What To Do When In Rome

Rome, the capital city of Italy and Lazio is a fascinating place to visit, with over two and a half thousand years of history to explore. It was once the largest city in the world and the centre of Western civilisation. Today, the stunning capital is Italy's largest and most populous city, with more than 2.7 million residents and a metropolitan area of almost 4 million inhabitants. Rome is a modern, cosmopolitan city, and the third most-visited tourist destination in the European Union.

There is so much to unravel when visiting Rome that I would allow approximately four days to enable you to conquer the city as fully as possible. A long weekend break would be perfect. The city is not particularly big and the transport is superb, making travelling around hastle free, however, you want to allow time to see each sight properly.

The Metro system works very much like the London underground and language barriers should not stop you from understanding how things work. You can buy Metro tickets either from the station itself or from most small street sales stands and they usually stay valid for an hour and a half at a time once activated. There are regular buses for you to hop on to, including many sight-seeing tour buses, allowing you to get off at certain points of interest and rejoin whenever you chose. If you are feeling energetic, try walking around as much as you can and get lost down small side streets, or maybe accidentally on purpose find yourself wondering into the likes of Gucci, Prada, Givenchy or Dolce and Gabbana.

Having recently returned from Rome, here are some of the places I recommend and found fascinating due to their rich history.

The Colosseum certainly lives up to it's hype and is definitely a sight not to be missed. The ruin itself is impressive to the eye, however, if you know the history behind the structure, it will send your imagination into over drive.

The Colosseum was originally a Flavian amphitheatre and was the largest one ever to be built in the Roman Empire. It's construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the Emperor Vaspasian and was completed in 80AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domititan's reign (81-96). The amphitheatre was once capable of seating a staggering 50,000 spectators, indicating just how popular a visit to the arena was.

The structure was used for spectacular events such as the infamous gladiatorial contests and many public spectacles. These public spectacles included sea battles- there is evidence that a major hydraulic system once existed and according to ancient accounts, it was possible to flood the arena rapidly, presumably via a connection to a nearby aqueduct. There were also animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on classical mythology. If you wanted to be entertained, the Colosseum was the place to go.

It remained in use for nearly 500 years, with the last recorded games being held in the 6th century. The building stopped being used for entertainment in the early Medieval era. Instead, it was re-used for housing purposes, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.

It has been estimated that 500,000 people and over 1,000,000 wild animals died in the Colosseum games. Walking around the ruin that has been damaged through several earthquakes and by stone robbers, it is easy to just over look the history of the tourist ridden place. However, if you can think back to Ancient times and imagine the arena packed with excited, chanting spectators about to see a momentous gladiator battle, where men would fight to their deaths, the Colosseum comes to life once more. Imagine animals such as elephants and lions being paraded before an audience. You are even able to see where the gladiators and animals were stored in cages underground before a pulley system allowed them to appear on stage. It looks like a maze. A real must see.

The next sight to see when in Rome is very easy to get to from the Colosseum. The Roman Forum is just a ten minute walk away and is the central area around which the Ancient Roman civilization developed. Citizens referred to the location as the "Forum Magnum" or just the "Forum".

The oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located in the forum, including its ancient former royal residency the Regia and the surrounding complex of the Vestal virgins. The Old Republic had its formal Comitium there where the senate, as well as Republican government began. The forum served as a city square and central hub where the people of Rome gathered for justice, and faith. The forum was also the economic hub of the city and considered to be the center of the Republic and Empire.

The area of the forum was originally a grassy wetland. It was drained in the 7th century BCE by building the Cloaca Maxima, a large covered sewer system that drained into the Tiber River, as more people began to settle between the two hills.

Walking around the old ruins can take as long as you want it to and makes for a very interesting photo opportunity. The ruins transport you back in time and once again it is easy to get lost in history, imagining what it would have been like to have been an Emperor, Empress or simply a citizen in Ancient times. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

A sight which should definitely not be missed, is that of the Trevi Fountain. It's name originates due to the fact the fountain is situated at the junction of three roads or "tre vie" and it is located on the rione of Trevi. It is arguably the most beautiful fountain in the whole of Rome and is certainly the largest and most ambitious of the Baroque fountains in the city. It measures 25.9 metres (85 feet) high and 19.8 metres (65 feet) wide.

The fountain features Neptune, God of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows, Agrippa the girl after whom the aqueduct was named.

It is also said that the scene on the fountain's facade originates from when in 19BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians located a source of pure water some 13km (8 miles) from the city. The eventual indirect route of the aqueduct made its length some 22 km (14 miles). This Aqua Virgo led the water into the Baths of Agrippa. It served Rome for more than four hundred years until Goth besiegers in 537/38 broke the aqueducts. Medieval Romans were reduced to drawing water from polluted wells and the Tiber River, which was also used as a sewer.

The Roman custom of building a handsome fountain at the endpoint of an aqueduct that brought water to Rome was revived in the fifteenth century, with the Renaissance. In 1453, Pope Nicholas V finished mending the Acqua Vergine aqueduct (the revivified Aqua Virgo) and built a simple basin, designed by the humanist architect Leon Battista Alberti, in order to celebrate the water's arrival. In 1629 Pope Urban VIII, finding the earlier fountain insufficiently dramatic set the ball rolling for a redesign. Salvi died in 1751, with his work half-finished, The Trevi Fountain was finished in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini, who substituted the present bland allegories for planned sculptures of Agrippa and "Trivia", the Roman virgin.

The Trevi fountain is indeed at the ending part of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water, continuing the tradition.

The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain.

Rome is full of treasures and these sights are only a small selection of what the capital city has to offer.

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The Best Ways To Save Money On Utility Bills

The recession is hitting people hard and many are struggling to meet their normal household expenses. Not only have Utility Bills gone up but so has the general cost of living making it more challenging than ever to balance a monthly checking account. Many people just accept this and continue to pay a lot more for there utilities than they need to others take the bull by the horns and actively manage there domestic power and gas consumption thereby saving money.

The top three ways to save money on your utility bills are:

Use Less: Although obvious you'll pay less if you consume less so using energy efficient devices in your home makes a lot of sense. Simple things like using energy efficient light bulbs, refrigerators, Televisions etc although on there own don't make a massive difference when you add up all the small savings made on each device it can come out at a fairly substantial saving. Don't assume that there's no point go around your home and look with a critical eye at all the large power consuming devices you have and ensure you don't just switch them to standby when they're not in use. A device on standby can use as much as 50% of it's normal power requirements so be sure to actually switch them off.

Switch Supplier: Don't assume you're getting the best possible price for gas and electricity with your current supplier because the chances are you aren't. Even if you where once on a great tariff suppliers change there pricing and have no obligation to inform their customers of the savings they could be making by switching to a different tariff. It's your responsibility to check and they rely of people not being bothered to enable them to effectively lock you in at an expensive rate.

Use Price Comparison Sites: If no one will tell you how much money you could save check out the many price comparison sites that have sprung up on the Internet. It takes just minutes to compare what you're paying now with the cheapest prices available today. Often it's not worth the hassle of switching but you can often shave 10-20% off your bills by shopping around.

Do your own research it's quick, easy and you'd be surprised how much money you could save. Beware though of door to door sales people who promise you could save money by switching to them. Most of them are on commission and it's in there best interests to get you to switch even if it's not the best deal you could get. Never take their word for it and always do your own due diligence and check the prices yourself before you sign on the dotted line.

To save money on your gas and electricity bills you're going to have to be pro active. The days of cheap energy are at an end and for the foreseeable future we're going to be bled dry by the rising prices. It's time to get to grips with our power requirements and do our best to use as little power as possible else one day we'll discover we just won't be able to afford to heat and light our homes anymore.

http://www.articledown.com/Art/30655/354/The-Best-Ways-To-Save-Money-On-Utility-Bills.html

Tips on healthy living

Are you aware that the food that you consume might have some great impact on your quality of life? Certainly this may be the difference between you leading a wholesome life or one that is marred with chronic diseases. The bad thing is that there are plenty of people that simply ignore this thing and let themselves become susceptible to all kind of problems. The good thing is that we now have only some modest changes that you'll want to make in order to lead a healthier life. In this article I'll be offering more information on a healthy diet and I hope that it will come in handy for you.

To begin with it is important that you monitor the amount of fat in your everyday diet. Clearly with our wrong eating habit at the moment it is very simple to found ourselves taking too much fat. It may therefore be beneficial that you shift your cooking method to something which is healthier. For instance you may find it more advantageous to consume food that has been grilled rather than fried. You can learn more on this by having a look at our French post on anti-cholesterol diet () because it features some helpful point.

It might also be beneficial that you reduce your intake of meat and rather focus on consuming more vegetables. You'll thus have the ability to reduce fat accumulation within your body and enjoy a healthier life. There are lots of people that wrongly believe that people cannot have a balanced diet without eating meat. The key here is to learn which vegetables and fruits to consume to make sure that you have all the nutrients your body require. For this reason it may be important that you eat a wide selection of fruits and vegetables to ensure that you've all the required nutrients. Should you require more information about this topic you can take a look at this French article on cuisine guide () since it features some helpful point.

There are lots of people that avoid eating vegetables because they think that they are not tasty. Just as with meat you need to have the correct recipes in order to prepare some tasty food. The good news is that there are some interesting recipes which exist on the internet and will be able to help you prepare some delicious food. It is also essential that you present your dish well since this may influence your perception too. Are you interested to obtain additional info on this subject? Check out this French post on cuisine recipes () as it features some useful point.

The food that you consume can considerably influence your wellbeing. The bad news is that there are many people that merely disregard this fact and can eat anything they want thus resulting in trouble in the long run. You'll be surprised how some alterations on your diet may benefit the body. But the changes that you make should be permanent ones rather than temporary ones. You'll never ever regret making these modifications.

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9 questions to ask your new lover: what you were afraid to ask, but always wanted to know

YOU wanted to ask, but you were afraid of the answers. Is he or she the one for you? What is the wildest thing he's ever done? How many sex partners has he had? Is he broke or head over heels in debt? Has he ever been arrested? And more importantly, how can you be sure?

Knowing the answers to these questions can protect your health, preserve your sanity and may even save your life. So, before you open your heart, open your eyes and your ears and learn the truth behind the new man in your life. But be prepared: The truth works both ways, and if you ask the question, be prepared to answer it as well.

"If a guy runs away from your questions, don't get discouraged," says Dr. Lauren Durant, a clinical psychologist and relationship expert in Durham, N.C. In her national seminar and workbook A Good Man is NOT Hard to Find, she compiles a list of 54 questions, arranged from most invasive to least invasive, that a woman should ask within the first three months of dating. "If you start asking questions and the guy runs away, that's exactly what you want. It sets you up to meet someone who does want what you want."

Paula Williams, a 30-something entertainment manager and business owner in Raleigh, N.C., recommends an upfront approach. Once afraid to tackle the tough questions, the single executive followed Durant's principles and has been pleased with the results. "I've gotten such positive responses from men by being more upfront, asking some of the more difficult questions, and learning about myself in the process."

So, next time, be informed before you get involved by tackling the questions that you've always wanted

answers to, but were too afraid to ask.

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Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Several hundred years ago most of India was conquered and ruled by the Mughals, who followed the religion of Islam. When the emperor Jahangir ruled over northern India, his son, Prince Khurram, married Arjumand Banu Baygam.

Prince Khurram called his wife Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “chosen one of the palace.” The two were almost always together, and together they had 14 children. Prince Khurram became emperor in 1628 and was called Emperor Shah Jahan. But three years later Mumtaz Mahal died while having a baby. Shah Jahan was heartbroken. He decided to build the most beautiful monument to his wife. He had the best architects design it in a perfect blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Beginning in about 1632, over 20,000 workers labored for 22 years to create what was to become one of the wonders of the world.

The great monument was called the Taj Mahal (a form of Mumtaz Mahal’s name). It was built in the city of Agra, India, the capital of Shah Jahan’s empire. Its several buildings sit in a large garden on the South bank of the Yamuna River. From the garden’s south gateway you can see the front of the white marble mausoleum. It contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The mausoleum stands on a high marble platform surrounded by four minarets, or towers. Many of its walls and pillars shimmer with inlaid gemstones, including lapis lazuli, jade, crystal, turquoise, and amethyst. And verses from the Koran (the Muslim holy book) appear on many parts of the Taj. Many visitors still come to the Taj Mahal. To help protect and care for it for many years to come, the Taj was made a World Heritage site in 1983.

http://www.englisharticles.info/2010/10/29/taj-mahal/

All-Girl Rodeos

All-Girl Rodeos

An exciting new kind of rodeo, the all-girl rodeo, began in Texas in 1942. These were originally designed to entertain American troops while enabling cowgirls to compete in roping and rough stock riding events as they had in the 19th century. They also provided women opportunities to produce and officiate rodeos, which they had rarely done in the past. Fay Kirkwood (1900–?) organized the first all-girl rodeo at the Fannin County Fair Grounds in Bonham, Texas, from 26 to 29 June. Huge crowds and enthusiastic community support characterized the event. Locals compared Kirkwood’s promotional efforts to those of nationally known producers and judged them superior. Kirkwood staged a second rodeo at Wichita Falls in July and August, while veteran cowgirl Vaughn Krieg (1904–1976) produced her own successful contest at Paris, Texas, in September. Both women intended to continue, with Krieg planning a nationwide tour, but World War II precluded this.

The contests resumed when two west Texas women, Thena Mae Farr (1927–1985) and Nancy Binford (1921–), produced their own all-girl rodeo at Amarillo, Texas, from September 23 to 26 September, 1947.Part of the annual Tri- State Fair, the rodeo enlisted 75 contestants from 25 states. Standing-room-only crowds set an arena attendance record, and reporters pronounced the producers ready for Madison Square Garden. Binford and Farr then incorporated Tri- State All-Girl Rodeo to produce additional contests. They maintained the practice of having all aspects of their rodeos handled by women, including the first female Professional rodeo clown, Dixie Reger Mosley (1939–). Binford and Farr’s effort also led to the formation of the WPRA in 1948. Over 20 all-girl rodeos took place in 1950 alone, as the contests spread from Colorado to Mississippi. Soon men began producing all-girl rodeos. Although their publicity efforts paled in comparison to the women’s, and they often employed males in a variety of capacities, they helped spread the sport.Regrettably,Binford and Farr left business at the end of the 1951. This was a major loss, as they alone produced contests for women organized exclusively by women with women’s special needs in mind. Events like theirs have been quite rare in women’s sport history and never again existed in professional rodeo. Subsequently these unique rodeos declined in popularity; often no more than three a year played to sparse crowds in remote arenas. Today the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association sponsors only a few all-women rodeos, including their National Finals, in which cowgirls can rope and ride rough stock like their foremothers.A promising aspect of Americana has almost vanished, and few remember the record crowds

and glorious publicity that characterized all-girl rodeos in their heyday.

http://www.englisharticles.info/2010/12/29/all-girl-rodeos/

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

It is difficult to stand in front of this spectacular African waterfall without feeling small. Victoria Falls is about twice as high as Niagara Falls in North America and about one and a half times as wide. It inspires awe and respect in all who see it.

Victoria Falls lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa along the course of the Zambezi River.

The falls span the entire breadth of the Zambezi River at one of its broadest points. There is a constant roaring sound as the river falls. A dense blanket of mist covers the entire area. The Kalolo-Lozi people who live in the area call this mist Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the Smoke That Thunders.”

The first European to set eyes on this wonder of nature was the British explorer David Livingstone. He named it after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

The waters of Victoria Falls drop down a deep gorge. All the water of the Zambezi River flows in through this gorge. At the end of the gorge is the Boiling Pot, a deep pool into which the waters churn and foam during floods. The river waters then emerge into an enormous zigzag channel that forms the beginning of the Batoka Gorge.

The Victoria Falls Bridge is used for all traffic between Zambia and Zimbabwe. When it opened in 1905, it was the highest bridge in the world. In 1989 Victoria Falls and its parklands were named a World Heritage site.

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