Swan

taken in Sarajevo, Bosnia 

Oct. 2014

Queen Victoria

"The Important thing is not what they think about me, but what I think of them" Queen Victoria

Volendam, Netherlands

Volendam is a town in North of the Netherlands. Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands & its well know for its old fishing boats and traditional clothing still worn by some residents.

City of Happiness

London, City of Happiness

Hyde Park

Hyde Park (Taken in July'14)

Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in London, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner. Covering 142 hectares (350 acres) and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, there's good change you'll forget you are right in the centre of London.

Where to go in Stockholm, Sweden?

Some attractions to visit in Stockholm, The capital of Sweden - which I wish to visit - :

- Vasa Museum : The Vasa Ship Museum is home to one of the most complete and best preserved shipwrecks in the world. It is really an awesome sigh

- Djurgarden : Garden / Park

- Stockholm Old Town : The Old Town, unsurprisingly, is the oldest part of Stockholm. It's certainly the tourist's go-to destination, but that doesn’t detract from its architectural and otherwise urban beauty

- Stockholm Canals : Canal Tour

- Stotorget : Center of the city

Questions & Answers about Chocolate

These are some Q&A about chocolate taken from Chocolate Factory in Bruges:

Is Chocolate an aphrodisiac?

Chocolate already has this reputation in the Aztec period. King Moctezuma drank 50 cups per day, especially before going to visit his wives in the harem.

This Chocolate was rich in spices (pepper, vanilla, red peppers)  which could be the reason behind its tonic sexual effect.

Casanova, the world's most famous lover, used chocolate and champagne to seduce women. Madam du Barry, Louis XV's mistress, gave her lovers lots of chocolate to improve their performance.

Today we know that caffeine, theobromine, serotonins and phenylethylamine, contained in chocolate, act as a tonic and reduce stress, giving better resistance to fatigue, which can consequently have a positive effect on sexual activity.

Answer Perhaps, yes

Does chocolate cause cavities?

The appearance of a cavity depends on four factors:

- the presence of bacteria

- the presence of sugar

- the quality of the enamel

- the length of contact with sugars on the enamel.

Cocoa contains three types of substance which have powerful anti-cavity properties: tanins, which inhibit the development of microbes fluoride which reinforces enamel phosphates which deepen the acids formed by metabolisation of the sugars.

Answer: No on the contrary, chocolate prevents cavities.

Does chocolate help to cause acne?

Acne, among young people, occurs due to the excessive secretion of sebum in the skin which blocks the pores. No medical study has shown a link with chocolate

Answer: No Chocolate does not help cause acne

Is chocolate forbidden for diabetics?

Chocolate has a rather low glycaemic peak. Moreover, Belcolade produces a sugar-free chocolate with an excellent taste.

Answer: No chocolate is not forbidden for diabetics, but they have to take account of the quantity of glucids consumed and preferably choose a bitter chocolate of Belcolade sugar-free chocolate

Does Chocolate make you liverish?

Consumed in normal quantities, chocolate produces no hepatic intolerance effect. This has been proved in several clinical tests.

Answer: No, Chocolate does not make you liverish.

Does Chocolate cause high cholesterol?

The composition of cocoa butter explains the beneficial effect of chocolate on cholesterol levels. it is composed of 62% saturated fatty acids (of which 34% stearic acid and 28% palmitic acid) and of 38% of unsaturated fatty acids (of which 35% oleic acid and 3% linoleum acids). But among the saturated fatty acids, stearic acid must be isolated because it rapidly de-saturates in the organism to produce oleic acid. We can therefore conclude that chocolate contains only 28% saturated fatty acids and 69% oleic acid, which reduces cholesterol levels.

Answer: No, on the contrary, chocolate reduces cholesterol levels.

Does chocolate make you fat?

Today we know that in order to lose weight, you have to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Answer: If you are slim you can, for example, eat dark chocolate and you will not gain weight. If you are overweight, slim down first, then you can reintroduce chocolate into your diet. If you consume it with moderation, you will not get fat.

Burj Khalifa

Location :Downtown Dubai, United Arab of Emirates.
Architect : Skidmore, Owings & Meriil LLP (SOM)
Building Type: Supertall skycraper
Materials : Reflective glazing, aluminum and textured stainless steel
Construction: Reinforced concrete and steel
Date: from 2004 to 2010
Floor Area: 464,511 m2 (5.67 million square feet)
Height: 828 meters (2,716.5 ft)
Stories : 160+ stories

Village, Holland

Because a large part of Holland has peaty soil, the houses in the villages were built of wood. The houses were painted in green and in grey colours. Each village had its own colour green or grey. you still can see these houses on the Zaanse Schans in green colours and in the village Borek in Waterland in grey colours. In every village you could find windmills. These windmills were used for production or for controlling the water housekeeping. The Function of the windmills has nowadays taken by machines.

Dam Square, Amsterdam

The Dam Square is the most well-known and important location in the city. It lies in the histroical centre. On one side you see the neoclassical Royal Palace, this was the house of the first King of Holland, Willem I. Now it is at the disposal of the Royal Family and used for state-visits. The palace is open for visitors all year round.

On the other side of the square is the National Monument, a white stone pilar to memorise the victims of World War II.

The Dam Square is the location of events, demonstrations and a meeting place for many people.

Cheese, Holland

The Gouda Cheese and the Edam Cheese are two famous cheese varieties made of cultured milk. 60% of the cheese produced in Holland is Gouda Cheese (Yellow waxed). The Gouda is made in 12 and in 16 kg and is round and flat. Edam cheese has a red coating. It's shape is round and vary from 1- 6,5 kg. The difference is the fat percentage. Gouda cheese has a percentage of 48& and Edam cheese a percentage 40%. This make the Edam cheese drier, lighter and tarter than Gouda. Holland is the largest exporter of cheese in the world.

Volendam, Netherlands

Tulips

The Tulip is introduced in Holland in the 17th Century and was first planted in the Leiden botanical Garden. In 1636 the tulips became very popular and created the famous "Tulip-mania" during the Dutch Golden Age. The prices of tulips went sky high and became a symbol of status to those who could afford it. Till the bubble collapsed. Now, Holland is the largest exporter in dry bulbs but also in the cut flowers produced from the tulip bulbs in the world. There are many tulip festivals in the world, but the most famous is the Keukenhof tulip festival, with 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties, which is held between March and May every year in Lisse, Netherlands.

Bokhor

Hot Chocolate

coconut

Flowers

Greece

Armani Cafe, Istanbul

Ice Cream