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in museums of the upper east side

What to do in museums of

the upper east side

what NY socialites do in 10021

Technorati Tags: 10021, Guggenheim, in museums, museum of, ny socialites, ues, upper east side

Heiress Peggy Guggenheim was from Upper East Side of NYC

Is Peggy Guggenheim really from the Upper East Side of NYC?

Yes, Heiress Peggy Guggenheim was born in the upper east side of New York City on August 26, 1898.

peggy guggenheim sunglasses gondola

peggy guggenheim sunglasses gondola

peggy guggenheim in museums upper east side nyc

peggy guggenheim in museums upper east side nyc

peggy guggenheim grave

peggy guggenheim grave

guggenheim museum nyc

guggenheim museum nyc

guggenheim upper east side

guggenheim upper east side

peggy guggenheim signature

peggy guggenheim signature

peggy guggenheim and dogs

peggy guggenheim and dogs

. Her father, Benjamin was of the wealthy Guggenheim family who made their money in metal, and her mother Florette was of the wealthy banking Seligmann family. Peggy’s childhood was privileged. The heiress attended excellent schools, was exposed to art and theater and traveled to Europe with her family.

Peggy Guggenheim awful plastic surgery gone bad

In 1919, upon graduating from college, Peggy traveled throughout the United States with a friend, vowing to see as much of the country as possible. Eventually, she ended up in Cincinnati where she entrusted a doctor to perform plastic surgery on her nose, which she’d often compared to that of her sisters’. The surgeon, however, decided mid-way through the surgery, that it was too difficult a procedure and did not finish what he’d begun. Peggy spent the next two months hiding from her friends and the public, as she was left with a much larger nose than before. After regaining some of her confidence, Peggy moved to Paris. There, she became reacquainted with Laurence Vail, an artist and poet whom she’d briefly met in New York. The two began a love affair and shortly thereafter, after they’d ridden up the elevators her father had installed, Laurence proposed. The two were married about two months later.

Benjamin Guggenheim died on the Titanic

In 1912, Benjamin Guggenheim completed installing new steam pump elevators in the Eiffel Tower and was returning home to his family on the first voyage of the Titanic. Though as an 1st class passenger, he was guaranteed a place on a life raft, Benjamin, dressed to the nines, perished. Along, with Benjamin’s death, Peggy’s family experienced diminished wealth as they had to pay off her father’s creditors. However, Peggy still inherited some $400,000, a hefty sum at that time.

Peggy Guggenheim and her Dogs

Peggy Guggenheim was known in Venice as “L’Americana con I cani,” or “The American with the dogs” because of her many dogs who accompanied her everywhere. Fifteen Tibetan terrier dogs are buried next to her today, listed by name with the birth and death dates and a plaque reading, “My Beloved Babies.”  It is known that as their respective doggie lives ended, Peggy Guggenheim had each successive dog under interred beneath the paving stones at the back of the Palazzo, before being buried there herself. Her art collection was left to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, with the request that it be left in tact, in Venice. It is still on display much of the way it was in Peggy’s lifetime.

Peggy Guggenheim family affairs sounds similar to casey johnson’s

She had two children with her first husband, Laurence Vail, before divorcing with Olympian acrimony.  Peggy Guggenheim had affairs with almost every man she ever took a liking to. She had family affair with her own son-in-law of her daughter Pegeen. Pegeen died young, nurturing the rumour that she’d taken her own life as a result of her mother’s inability to steer clear of her son-in-law. Others say she died mysteriously. Either way, Pegeen’s story is sad. In the venice peggy guggenheim collection, the dressing room was still a shrine to Pegeen and her naive paintings of gondoliers and palazzi. In the past, I’d stare hard at these splashy artworks, trying to imagine Pegeen’s life. The paintings, so bright and child-like, indicate innocence and positivity. Discovering her husband’s affair with her mother must have devastated that part of her personality.

Peggy Guggenheim saves the lives of artists and artwork from the Nazi Death Squads

Peggy Guggenheim provided safe passage from Europe to New York to a number of friends and family. Her ex-husband Laurence Vail, his soon to be ex-wife Kay and their children, Sinbad and Pegeen, the artist Max Ernst and a few others were all brought safely to the United States thanks to Peggy’s wealth. Peggy Guggenheim has said that the voyage included, “one husband, two ex-wives, seven children and one future husband.”

What kind of artwork did Peggy Guggenheim save from the Nazi looters?

Peggy Guggenheim dreamed of opening a museum, although, at the same time that Peggy was collecting art for her new museum, the Nazis were marching on Europe. Peggy Guggenheim contacted her friend, art historian and critic, Herbert Read. Because Peggy herself, was not a good judge of art, Mr. Read made her a list of works that she should seek to buy.

Peggy Guggenheim pursued every name on the list and in all collected 10 Picassos, 40 Ernsts, 8 Miros, 4 Magrittes, 3 Man Rays, 3 Dalis, 1 Klee and 1 Chagall. And many many more works.

The Louvre says no to Peggy Guggenheim, Picasso, Ernst, Miro, Magrittes, Man Ray, Dali, Klee and Chagall

It soon became evident that plans for a museum would need to be put on hold and Peggy would need to return to America. But what would she do with the artwork? She contacted the Louvre, which said that the collection was not important nor old enough to be given room in their storage rooms. Ultimately, the solution was to pack the artwork in boxes marked “Household Goods.” In this way, Peggy’s collection was shipped safely out of Europe.

Peggy Guggenheim returns to life in New York City

After saving Max Ernst from the Nazis, he became her husband. Shortly after arriving in New York, he was reluctantly convinced to become Peggy’s bridegroom. Peggy paid room and board and Max contributed by providing Peggy with paintings. In this way, her collection has a number of Max Ernst originals In 1942, Peggy opened Art of This Century in New York. This gallery pushed the limits of the traditional exhibition space. It was widely acclaimed, placing Peggy Guggenheim at the forefront of the New York City art scene.

Peggy Guggenheim moves to Venice, Italy

Peggy Guggenheim arrived in Venice in 1948 with a passel of paintings to show–Picassos, Miros, Chagalls, Dalis and Klees-that ultimately found a home at the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, what’s now known as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Patronage Peggy Guggenheim, whose patronage of many of the great artists of the early twentieth century helped build one of the best collections of art from that era. In her lifetime Peggy was a character, to say the least. Their marriage was a tumultuous one. By some claims, Laurence was abusive, by others, it was Peggy. The two separated and divorced, but not before they had two children, Sinbad and Pegeen. Peggy would later refer to Laurence as her “eternal husband.” Peggy then began her first of many love affairs. This would be a common theme in her life and something for which she is often criticized for still today. Tragedy struck again in her life, when this first lover, writer John Holmes, died on an operating table, while having surgery on his wrist. Peggy was left heartbroken and without motivation. Her friend, the same one with whom she’d traveled across the US, suggested that she develop an interest, either becoming a literary publisher or an art dealer. As you can surmise, she chose to pursue the latter. In 1938, the Guggenheim Jeune opened in London. While organizing a sculpture exhibit, work by Brancusi, Calder, Laurens and others were stopped at customs. James B. Manson, the then director of the Tate Gallery, as an expert for customs authorities, classified the work not as art but as “manufactured goods.” Peggy took the matter to the House of Commons which ruled that Manson had gone too far in his judgment of the artwork. Not long after, he lost his position at the Tate, leaving Peggy to remark that her fight had, “rendered a great service to foreign artists and to England.” Guggenheim Jeune, though a success in terms of publicity, was not profitable.

patronage for jackson pollock

During this time, she was introduced to the work of Jackson Pollock. Though she was not impressed, her advisers recommended that she give the unknown artist his own show. Peggy provided Jackson Pollack with a generous stipend which was truly necessary. He was, at the time, employed as a carpenter at the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum, and once he exhibited at Art of This Century, he would no doubt lose his position there. Thanks to Peggy’s stipend, Mr. Pollock was able to move from his cramped apartment to a large barn outside of the city, allowing him to work on much bigger canvases which he could then lay down, instead of working vertically. Europe still called to Peggy and in 1947, she divorced Max Ernst and returned to Europe. In 1948, because Greece was embattled in it’s civil war, its pavilion at the Venice Biennale was free. Peggy was invited to exhibit her collection there. She later said of the event, “What I enjoyed most was seeing the name Guggenheim appearing on the maps in the Public Gardens next to the names of Great Britain, France, Holland…I felt as though I were a new European country.” As Peggy introduced herself into Venetian life, she decided that she wanted to permanently settle here. In 1949, she bought Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, dei Leoni meaning “of the lions,” likely because of the yawning lions on the palazzo’s façade but also rumored to be because a former owner had kept lions in the garden. The palazzo is also nicknamed “Palazzo non finito” because though it was originally intended to be five stories high, it was only built to be one story high. History has not recorded the reason for this. Peggy spent the remainder of her years in Venice, exhibiting her collection in her home. While visitors strolled through her garden and her exhibition, she’d hide out in her bedroom which overlooked the Grand Canal. She had many visitors over the years, including Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Truman capote, George Balanchine and nearly all of the artists in her collection and many others who wished to be represented there. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is the most important museum in Italy for European and American art of the first half of the 20th century. It is located in Peggy Guggenheim’s former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand Canal in Venice. The museum was inaugurated in 1980 and presents Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection of 20th century art, masterpieces from the Gianni Mattioli Collection, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, as well as temporary exhibitions. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is owned and operated by the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, which also operates the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and the Deutsche Guggenheim, Berlin. 704 Dorsoduro, I-30123 Venezia Open daily 10am-6pm (closed Tuesdays and December 25) tel +39.041.2405411 info@guggenheim-venice.it Picasso and Braques, Jean Arp’s bronze called ‘Fruit Amphora’. Harper’s Bazaar and Karl Lagerfeld pays tribute to the famous art collector with a fashion editorial starring topmodels of the moment Lara Stone and Baptiste Giabiconi. “Peggy Guggenheim’s Venice”, featured in September 2009 issue, also benefits from Amanda Harlech and Felipe Mendes styling and Grand Canal romantic setting, taking us in a glamorous journey through Venice. While her passion for art was a life commitment, Peggy is also remembered for her tumultuous love life, her eccentric fashion style – she wore platinum curls, red lips and extravagant eyewear and jewelry with ease – and last, the odd adoration for her canine companions.

Technorati Tags: chagall, dali, ernst, Guggenheim, jackson pollock, karl lagerfeld, klees, louvre, magrittes, man ray, miro, Museum, Nazi, New York, NYC, pegeen, peggy, picasso, sinbad, venice

Ben Stiller Discusses ‘Museum’

Ben Stiller, star of the movie “Night at the Museum,” grew up down the street from the Museum of Natural History in New York. He told Hannah Storm that fatherhood inspired his interest in the role.

Duration : 0:4:52

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Technorati Tags: Ben, CBS, fatherhood, Hannah, History, Museum, natural, new, news, Stiller, storm, York

Blockbuster Video Store Museum-The Onion News Network

This video is from the fictional news network, The Onion. It takes place in the near future at a re-creation museum of Blockbuster Video Stores and pokes fun at the closing of conventional video stores due to downloading from the internet and services such as Netflix. The museum goers of the future marvel at the antiquated system that used to exist just to rent a movie and have childhood memories of going to the video store, way back when things like that existed. This was done a few years ago, but is now strangely prophetic. The male tourist was played by Daniel Angus Cox

Duration : 0:2:0

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Technorati Tags: Blockbuster Video, Daniel Angus Cox, The Onion News Network

George Carlin: 92nd Street Y Interview (04/30/01) 2 of 6


George Carlin – 92nd Street Y. Judy Gold interviews George Carlin.

Thanks to meesterm0le for sending me this interview.

Duration : 0:10:34

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Technorati Tags: 92nd, carlin, george, gold, interview, judy, street

My son is using offensive words incessantly?

Hi everyone, sorry to bother you with this question. I’m having some problems with my 7 y\o son. As we all know, it’s difficult to be a parent in this world today and my son is being exposed to a lot of things in school and with his friends.

On to my question – My son just learned the word "rape". Obviously he knows – vaguely, of course – what it means. My son, as we were coming home from a local restaurant, began yelling down the street that I raped him. I live in New York City, so it’s kind of embarrassing when your child yells these things in the crowded streets.

I’m worried of telling him that it’s wrong, but I love my child and I don’t want to be forced to beat him senseless. What can I do?

My son went through a phase, where he thought it was funny, to overreact in public to something I’d say. Like if I said his name to get his attention, he’d visibly jump and look at me with these huge, scared eyes, and this look of absolute fear. He thought it was funny. Strangers were giving me dirty looks, as he’s quite the little actor. To look at him, you’d have thought he was seriously afraid I was going to hurt him. Didn’t help matters that when he does this, it drives me nuts, so I probably do look like I want to strangle him.

Finally, one day, after he pulled that nonsense at a doctors office, I asked him if he wasn’t happy living with me. He seemed surprised, and told me he loved me, and never wanted to leave. I explained to him, about what he was doing, how it wasn’t funny, and how he and I might know that I don’t abuse him, but strangers don’t know that. And doctors especially are required by law to report suspected abuse. I then explained what would happen if CPS were to take him from me, could end up in fostor care, or at his dad’s. Did he really want to risk that, for his own private laugh? Since that day, I now get appropriate responses from him. He apparently hadn’t thought it through.

Sit your son down, and explain, that isn’t funny, and why, as well as what the consequences of his actions could be, if he continues this sort of thing.

are the museums in New York open on independence day?


Yes, weekends and public holidays are their most important days for visitors – thus generating income!

Barbados Naked

Barbados Naked

Welcome to my Barbados naked series. Here I will provide you with details of things to see and do on the island and recommend restaurants, bars and excursions that I have either experienced myself or had guests tell me just how good they really are. I hope that you find the information useful for your trip or research of the island and would be very pleased if you feel you could add anything to my information. If you do please do drop me a line at Admin@VIPvillas.com and we’ll look to add it to our ‘Barbados Naked’ feature for future readers. Please enjoy reading the articles which I will be posting weekly. The series starts this week with an introduction to Barbados, the main tourist knowledge points, some history and facts and figures.

Next week we’ll find out about restaurants and food on the island. I’ll be supplying details of the best restaurants in each town and district and giving you a flavour (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of what they offer. I’ll also detail some of the local dishes that you should try and while there.

Then comes activites. Barbados really does make the most of it’s weather. There are lots of activities to get engaged in from relaxing on the beach to the more energetic pursuits such as diving, watersports and or course golf.

Excursions follows that with a guide on what to do and when. This guide gives you all you need to know to actually ‘do it yourself’, so standby for a full breakdown of the island with contact details for excursion providers and tour operators.

You really can’t go all the way to Barbados and not sample the nightlife now can you!! Well click through during week 5 of my Naked Barbados series to find out which are hot and which are not. From beach bars to the high life of the West Coast this instalment has it all. Barbados naked it most certainly is!!

I have previously completed the top ten beaches in Barbados. Tune in to week six for an indepth look at the best beaches. I’ll be reviewing nearly all of them on the island so you can feast your eyes on those that the tourists don’t know about.

Week seven provides a calendar of events for 2009. Make sure you don’t miss a thning with an indepth study of all that there is going on in 2009.

And we finish in week eight. A whistlestop tour of all that is Naked Barbados!! I’ll round off my series for those specialist trips, getting married? Then tune in, fancy a nature trail? Then click through… it’s all here in this last ‘round up’ week.

So with no time to waste here is my opening piece. Please enjoy!!

FLIGHTS/GETTING THERE

Barbados is well connected to Britain and North America, and currently has a limited service from Continental Europe. With so many incoming flights it acts as a hub to other islands within the South Eastern Caribbean. This makes the island an excellent island hopping base if you intend on visiting other islands. VIPvillas.com can organise separate stays in luxury villas on more than one Caribbean island for you.

The following airlines serve Barbados:

UK:

British Airways from Gatwick

Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick and Manchester

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA) from Gatwick using British Airways codeshare

BMI from Manchester.

Europe:

Martinair from Amsterdam

Condor from Frankfurt

USA:

US Airways from Philadelphia

American Airlines from New York & Miami

Air Jamaica from New York (JFK)

Delta Air Lines from Atlanta.

Canada:

Air Canada from Toronto

Regional:

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA), Air Jamaica, LIAT, and American Eagle, which have flights across the Caribbean. Flights to the Grenadines are served by SVG air, TIA 2000 and Mustique Airways – the three airlines also operate together as Grenadines Airways.

ISLAND HOPPING

One very useful fact to know is that there are a number of flights from Barbados to the Grenadines, both as day tours and as transfers, that are known as ‘shared charters’. Practically speaking they run every day, but because they are run by charter airlines, rather than scheduled companies, they are not listed on the international computer systems. See below for the airlines that offer shared charter to the Grenadines.

REGIONAL AIRLINES

LIAT

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA)

Air Jamaica

SVG Air

Mustique Airways

Trans Island Air/TIA 2000

Day trips to other islands:

Grenadines Discoveries

Fly to Union Island and join a Catamaran for a day sail, with snorkelling and swimming stops in Mayreau, Tobago Keys and Palm Island. $640 including lunch and drinks.

One day air tours to the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Vincent and Young Island, and Grenada.

If you would like to charter a plane, then they are available through:

St Barth Commuter

A local airline based in St Barths, which offers scheduled flights from there to St Martin/St Maarten and Caribbean private aircraft charters to islands all over the Eastern Caribbean. They have a fleet of five twin-engine planes and five specially trained (STOL) pilots with permission to land in St Barths.

SVG Air

A local Caribbean airline that offers charters to the Grenadines from around the region, often from Barbados, but also from St Lucia and Grenada, even from as far as Puerto Rico. SVG Air has around a dozen 5-19-seater planes and also offers island hopping and air ambulance services.

AIRPORT

Grantley Adams International Airport (airport code BGI, after Bridgetown, the island’s capital) is located approximately 10 miles/16km south east of Bridgetown city centre. VIPvillas.com have luxury portfolio of West Coast Villas in Barbados for you to choose from; they really are sheer luxury!

The airport has recently undergone a multi-million dollar expansion with the major phase completed in 2007. This included the construction of a new, much larger arrivals terminal which now houses 22 immigration work stations, five large luggage carousels and two duty free shops. The old arrivals hall has become part of an extended departure lounge and houses a new airside food court and retail concourse. Other facilities include a bank and postal services. Approximately four air bridges are part of the next set of improvements and there has been talk of enclosing the check-in area and installing air-conditioning.

PASSPORTS & VISAS

As a visitor to Barbados you will require a passport which is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry, along with a valid return airline ticket. This now applies to all American and Canadian citizens, whilst British citizens are required to hold a full 10-year passport. American, Canadian, British and EU citizens do not require a visa for short stays. Other nationalities please check with the Barbados High Commission or with your travel organiser for entry requirements

LOCAL TRANSPORT

The bus system in Barbados is a good one and the fleet of blue and yellow buses (BM licence plate) reaches every corner throughout the island on a regular basis. You will need exact change for the buses and they stop only at official bus stops, which are marked either ‘To City’ or ‘Out of City’ in a red and white circle. The destination is displayed over the front windscreen.

The Government service is supplemented by privately operated mini-buses (B licence plate) that are painted yellow with a blue stripe down the side, and route taxis (ZR licence) which are white with a burgundy stripe. These buses do give change, and they also play local music (somewhat loud at times) and can be hailed down anywhere on route. Destinations are usually on a sign placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the windscreen, and routes normally painted on the sides of the buses. It should be noted that ZR vans are an adventure as well as a mode of transport. They tend to stop at the drop of a hat and travel at speeds which are not for the faint hearted. But then they’ll go out of their way to drop a granny with her shopping outside her house. Avoid travelling at peak times when buses are packed to the limit. The fare to any destination is Bds$1.50 one-way. Depending on the routes, during the week buses can operate from as early as 5.30am to as late as 12.30pm.

For more information on the Government Transport Service, telephone Barbados 436 6820

CAR HIRE

Hiring a car is an excellent addition to a visit to the Caribbean, but particularly so in Barbados because there is plenty to do and because the island is surprisingly good to explore. There are some delightful beaches cut into the cliffs of the south east, which make for an excellent day out and picnic, and the Atlantic coast is wonderfully dramatic. Getting lost in the canefields is almost par for the course, so don’t worry when you do. Just stop and ask and someone is bound to help. Finally, there are all the restaurants to visit in the evening. From an island perspective, cars are a vital aspect of local life. The Bajans would prefer to drive a few hundred yards to work than to walk and so there is actually a rush hour each morning and evening. There are a staggering 1719 kms of paved road network on the island.

A local driving permit is required to drive in Barbados. This costs Bds$10 and can be obtained from the car hire company when you hire the car, or at any police station. If you are visiting during the winter season and know that you will want a car then it is advisable to book it well in advance otherwise, due to demand, it will be impossible to get hold of one. VIP villas can secure excellent car hire rates for you; better than the main car hire companies. You must have held a licence for at least two years to hire a car in Barbados, and be at least 21 years of age and under 75 years of age.

Indicative prices can be found below.

2007-08 Stoutes Car Rentals Rate Guide in US$ per day/week:

Mini Moke Auto (4str) – 61/265

Jimny Jeep (Soft top) Auto (4str) – 69/320

Terios Jeep 1500cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 85/420

Vitara Jeep 2000cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 95/490

Rates are in US$, subject to 15% VAT and are valid 16 Dec 2007 to 15 December 2008.

Comprehensive insurance is included in the rental rate except for a deductible of US$1,500 in case of loss, accident or damage to the vehicles – regardless of fault.

A collision damage waiver (CDW) is offered to cover this deductible at a cost of US$49/week or US$10/day. Clients are charged for the petrol in the vehicles at the time of hire, and should return the vehicles empty. Child seats and booster seats are available for hire on request. Car hire rates, CDW, petrol, and extras such as child and booster seats are subject to 15% VAT. Payment is made for the hire at the time of delivery.

DRIVING & PARKING

Driving is on the left on Barbados, don’t forget your driving licence!

Generally speaking drivers are fairly courteous and, being quite conservative, they tend to abide by the Highway Code. However do be cautious going around roundabouts, as not all drivers know which lane they ought to be in. You will also need to keep an eye out for Z vans and minibuses which stop in the middle of the road at the drop of a hat. Try to avoid going anywhere during the rush hour, when all of the major roads heading into Bridgetown, Holetown and the South Coast tend to be back-to-back with traffic (the local radio stations have traffic reports during both the morning and evening rush hours). Almost every household on the island seems to own a car, and for those that do not there are plenty of families who have more than one. Some children still walk to school, so as there are very few pavements (sidewalks) you should drive with caution during the start/finish of the school day. Take special care when going around blind corners in rural areas.

Drink driving laws are being introduced so check for new regulations.

Seat belts are compulsory and failure to wear one attracts a fine of Bds$500. The speed limit in Barbados is 37 mph/60 kph except on the highways (55 mph/80 kph) and in Bridgetown (20 mph/32 kph).

PARKING

The parking fee for official car parks in Bridgetown, and at the airport, is currently Bds$1 per hour or part thereof, and $6 for the whole day. Tickets are issued on entering and payment is made on exit.

TAXIS

Taxis are widely available around Barbados (if you can’t find one just walk into the nearest hotel and they’ll find one for you), with taxi stands located at the airport, Bridgetown Harbour, and Bridgetown at Independence Square Lower, Broad Street and Heroes Square, South Coast at Accra Beach – Hastings Rocks, West Coast at Sunset Crest Shopping Centres 1 and 2.

Taxis are not metered. Instead the fares are fixed. However it is always a good idea to confirm the cost of your journey before setting off.

Rates by distance should not exceed Bds$2.50 per mile or Bds$1.50 per kilometre. The flat rate per hour is Bds$32, with waiting time Bds$7 per hour between 6am to 10pm, and Bds$8 per hour between 10pm and 6am.

MEDICAL

Generally the climate in Barbados is pretty benign and there are only a couple of issues that you can encounter here that are not in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is up to date. There is no malaria in Barbados, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever – another mosquito-borne disease which happens after considerable rain. You should take normal precautions against mosquito bites. If you are susceptible then make sure to use insect repellent during daylight hours and after sunset.

Visitors’ prescriptions can be fulfilled by local pharmacies, following consultation with a local physician.

HOSPITALS

The medical facilities in Barbados are among the best in the Caribbean. There are eight polyclinics throughout the island and two hospitals.

The general hospital is Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Bridgetown which has 600 beds and operates a 24 hour A&E department.

There is also a modern private facility at the Bay View Hospital in St Michael which does not have an A&E Dept., however there is the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic in St Michael.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccinations are not required for entry into Barbados, though you may with to check with your GP prior to travelling. There is one exception, for travellers who have come from areas infected with of Yellow Fever, where a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one (1) year of age.

ELECTRICITY

Domestic current will operate appliances designated for 115/230 volts AC, 50 Cycles, with 2-pin US style plugs and sockets.

TELEPHONE

Barbados has a pretty good telecommunications system and it has recently been deregulated so that mobile phones from abroad will work (though calls can still be pretty expensive). The networks are Cable & Wireless, Digicel and AT&T Wireless.

The international dialling code for Barbados is +1 246 followed by seven digits. When on-island simply dial the seven digits. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls, as some have debars, which will need to be lifted, and for which there is a deposit.

Internet services are available at most hotels, and some villas, plus a number of internet cafes have now opened. Cellular phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile

Overseas phone calls can be made from any phone booth around the island, payment for which is by credit card or a local pre-paid calling card.

TIME ZONE

Barbados is 4 hours behind GMT and so during the winter it is four hours behind Britain and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. Barbados has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States.

TOURIST INFORMATION

There are Barbados Tourism Authority information offices at the airport, between the arrivals hall before Immigration and the Departure Lounge, t 428 0937; at the Deep Water Harbour (where the cruise ships come in), t 426 1718; and at the BTA’s main office on Harbour Road, Bridgetown, t 427 2623.

Outside Barbados you will find BTA offices in the following places:

Britain: 263 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 P 7LA, t 020 7636 9448, btauk@barbados.org

Canada: 105 Adelaide St West, Suite 1010, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1P9, t (416) 214 9880, toll free 1800 268 9122, btapublic@globalserve.net

USA: 800 Second Ave, New York NY 10017, t (212) 986 6516, btany@worldnet.att.net; 3440 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1215, Los Angeles, CA 90010, t (213) 380 2198, btala@worldnet.att.net; 150 Alhambra Circle Suite 1000, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, t (305) 442 7471, btamiami@barbados.org

DEPARTURE TAX & TAXES

Departure tax is no longer payable at the airline check-in desk as it should be included in the cost of your airline ticket – please check your ticket to confirm this. This tax (passenger service charge) is payable by all passengers leaving the island (exempt for stays under 24 hours) and over the age of 12 years. The amount increased to Bds$55/US$27.50 on 1st February 2007.

Hotel and villa accommodation incurs a 7.5% government room tax and a service charge in Barbados, which is normally added to your bill (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel). It can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip.

A 15% VAT applies to most services including car hire, tourist attractions, restaurants, retail (apart from Duty Free items), excursions etc, but this is usually included in the published price, except for car hire rates, which are usually quoted excluding VAT so you’ll need to add it.

WEATHER

Barbados boasts that it has 3000 hours of sunshine each year. Certainly even within the Caribbean it has an excellent climate. Temperatures vary by just a few degrees across the year and because it is surrounded by sea the island rarely gets too hot, except occasionally in summer, particularly if it is still. Generally though, there is a breeze to take the edge off the heat. The best time to visit is in the winter, when the northern hemisphere is at its coldest in February, though this is of course the high season and the most expensive time.

The rainiest time of year is over the late summer months between August and late October. Often the sun comes back out after a shower, but occasionally a blanket of cloud will spin off a weather system in the northern hemisphere and may cover the island with cloud for a few days.

Barbados lies just on the edge of the hurricane belt, but has not been seriously affected in recent years.

WATER

Most of the water in Barbados is artesian water, rainwater that has soaked into the limestone structure of the land. Generally it is drinkable from the tap and tastes good, but in restaurants you will be offered a choice of bottled or local water. However, with so much pressure on existing groundwater supplies in recent years, a desalination (the largest in the Caribbean) facility is now in operation, which provides water for 20% of the island’s population, currently within the Spring Garden Highway area where the plant is located. Sandy Lane Hotel also has a desalination system.

Piped water was introduced to Bridgetown in 1861, and to commemorate the event an ornamental fountain, made in Britain, was erected in 1865 in what is now Heroes Square.

CHILDREN

In general children are well received in Barbados, but some of the smarter hotels have an age restriction policy at certain times of year, especially during February and March. Others offer special children’s programmes. Most villas are well geared up for children too. It is easy to find babysitters and they cost approximately Bds$20 per hour, plus transport home.

There is not an abundance of playgrounds in Barbados at the moment, however six of the Chefette fast food outlets now have Kids Zones (air-conditioned at Rockley) and each playground has slides, cars and rides and other activities and also cater for parties. Pizzaz pizza restaurant in Sunset Crest in Holetown on the West Coast also has its own playground.

Apart from frolicking in the sea and building sand castles, there are a number of child friendly activities available on island: the Barbados Museum has a dedicated children’s gallery with an exhibition called ‘yesterdays children’ in the Kidd Gallery, Folkstone Marine Park near Holetown is a recreational underwater park with a snorkelling trail, an interpretive centre and museum with marine displays and a saltwater aquarium, there is also a picnic area, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is popular with children for the animals on view, as is Atlantis Submarine and Harrison’s Cave. The Barbados Golf Academy has an 18 hole mini course with special rates for 14yrs and under. There is a Drive-in Cinema near the Sheraton Centre, which also has an indoor cinema. Farley Hill National Park has a picnic and play area. See later instalments of Naked Barbados for further Child friendly activities in Barbados.

Adventure Beach at The Boatyard has kayaks, pedal boats, glass bottom boats, ocean trampolines, a floating rock climbing ice-berg, beach volley ball and snorkelling. Accra Beach in the Rockley area is another popular beach spot and is good for boogie boarding with boards for hire. Batts Rock on the West Coast (close to Calabaza Restaurant) has good swimming and snorkeling, plus a small children’s playground with slides, swings and see-saws. There is a parking area, picnic benches, shower and changing facilities, and drinks machine.

CORPORATE/INCENTIVES

Barbados has excellent facilities for corporate clients in all types of group, incentive and corporate travel and events. The island has good international and regional air links, making it easy to get to. Where accommodation is concerned, some of the VIPvillas larger villas can make ideal settings for smaller groups. Especially those that come staffed with chefs.

For meeting facilities outside of the featured properties note:

Sherbourne Conference Centre, St Michael, t 467 8200

www.bcslbarbados.com

Multi-level conference and event facility with 164,000sq ft of meeting and exhibition space, for trade shows, conferences and special events of up to 1200 persons, seated theatre style in the largest room. Eleven meeting rooms, five break-out rooms, two foyers and two dining rooms, mass media facilities and state of the art telecommunications equipment, infrared Simultaneous Interpretation System

Frank Collymore Hall, Central Bank Building, Bridgetown

The Grande Salle, at 61’x 29’, can be used for exhibitions, art showings and meetings, with five large & eleven small screens. The Meeting Room seats 70 and is equipped with presentation and projection equipment.

WHAT TO PACK

Consider the following items when packing for a trip to Barbados:

Adequate sun protection, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight beach-shirt/blouse/t-shirt; suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day; cream for insect bites. Also consider and adapter plug, film and batteries for camera; toiletries; beach mat/towel; preferred brand of coffee/tea; small torch.

Clothes – lightweight cotton clothing, with elegant/casual attire for evenings. Note that most good restaurants and top hotels require that men wear long trousers and shirts in the evenings, not shorts, flip-flops or t-shirts. During the festive season people tend to dress up and a few of the more exclusive establishments may request jacket and tie. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day.

You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in Barbados. It is also an offence to bring in meat products from the UK.

BANKS

International and local commercial banks operating in Barbados include the Bank of Nova Scotia/Scotia Bank, Barbados National Bank, First Caribbean Bank, Caribbean Commercial Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and The Mutual Bank. The Central Bank of Barbados has been in operation since 1973. The island also offers offshore banking and insurance services.

Bank opening hours are Mon-Thurs 8am to 3pm and Fri 8am to 5pm. Most banks are closed on the weekend, but the Mutual Bank has two branches that open until 7pm on Fridays and until 2pm on Saturdays, and the Caribbean Commercial Bank opens from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. ATMs are located across the island, including the airport, harbour, some petrol stations and shopping malls. Note that ATMs will only give out Barbados Dollars (not US Dollars) and some charge for overseas cash transactions.

Banks require customers to show their passports when cashing traveller’s cheques. You will need to show a transaction slip as well if you wish to convert Barbadian dollars back to your home currency.

CURRENCY/CREDIT CARDS

The currency of Barbados is the Barbados dollar (Bds), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1.00 = Bds$1.98 (some street/beach vendors may do a straight 2 for 1). All prices on island are quoted in Barbados dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US only, and duty free items where the local Bds$ price is shown alongside US dollar price. US dollars (notes only) are accepted throughout the island, however you will often find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable in hotels, supermarkets and large stores as that in the bank.

CREDIT CARDS

Most of the major credit cards (including debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them (if in doubt double check in advance), but you will find that the larger supermarkets often do. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge.

Next week I’m covering restaurants and food on the island so make sure you click through to read it. I will detail specific restaurants and include contact details for them so put that together with the taxi numbers and you’re on your way!!

 

 

 

Mark Craven
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/barbados-naked-573058.html

Top Ten European Cities

Rome: Rome, the capital city of Italy is a city which has a rich culture and tradition. The city boasts of festivals such as White Night Festival that is worth seeing. Rome was the capital of the ancient Romans. There are many historical places of interest that would be a great experience to the visitors. Roman Coliseum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon and so on are a few historical places worth visiting. There are many museums and art galleries that would interest any art lover. Vatican city is another most sought out destination in Rome. One can enjoy the marvelous and mind-blowing artworks of Michelangelo at St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel.

Athens: Athens is one of the ancient cities of Europe. It is the capital of Greece. Acropolis of Athens is one of the places of tourist attraction. Athens is the longest city in Europe and it has been inhabited for over 3000 years. Tower of the Winds, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Arch of Hadrian and Prynx are the main centers of tourist attraction.

Paris: Paris is the capital of France and is known as the “fashion” capital of the world. It is one of the most romantic cities of world. A trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Scaling this wonderful tower would give a breathtaking view of the entire City of Paris. Paris has the largest art museum in the world, Louvre, that houses over 35,000 pieces of art. This museum is situated on the banks of River Seine. This city has a colorful nightlife. Disney Land, Arc de Triomphe, Opera Garnier, Jardin des Tuileries and Champs-Elysees are a few places that are worthy of a visit.

Vienna: Vienna is the capital of Austria and also one of the nine Austrian states. This city houses more than hundred theaters and museums that are famous for their music, opera, ballet and artifacts. Vienna is one of the European cities, which is rich in cultural history. This city was founded in 500 BC and was a part of the Roman Empire. Vienna is a blend of traditional and modern European culture. Anchor Clock, Belvedere Palace, Burgtheater, Danube Tower and Danube Island are some of the places that attracts tourists every year.

Salzburg: Salzburg is the fourth largest city of Austria. This city is situated on the banks of the river Salzach. Renowned for its beauty, the “Old Town” of Salzburg is listed as the World Heritage by UNESCO because of its world-famous baroque architecture. One of the notable landmarks of Salzburg is the setting of the musical film “The Sound of Music”. Hohensalzburg Fortress, Residence of Mozart, St. Petersfriedhof, Helbrunn, Festival Hall and Rupertinum are some of the interesting and must-visit places.

Barcelona: Barcelona is quite a lively city of Spain. This Spanish city has a unique blend of traditional and modern art, traditional and culture. Summer music festivals and flamenco shows are the major attractions in Barcelona. There are many restaurants and cafeterias that cater traditional Catalan cuisine, which is relished by the tourists. There are museums and galleries that house the works of Picasso. Some of the main tourist attraction points are La Rambla, Port Vell, La Barceloneta and Port Olympic and Barri Gotic.

Berlin: Berlin is the capital of Germany. Berlin is the treasure trove of culture and ancient tradition, of art and architecture. It has many things to offer to travelers. Nightlife in Berlin is mind-blowing. Berlin has many malls and shops that cater to the needs of the shopaholics. One of the oldest and internationally reputed zoological gardens, Zoologischer Garten, is located in Berlin. The places of interest include Pergamon Museum, Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, and Tiergarten. Berlin city is an intriguing combination of ancient historical monuments and modern steel and glass buildings.

Helsinki: Helsinki, the capital of Finland was founded in 1550 by the King Gustav Vasa. Today, Helsinki is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Northern Europe. Recently, Helsinki was named as one of the nine European Cities of Culture. In the recent years, Helsinki has become one of the favorite tourist destinations. This city houses some of the popular international restaurants and caters various kinds of delicacies including Russian dishes. Helsinki Card, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and churches are a few place of interest. If you happen to be in Helsinki during the last week of August, make sure you don’t miss any of the events of the famous Helsinki Festival.

Reykjavik: Reykjavik, the capital and the largest city of Iceland. Reykjavik means “steamy bay”. This is one of the upcoming tourist destinations and the main attraction is the geothermal pools. Places of tourist attraction include Mt. Keilir, Glymur, Hengill and so on. Reykjavik is one of the most expensive European cities to visit. There are parks, cafes and museums here which attract the tourists. National Museum has many artifacts of the Icelandic and the Norse culture. Austurstraeti and Hafnarstraeti are the two shopping destinations to buy souvenirs and handicrafts.

Edinburgh: Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is also its second-largest city. Nightlife is lively in Edinburgh because it has number of trendy pubs, restaurants and bars. Edinburgh castle is the one of the major tourist attractions. Other places of visit include Royal Botanical Garden, Museum of Scotland, National Gallery of Scotland and Royal Yacht Britannia. If you are a first-time visitor or are short of time, then it is advisable to catch a bus that goes around the city.

Jhonanant
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/top-ten-european-cities-614190.html

Berlin-Tiergarten: Skater/Spot an Neuer Nationalgalerie / 3

Ein Skateboard [ˈskeɪtbɔːɹd], gelegentlich eingedeutscht auch Rollbrett genannt, ist ein Brett mit zwei Achsen und vier Rollen, auf welchem man sich stehend durch Abstoßen mit einem Bein fortbewegen kann. Das Skateboard wird selten nur als reines Fortbewegungsmittel eingesetzt. Das Skateboarden (Skaten) hat sich vielmehr im Lauf der Jahrzehnte zu einer Sportart entwickelt mit einem reichen Repertoire an Kunststücken (Tricks) wie meistens Sprünge mit dem Skateboard und oft in Kombinationen mit Drehungen des Brettes und des Körpers und einer eigenen Begrifflichkeit.

Die Neue Nationalgalerie am Kulturforum Berlin ist das Museum für die Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts der Nationalgalerie (Berlin). Der Bau des Museums stammt von Ludwig Mies van der Rohe und gilt als Ikone der Klassischen Moderne. Die Neue Nationalgalerie ist zusammen mit der Gemäldegalerie (Berlin) und dem Kunstgewerbemuseum eines der wichtigsten Museen am Kulturforum Berlin.

Neue Nationalgalerie at the Kulturforum is a museum for classical modern art in Berlin, with main focus on early the 20th century. It is part of the German National Gallery. The museum building and its sculpture garden were designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and opened in 1968.

הגלריה הלאומית החדשה (בגרמנית: נויה נאציונלגאלרי – Neue Nationalgalerie) של גרמניה, ממוקמת באזור הקולטורפורום שבמרכז ברלין. בשל חלוקת ברלין, ובשל הימצאותה של הגלריה הלאומית הישנה במזרח העיר נבנתה בשנת 1968 גלריה חדשה על פי תכנונו של האדריכל לודוויג מיס ון דר רוהה. המבנה משמש להצגת תערוכות מתחלפות של אמנות מודרנית ואמנות המאה ה-20.

De Neue Nationalgalerie is het Berlijnse museum voor kunst van de twintigste eeuw (van klassiek modern tot kunst van de zestiger jaren) en is gelegen aan het Kulturforum. Het museumgebouw is ontworpen door Ludwig Mies van der Rohe en geldt als een van de klassiekers van de moderne architectuur.

Новая национальная галерея (нем. Neue Nationalgalerie) — художественный музей в Берлине в составе Государственных музеев Берлина, посвящённый искусству ХХ в.
Здание музея было построено по проекту и под руководством Людвига Миса ван дер Роэ, и считается иконой классического модерна. Наряду с Берлинской картинной галереей и Музеем декоративно-прикладного искусства Новая национальная галерея является одним из основных музейных учреждений в берлинском «Культурфоруме».

Neue Nationalgalerie (dosł. niem. Nowa Galeria Narodowa) – muzeum poświęcone sztuce XX stulecia położone w Berlinie przy Kulturforum. Spektakularny, obszernie przeszklony budynek muzeum został zaprojektowany przez niemieckiego architekta Ludwiga Miesa van der Rohe i jest uznawany za wybitny przykład modernizmu.

La Neue Nationalgalerie è un museo di Berlino destinato dalla sua istituzione ad occuparsi dell’arte del ventesimo secolo. Il museo si trova nel Kulturforum ed è considerato, insieme alla Gemäldegalerie e al Kunstgewerbemuseum, uno dei più importanti musei siti nell’area del Kulturforum. L’edificio è stato progettato da Ludwig Mies van der Rohe e fu inaugurato nel 1968.

La Neue Nationalgalerie (la Nouvelle Galerie nationale) est un musée de Berlin, en Allemagne, construit par Ludwig Mies van der Rohe et abritant les collections d’art moderne du xxe siècle.

Duration : 0:7:10

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