at the lakes of Sete Cidades on Sao Miguel Island. Azores Adventure Islands (www.azoresadventureislands.com).

Eat dishes cooked in the crater of a volcano – Discover the art of cooking in a volcano in Furnas, Sao Miguel Island; a subtropical valley and historic village inside a sleeping volcano crater. It is here that villagers prepare the traditional dish, Cozido das Furnas, before burying pots of the stew in the ground. The earth here is so hot that it cooks the dish in a morning.

Look a whale in the eye – There is nothing quite like looking a whale in the eye, and there are few better places to do that than in the Azores. Rib boats go out to the oceans surrounding Sao Miguel, Pico, Faial, and Terceira islands in the spring, summer, and autumn in search of the 25 resident and migratory species.
Blue Whales can be seen in the Azores most commonly in the spring. Whale watching trips with Pico dos Adventurous (www.picosdeaventura.com).

Dive with sharks and pelagic sea life –Experience the adrenaline-rush of plunging into the Atlantic Ocean in search of pelagic sea life and Blue Sharks. Wary at first, these curious predators tend to approach and inspect each diver as they gain trust. After this, they will often swim slowly among a group. Dive from sites such as Condor Seamount (accessible from Pico and Faial), where average sightings typically range from five to 15 sharks per trip.

Walk through ancient magma chambers –There are ancient magma chambers on Pico. With hard hats and torches, travellers can take tours through the volcanic formations.

Drink volcano wine in UNESCO vineyards –Sample the Azores' volcano wine at UNESCO vineyards in the foothills of Pico Mountain, where walls of black lava stone protect the vines from the salty Atlantic Ocean. The main wine produced here is a white Verdelho wine, which can now be enjoyed and paired with seafood at restaurants across the islands.

www.visitazores.com


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Picture Credit: "DSC07951 (373824538)" by Feliciano Guimarães from Guimarães, Portugal - DSC07951Uploaded by tm. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, http://www.flickr.com/photos/34607557@N04/3736497413">DSC_0199</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), "Lagoa fogo, são miguel" by Weedonio - Own workby uploader. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, http://www.flickr.com/photos/82622112@N00/6009363444">Wine and volcanoes - Pico Island</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Videos to help visitors discover Cornwall

A SERIES of films showcasing Cornwall’s finest #food-and-drink establishments and landscapes has been made by UK holiday lettings company, Sykes Cottages.

The videos feature interviews with staff from some of Cornwall’s leading #foodie businesses – from beachside cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants.

There are four short films for each of Cornwall’s main regions – north, south, west, and Bodmin Moor and Tamar Valley – plus a fifth which comprises a taster from each region 

to give viewers a whistle-stop tour of the county.

Charlotte Stamper from Sykes Cottages says: ‘We made these videos to help show off some of the fantastic food and drink that #Cornwall has to offer. The huge range of cafes, pubs, restaurants, and talented internationally-renowned chefs help make a holiday to Cornwall even more special. Coupled with this, there are some wonderful farmers’ markets, vineyards, and shops supplying local produce that makes cooking in your holiday cottage a #gastronomic treat.’ 

The films – which can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3SC31jNS6ULoEnLqKiVDewD5_q_rzCQr are part of the Discover Cornwall online guide.

http://www.sykescottages.co.uk/discover-cornwall/

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Queen Elizabeth lived here … but the house is crumbling

A CONTROVERSY has erupted in Malta over the villa that was once home to Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.  A conservationist has called on either the owners of the villa or the Maltese government to restore the once elegant but now crumbling building.

Astrid Vella said that the Queen had asked to see the property when she last visited Malta in 2007, but that the owners had reportedly refused. The row comes ahead of a royal visit to Malta later this year in November.

‘This villa not only has immense architectural value, but is the only property outside of the UK which the Queen has called home," says Ms Vella. ‘If the Queen asks to visit this property again, it shouldn't be in this state.  We must save it.’ She argued that the government did not hesitate to acquire private property for road projects, and questioned whether roads were more precious than the country's heritage.

‘It is crucial to our heritage and our collective memory, and could really boost quality tourist numbers. Tourists are disgusted at how we treat our heritage.’

The house, known as Villa Guardamangia and on the outskirts of Valletta, was leased by Lord Louis Mountbatten in the late 1920s. At various times between 1946 and 1953, the then Princess Elizabeth stayed at the villa while her fiancé, and later husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, was stationed in Malta with the Royal Navy. Philip and Elizabeth then lived in Malta for a period between 1949 and 1951.

However, no one seems able to agree yet on who would foot the bill for any restoration, and the Queen's former home now appears to be in serious danger of being knocked down to make way for developers.

‘Surveys on the property have been carried out and restoration cost estimates have been gathered,’ said the Maltese government in a statement. ‘The government has no title on the property and this has created legal complications with its owners.’

But the government said that it plans to expropriate the house, with full compensation to its owners, because it ‘believes that the property is one of historical heritage’.


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Picture Credit: Elizabeth and Philip 1953 by Cecil Beaton - Library and Archives Canada Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, Valetta by User:Alexandra at lb.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

On show – almost perfect replicas of man’s oldest art

SOME of the planet's oldest Stone Age paintings are on the walls of a cave complex in a mountain in south-east France. 
Discovered in 1994, there are hundreds of paintings of horses, mammoths, rhinos, lions, bears, plus handprints. 

A cliff fall hermetically sealed the cave, protecting the paintings from the world for more than 20,000 years. To protect them for all time – they could be destroyed just by human breath – access to the cave, through an almost always closed steel door, has been and remains severely restricted, although in 2009 the German filmmaker Werner Herzog uncovered its contents when he and a very small crew were allowed exclusive entry to make his 3-D documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

Because the general public will never be able to see the artworks – thought to be between 30,000 and 37,000 years old – the French government has spent €56 million (£60 million) building an almost-exact replica of the cave system (known as the Chauvet Cave, after the scientist who found it) including copies of 400 of the paintings. The Pont d'Arc Cavern building, just over a mile from the original site, was opened in April by President Hollande. 

Inch by inch, scientists and artists used the same tools and techniques believed to have been used in the Stone Age. Six thousand digital photographs of the painting were taken, enabling them to be copied accurately. Even the stalactites and stalagmites in the original cave, along with the cool temperatures and thick smell of humidity, have been replicated.

A similar replica — of the 18,000-year-old cave drawings in the Lascaux caves in south-west France — attracts 300,000 visitors a year, and the government is hoping the Pont d'Arc Cavern will be just as popular. It is the largest perfect replica of a prehistoric site in Europe. Set within a large wooded area, it includes (alongside the replica cave) a discovery centre, a permanent exhibition, sheltered interpretation stations, and an educational area for youngsters. The Pont d'Arc Cavern is in Ardeche – part of the Rhône-Alpes region – north of Nimes.

For opening hours and tour booking information in English, go to: http://ardechelacavernedupontdarc.for-system.com/z8501e3f42507x42507b17499_uk-Pont-d-Arc-Cave-Your-ticket-guided-tour-in-English-Vallon-Pont-d-Arc.aspx

www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet/en
www.acavernedupontdarc.org/en/the-cavern-pont-darc

Go Holiday editor David Kernek comments: This replica will undoubtedly be a technical and engineering masterpiece, but with economic times as tough as they are in France, many – in that country and elsewhere – might be asking if this was the wisest use of £60 million. It is, after all, a replica. It would have much less expensive to distribute free copies of Werner Herzog’s excellent documentary movie Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which was filmed in original cave and comprises close-ups of these remarkable artworks.

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