Of all the continents, Antarctica is the coldest and inaccessible. It is the only continent that different nations agreed that they should share. But now the Antarctica is being considered by many nations as a future source of natural resource as other sources have started to run out.

The aims of conservation and preservation also slowly being replaced with new aims of resource exploitation.Confrontations over the natural resources could well start to replace the peaceful cooperation that has been achieved in the area of scientific research.

At the main U.S. Antarctic base, scientists and officials talk of decades of tranquil research and sharing among nations. Even during times of war in the outside world the scientists feel a great bonding with their colleagues due to them facing the same challenges of the hostile environment, and they also share a passion for the scientific work that that are doing. antarctica travel

The work of Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd and his vision for the Antarctic has lead to a park being dedicated to him outside the National Science Foundation McMurdo building headquarters. Byrd has led five Antarctic expeditions and was the first to fly over the South Pole. He saw Antarctica as a place that should set an example of international scientific cooperation and of a region where nations can live together in peace. But now that the world has become dependent on energy and our industries consume the Earth’s natural resources, are these ideals likely to remain?

No one knows what the mineral potential of Antarctica is but there certainly is more interest. Now the situation has become a political issue rather than just a scientific one. Virgin oil reserves and precious mineral resources are believed to exist in large quantities under the deep frozen treacherous land and dangerous seas.antarctica vacation

Antarctica and the surrounding region are similar geologically to other regions of the Earth where oil, minerals and gas are found in abundance. The US has competed some small scientific offshore drilling and the results of which show a high possibility of hydrocarbon deposits. Coal deposits and iron along with concentrations of metallic minerals including lead, tin, titanium, gold, copper, nickel, chromium and uranium have already been confirmed on land.

Until recently, the harsh environment of Antarctica made exploitation economically unthinkable. As the prices if resources increase and new technology becomes available, businesses and governments have begun to see the benefits and the scientists and environmentalists are becoming more worried.

Worldwide environmental groups also are suspicious about mineral exploitation, saying that Antarctica is one of the last virtually untouched, unpolluted sanctuaries on Earth. The exploitation of the region will certainly conflict with the environment and the International Institute for Environment and Development and the Sierra group are both aware of the prospects of this happening.

They both realize that mineral exploration is needed but that there must also be an assessment of the environmental damage that the exploitation will cause to the environment. However they are worried the results of any studies will actually encourage development. Drilling oil raises the biggest concerns because of the possible oil spills. A lot of Antarctica’s animal life is found near the coast and is likely to be affected. More damage could be caused by an oil spill in the Antarctic than elsewhere because the rate that oil degrades and breaks up is a lot slower at colder temperatures.

In 1959 a landmark treaty turned Antarctica into a scientific preserve and the majority of what goes on there is tied in to the treaty. The treaty involved 12 nations who now ensure no military activity can take place nor the disposal of nuclear waste. Any overlapping claim to Antarctica territory has been side stepped by the treaty.

Creation began on The Berlin Wall early in the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1961. It was a frantic yet effective effort by the GDR (German Democratic Republic) to bring to an end East Berliners escaping the Soviet-controlled East German state into the West of the town, which was then dominated by the Americans, British and French. You should go to Berlin yourself to check this out and stay in one of the many Berlin apartments

Berlin’s unique state as a city half-controlled by Western forces, in the focus of the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany, made it a central point for tensions concerning the Allies and the Soviets and a place where disagreeing ideologies were imposed side-by-side. However, as more and more people in the Soviet-controlled East grew disillusioned with communism and the increasingly domineering economic and political conditions, an growing amount began defecting to the West. By 1961 an predicted 1,500 people a day were fleeing to the West, damaging both the credibility and – more importantly – the workforce of the GDR. Soon rumors began to proliferate about a wall, and it wasn’t long after that those rumors were made a tangible reality.

In a masterfully-designed operation, spanning just 24 hours, the streets of Berlin were torn up, barricades of paving stones were

Berlin Wall just before it was taken down

erected, tanks were gathered at essential places and subways and local railway services were interrupted, so that within a day the West of Berlin was totally sealed off from the East. As of that same day inhabitants of East Berlin and the GDR were no longer allowed to go in the West of the city (including the 60,000 who had been commuters). In reply to international criticism that such extreme measures inevitably drew, the GDR claimed that the barrier had been raised as an ‘anti-fascist protection wall’, and that they had moved to stop a third world war.
The account of the ‘Wall’ that started life in 1961, was in fact not a wall but a 96 miles barbed wire fence. However, after this incarnation proved too easy to scale, work started in 1962 on a second fence, parallel to the first but up to 100 yards further in. The area in between the two fences was demolished to create an empty space, which became broadly known as “death strip” as it was here that many would-be escapees met their doom. The strip was roofed with raked gravel, making it easy to spot footprints, it offered no cover, was mined and booby-trapped with tripwires and, most notably, it offered a patent field of fire to the armed guards – who were instructed to shoot on sight.

Later on even these measures were deemed inadequate and a concrete wall was added in 1965, which served until 1975 when the notorious ‘St

Although not directly travel related I recently read that the night of November 17/18  (time for the lower 48 united states) that from just about anywhere in the world you will be able to see the Leonid Meteor Shower.

If you can believe it scientists are predicting as many as 500 meteors per hour in this shower.  For those of you with high powered cameras you are going to have a rare opportunity of catching some wonderful photography.

The meteors may be able to be seen for as long as a week, but the night of the 17/18 should be the most spectacular.

Here is a great website about the Leonid Meteor Showers.

Image from http://meteorshowersonline.com/leonids.html

So many of you may ask what are meteor showers?

According to scientists which I do not profess to be beyond enjoying a good heavenly display a meteor shower is an increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of year.  Sounds simple enough right.  Well it get’s deeper.  The debris that becomes most meteor shower is the debris that is shed from comets as they orbit the sun.

If the earth passes through a stream of debris spread after a comet orbiting the sun then we here get to partake of a heavenly display.  Depending on the location of earth in respect to the stream of debris it appears as if the meteors are falling from the constellations.  So be sure to keep an eye on the ‘Big Dipper’ it may seem like part of it is falling.

Os should I say keep an eye on ‘Leo’ since meteor showers are named by the constellation from which meteors appear to fall.  Leonid is named fo the constellation Leo.

So if you are like me you will be asking the question, how can I best view a meteor shower?

First and foremost is go somewhere dark.  If you live in a bright city your viewing pleasure will definitely be diminished.  This would be a great time to take a road trip away from the city.

Next, drive north!  If you drive South the skies could become darker but the glow will dominate the northern horizon, which is where ‘Leo’ rises.  Now that you have headed North find a secluded area.  Perhaps at a state park or out an old logging road.  Try to be secluded enough that any other traffic in the area will not blind you sensitive night vision.

Once you have located your ‘spot’ it is time to get comfortable.  Bring lots of blankets so that if it is safe you can lay out on the grass/ground and enjoy the view from your back on a nice pillow and blanket.  You want to position yourself so that your entire vision is filled with the stars of the sky.  Put the horizon in your peripheral vision.

You should easily be able to see the meteors with your naked eyes as they streak by.

This should be a truly spectacular vision and you can bet that I will be out there viewing it.  I wish that I had camera equipment sophisticated enough to capture it.   Perhaps I will do some electronics shopping in the next two weeks.  In the meantime, get ready I just might have a giveaway for whoever can produce the best photo of this heavely event.

Note, that I have added a countdown to this day on the sidebar.

Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art is in Doha, Qatar.  It features over 4,500 pieces of art that cover three continents and at least 13 centuries of time.

There are two floors of art exhibitions ‘The Language of Islamic Art’ and ‘The Journey of Islamic Art’.

‘The Language of Islamic Art’

This exhibition is broken down into 9 areas.  Introduction, calligraphy, writing in art, two pare figure in art, pattern, pattern in art, a two part science in art:

The Introduction lets the visitor know that the Islamic Artists aim is to make ordinary object beautiful by using design, decoration and craftmanship and the materials used range from simple pottery and clay to extravagant gems, jewels and gold.  The pieces in the introduction collection give an overview of all the items in the gallery.  They come from regions that span over 7,000 kilometers from Spain to India and over 1,000 years.

The Calligraphy exhibit features the language Arabic which has a special significance in Islamic Art and is the language of the Holy Qar’an.   Calligraphy balances movement with perfect form and has long been known as an art form.  The calligraphy exhibit features a large range of items including manuscripts, coins, ceramics and tiraz.

Writing in Art includes calligraphy,  specifically using calligraphy as a repetition to create pattern and design.  Frequently the repetition and design took over the object making it illegible but creating spectacular pieces of art.  Objects in this gallery date back as late as the 6th century and as early as the 20th century.  This exhibit not only includes the pieces of art created with writing but also the tools used to create them.

The Figure in Art exhibit has two parts to it.  Using animals and people, many believe that this has a religious significance and others yet believe it is blasphemous to try to match the creative power of God.

Pattern is the sixth element in the Islamic Language of Art exhibit.  The patterns represent a commonality of using similar object throughout all century’s.  All century’s use pattern of geometric design and floral.  You can tell when importing began because chinese designs joined the mixture of patterns.

Pattern in Art shows the application of patterns being placed together to create arabesque.  The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals.  Arabesques are an element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls of mosques.  Frequent repeated designs are circles, squares, stars and multi-sided polygons.

The last two areas in the ‘Language of Islamic Art’ exhibit is Science in Art.  It is said that the Islamic people inherited their scientific traditions from the Middle East, Greece, Persia and India.  These last tow galleries feature important scientific manuscripts and instruments and tools used in scientific experiments and thought.  The precision and intricate design of the instruments show how important the study of science was to the Islam culture.

‘The Journey of Islamic Art’

This exhibition is also broken down into 9 areas.  Egypt and Syria – 14th and 15th Century, Egypt and Syria – 12th and 13th Century, Iran and Central Asia – 12th to 14th Century’s, two part Early Islamic Art, Iran and Central Asia – 14th to 16th Century’s, Iran – 16th to 19th Century’s, India – 16th to 18th century’s and Turkey – 16th to 18th Century’s:

Egypt and Syria – 14th and 15th Century exhibit features art of the Mamluks.  The Mamluks were originally Turkish slaves that were known for their horsemanship.  Glass production flourished under their rein after they took over Syria and Egypt, naming Cairo as their capital.  In addition to glass, the Mamluks made intricate candlesticks, lamps and wasl basins inlaid with silver and brass.  Lastly, the Mamulek exhibit has carpets, ceramics and even fine leather bindings and metalwork. 

Egypt and Syria – 12th and 13th Century is the time of the Ayyubid Dynasty.  This time had Cairo and Damascus as the centers of art productions.  During this time art was created using ceramic, decorated glass, woodwork and jewellery.  These art pieces are said to represent the ‘refinement of the dynasty’s lifestyle.’

Iran and Central Asia – 12th to 14th Century’s art exhibit begins to show the influence of Chinese design including the lotus flower, the phoenix and dragons.  Painted objects and wall tiles became popular in this time and the influence of continental trade impacts the designs.

The Early Islamic Art exhibit has two parts.  The significance of this exhibit is that it begins to portray the growth of the large cities and the impact that trade and manufacturing had on wealth and prosperity of the people.  This shows that wealth began to disseminate amongst the soldiers, judges and others instead of stayign with only the rulers.

Iran and Central Asia – 14th to 16th Century’s was the time of the Timurids.  They were known for their art patronage. The ruler would gather artists from all around into one locationa nd commission ‘international art’.  The art of this time is known by it’s large size and extensive use of tilework.  This exhibit features architectural decoration, jewellery, tiles, manuscripts and metalwork.

Iran – 16th to 19th Century’s brought to the area architecture, poety and phillosophy as other forms of art.  The art of this time was luxurious carpets and textiles that were commissioned both for local use and for export trade.  As a result of export and trade European Art came to the area and began to become popular, namely oil-painting.

India – 16th to 18th Century’s art on display is primarily jewellery, jade, textiles and the art of bookmaking.  There are some fine original manuscripts and books on display along wit a very intricate perfume flask adn jewellery.

Turkey – 16th to 18th Century’s is the final exhibit, it spans over 300 years of Ottoman rulers.  The art of this time went so far as illustrated manuscripts, calligraphy, carpets, textiles and metalwork.  This time was best known for their commissioned work and for their colorful ceramics and tiles made in Iznik.

Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art website is fun and even has an interactive area for children that includes printable pages, interactive games, an education area and some other great resources.  One thing I want to point out is at the very top of their screen you can send e-cards, download computer wallpaper and visit their giftshop and library.

The museum is open daily and has a few general rules such as no eating, drinking or smoking.  In addition, no oversized bags, video cameras or cell phones.

Here are two books that may interest you about Islamic Art:

• Beyond the Palace Walls: Islamic Art from the State Hermitage Museum
• The Treasures of Islamic Art in the Museums of Cairo

Finally I am off of the plane and my adventure in France begins.  The flight here was long and I am very tired but at the same time I’m excited to see this magnificent city.  Paris is not only the capital, but also the most popular city in France.  I step out of the airport and hail a taxi, asking to be taken to the Eiffel Tower; it is easy to find and a great place to start my tourist adventures.  After paying the Taxi, which is not cheap I might add, I took the time to see the tower.  Wow, what a view.

I am not into heights, but with all of the metal around I felt safe enough to get up high and take a look.  Spectacular!

Painting of the Eiffel Tower

Tour complete I walked for awhile, soon enough finding myself just off of the River Seine in the north of town.  I was getting hungry, but that was easy enough to remedy.  Paris has over 2 million people so their are plenty of great places to eat.  I took a seat at a little cafe that looked over the city to have some food.  Right away the guy serving me noticed that I do not speak French, I was nervous because I have heard that the french treat English speaking people, specifically Americans like crap.  This is not the case, luckily, and my server even brought out the chef to introduce him to me.

I said hello and then he asked what I would like to eat.  I know a great trick that almost always works well for me so I decided to try it.  I said “You are the chef I will eat what ever is your favorite item to make.  Surprise me”.   The server smiles and the chef gets a great big grin and turns to go prepare something tasty for me.  I relax with a drink in my hand and sit back to watch as the people stroll by, there is no hustle and it really seems like a stress free world with lots of time to get everything done.

My food arrived and all I can say about it is that it was fabulous.  I cannot even relate the wonderful textures that explode in my mouth.  ‘Chef John’ told me the name of the dish as he presented what I would have to call a work of art, but I cannot even reproduce it’s name.  Wish I could speak French, I do speak Portuguese, but it does not help me much in France.  I look forward to the part of this trip that gets me to Portugal!  I thanked the chef and server for the meal and walked away thinking I could have gone to a very expensive restaurant back in the states and paid  six times the money for food that would not have tasted as good as that meal!

Outside the cafe’ and down the road a bit I pulled out the map and GPS since I am using a combination of a paperback booklet I bought online ahead of my trip and a hand held GPS.  I knew I wanted to get to Portugal and after deciphering my instruments I determined that I needed to start going south.  I turn to find a train that will take me to Orleans.

The station is a couple of hours walk from where I was, but to walk through one of the most treasured cities, Paris France, is well worth it to me so I set out on foot.  Paris is so loved that its boundaries have not changed since 1860.

My backpack began getting heavy and I was really starting to feel each little hill and bump in the road, then I finally made it to the train station.  It is a good thing I found it because it was getting dark and I was just in time to catch the last train to Orle’ans.  The train I am on actually stops at Saran first.  It was interesting to see the country side.  Oh wait, I am doing it in the dark!

Getting hungry again I visited the food car to fill up my water jug that I carry on my pack and got some bread that had melted cheese on it.  I then headed for my cabin.  I had a small room that is normally shared with three other passengers but it seems like I lucked out because my cabin was empty.  I throw my pack in the seat next to me and take a seat by the window.  The room reminded me of a old western stage coach, I wonder if that is why they call it coach class?  About that time the Jet lag really kicked in and I am out to the world.  With an hours nap under my belt I get off of the train in Saran.  Now to find a place to sleep.

Saran is only a few miles from Orle’ans and so I decided to walk it after I got up in the morning and had the free breakfast from the bed and breakfast I was staying in.  The lady cooked some toast with egg in the center on it it was great.  The walk was longer than I thought but very peaceful.  Passing old farm houses and beautiful countryside I come to Orle’ans.  This small commune is a gathering of people that have come to live together, why it is not a city at 250,000 inhabitants I do not know.  I had to use my French dictionary a lot in this small city as I did not find very many people that spoke English.  I got some odd looks as I walk through Orleans but less than I expected.  The Loire River is wide and slow moving with a lazy feel to it like it had all the time in the world to get where it was going.

Once I had seen just about all of Orleans and I was ready to get on to my next location.  Luckily I was able to get some rest in Saran at a small bed and breakfast, old looking farm house, really cool.  So I headed for the Fleury-les-Aubrais at least I think that is what they called the train station here.  There was some confusion while I was talking to a gentleman that I bumped into while staring at my map.  He said something about the Nazis using the train station as a hub during the war, if I understood correctly.

So now I am off to Bordeaux and I am really liking the train.  Probably a good thing to like the train as I have several hours ride ahead of me.  Look for my next post for my continued trip through Bordeaux and beyond.

To read about one of ProMapTraveler’s most popular posts about the Eiffel Tower visit the post ‘1,665 Steps and Some Flashing Search Lights’

Famous writer Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.” Hemingway lived in Paris France during the 1920s and wrote the novel A Movable Feast based on his experiences there.  Hemingway’s Paris ran down the Boulevard Montparnasse from the Closerie des Lilas at the Observatory to the Restaurant de Petit Trianon and down to Paris Saint Germain. He hung out at Balzar’s for drinks on rue des Ecoles, he frequented Harry’s New York Bar near the Opera, he loved the obscure Le Trou dans la Mur bar and he drank fine vintage wine at the Cafe de Medicis.  His favorite Paris hotel was the Ritz Vendome and he rented a room at the Rue Notre Dame des Champs. He watched steeplechases at Auteuil, where he’d have a bloody mary with his friends in the Little Bar of the Ritz and eat ham-herb omelets or Belon oysters at the Course Restaurant. Other favorite restaurants included Lipp’s in Saint Germain and Closerie des Lilas near Point Royale, where he’d eat with James Joyce. Some people arrive in Paris because they’ve read of such places. Others wish to begin a fresh adventure of their own.

Palace of Versailles

Architecture buffs have a number of places to see when they visit Paris France. You’ll see palaces like the Palace of Versailles, which was built in the French Renaissance tradition circa 1678; Chateau de Villette, another 17th-century palace, crafted in French Baroque style for Louis XIV’s ambassador, Jean Dyel; or the Palais de Chaillot, a stripped classical structure designed for the 1937 World Exposition.

Wolf Eel swimming around

We were diving in the Puget Sound of Washington State USA off of a park that many divers visit because of the opportunity to feed the Wolf

Wolf Eels hiding in their home

Eels.  These big headed eels have large jaws with many teeth and they love to eat sea urchins; you know those large spiky balls.

We dove to 60 feet on the way gathering up sea urchins to feed to the Wolf Eels.  We were still at the top of the wall when we saw the first Wolf Eel.  She was mostly black all over and very long.   (You can tell males from females by the color of the males, they are a light gray and usually bigger.)

She came down and swam all over the diver in front of me circling every part of the diver until she was satisfied that they had no sea urchin to feed her.  Then it was my turn and I gave up my urchin quickly to the jaws of this snakelike beast.  Luckily there were more urchin when we got to the base of the wall to feed to the rest of the Wolf Eels.

Now these things are big, at least longer than I am tall and I am over six feet tall, not to mention all of their teeth.  By the way, the teeth on these and the fact that the sea urchin are poisonous when their spikes enter your skin…  do you wonder how are we picking them up and why are we not scared to have the wolf eels take them from our hands?

The only reason that we are a little more comfortable doing this is because we are in water that is about 58 degrees to 65 degrees and we are wearing 7mm wet suits with hoods and gloves.  This stuff is like mini armor even crab pincers have a hard time getting to you through them.

This sea urchin has been cut in half as we did to feed the eel

The visibility that we had this day was great and my brother, dad and I started to feed the Wolf Eels.  We were told to cut the urchin in half and then hand them over to the Eels.  I remember holding my hand out as this ugly looking head comes forward from the small cave like hole in the wall of coral reef in front of me.  It comes down and takes the urchin from my hand and destroyed it as it eats it.  Amazing was all I could think, I was new to this experience and so I did not recognize that they told us before we started this dive that the Wolf Eels would swim all around us for the food.

As the dive progressed we had a such a great time and but as all dives do, they eventually end.  My father used up his air first so he headed up the wall after letting my brother know he was done.  I was looking out into the ocean not seeing much at 60 feet down in murky water.  The tide had changed and visibility that was great turned into a fog of floating debris.  I saw a rat fish they are cool looking with sharp fins and a sharp nose.  I motioned to my brother by grabbing him with my left arm.  He was floating a couple feet above me.  I pointed at the rat fish and he shook his head yes he saw it.  He also pointed out that dad had gone up and he then pointed at his own air to show that it was time for him to go also.  I agreed and then looked back toward the rat fish.  That is when the six gild shark swam into my view.  It was an adrenaline rush as I watched and my left arm started to grab at my brother.  As the shark came closer probably drawn in by the sea urchins that we had cut up.

Look at the eye on this shark!

As the Shark came closer within 10 feet or so, I could see his large black eye, which as he focused on me became a small black dot.  I could actually see the retina shrink.  Wow talk about goosebumps, on top of the goosebumps I already had.  At this point I really wanted to share with my brother and that is when I noticed my arm was not touching anything.  I looked over my left shoulder and found that he had already gone up the wall and was just breaching the top.  I swam up to him and caught up to him just over the top of the wall.

Now I had my brother it was time to tell him about this shark I had just seen…how am I going to do that without being able to speak?  We are still in 30 feet of water and I am making shark like symbols with my hands.  Mostly things that resembled teeth.  I think I was humming the jaws theme as I tried in vain to tell him I had just seen a shark.  He just shook his head and pointed at his air gauge.

After looking at his air gauge the realization that I had just seen a shark and it was behind me was when the fear and

Diver with eel in the Puget Sound

the movie jaws started to click in my brain.  I was off like a shot for the beach leaving my brother behind.  He was confused but quickly followed me to the shore.  Once I was at the surface I filled my dad and brother in on what I had seen and we smiled a lot at the great experience.

The Smithsonian Museum

The The Smithsonian American Museum of Art is the United State’s first museum dedicated to American art and art history. Ranging from the oldest pieces of Native American art to modern and futuristic pieces, this museum blends history with beauty. In addition to this, the Smithsonian American Museum of Art is one of the most renown museums in the world, sporting a good reputation and an extensive traveling gallery so that people all over the United States and the world can experience the wonders and beauty of American art.

The Smithsonian American Museum of Art was founded by a man named John Varden in 1829. At the birth of the Smithsonian, the museum was a single room in his home where he stored pieces of European artworks. In 1841, his modest collection moved to the Patent Office Building, where the current Smithsonian American Museum of Art stands today. He took it upon himself to be the curator of a museum targeting government owned artistic and historic items. Thus, famous pieces such as the Declaration of Independence and Benjamin Franklin’s printing press came to share space with paintings and sculptures, as well as other pieces of art.

In 1906, the history of the Smithsonian American Museum of Art was forever changed by the recognition that the museum was indeed a National Gallery of Art. This naming resulted in an influx of artwork and valuable pieces, which provided the foundation of the current museum.

Due to the limitless value of the items held within the Smithsonian American Museum of Art, security is extremely high. The museum maintains some of the strongest security in the world to protect against theft and vandalism of these pieces which cannot be replaced.

The Smithsonian has undergone several name changes during its history. It is often referred to as ‘the Smithsonian’, although there are several branches of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.. It is also called the American Museum of Art. In 1980, it was renamed to the National Museum of American Art. In 2000, it was renamed once again to the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

If you wish to visit the Smithsonian, you should give yourself ample time to view the thousands of paintings and exhibits located within its walls. Typically, one day is not enough to see all that the Smithsonian has to offer. If you have the time, plan several visits to the museum, and systematically approach each wing until you can see the entirety of the collection. The Smithsonian is host to many traveling exhibitions, so be mindful of the varying schedules when you plan your visit.

smithsonian museum dc

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Named after Sintra Mountain, who’s foot it guards, this castle is unique.  I saw a house once that had many owners and they all added to the house.  This house was very non conform and in fact almost looked funny.  Sintra Castle in many ways is like that house though Byron was quoted as saying “The Glorious Eden” when he reflected on this castle.  Many others who viewed Sintra Castle say “The Meeting Place of Madmen”.  Just look at the picture and you will get the idea.

The building style is more of a blend of styles including Arabic, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, and Baroque.  The castle is extravaganza of sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and ceramics.

In the surrounding park there are banana trees, camellias, hydrangeas, firs, and geranium form hedges so thick that even daylight cannot penetrate them.  Inside the Castle is full of art that spans everything from Ancient Egypt to Moroccan culture including a famous Neo-Gothic chandelier made of gilded bronze and bearing 72 candles.  I think if I was the servant that had to light all those candles I would not be using the word famous for that chandelier.