Thursday, August 21, 2014

The City of Constantine, Algeria



Le Pont Suspendu Sidi M'Cid de Constantine
Suspended Bridge, Sidi M'Cid
 The city of Constantine (Arabic Qacentina) is a city in north-eastern Algeria, it is also the capital of the Prefecture of the same name. The population of the city is estimated at 448,374 inhabitants (2008). Constantine is also known by other names like "the city of suspension bridges" or "the city of eagles".

Constantine has a unique charm of its kind because of its history and its natural resources, a city literally cut in half by an abysmal emptiness connect multiple bridges ...


Arche naturelle en dessous du pont de Sidi M'Cid à Constantine
The natural arch under the bridge of Sidi M'Cid

Constantine originally ...

The foundation of the city dates back to -202 BC. JC., Formerly Constantine was an important Phoenician city called Cirta, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Numidia during the reign of Masinissa who at the time was an ally of Rome.

In the year 301 AD. JC, Cirta was completely destroyed during the war between the Roman Emperor Maxentius and the Roman governor Domitius Alexander. A few years later the Roman Emperor Constantine I rebuild the city and gave it the name it now bears for 17 centuries. Constantine was conquered during the Arab invasion in the 7th century, the Arabs gave it the name of Qusantina.

October 13, 1837, after a fierce struggle against the occupying French, Constantine falls and becomes part of French Algeria. During World War II, Constantine is used as operational basis by the Allied forces.


Monument aux Morts de Constantine
The war memorial at the top of the cliff on the right bank. 

The geographical location of Constantine

The city is located on a hill 640 meters above the level of the sea. Literally cut in two by a deep ravine through which flows the river Rhummel. The ravine is crossed by four bridges that connect the city between them. The canyon is 1,800 m long and reaches a depth of 135 m at its beginning nearly 200 m at the bridge of Sidi M'cid.

Constantine has a continental climate characterized by minimum of 0-12 ° in winter and maximum of 25 to 45 ° in summer.
 


Vue d'ensemble de la ville de Constantine
Overview of the city of Constantine

Constantine, a developed economy

Constantine has a prosperous and diverse agricultural area, formerly Constantine was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire.

Constantine is internationally oriented, as shown by the city is twinned with the cities of Istanbul (Turkey), Grenoble (France), Mulhouse (France) and Sousse (Tunisia).

Transport infrastructure are consistent with the presence of an international airport, a railway station and a bus station. A project to build a tramway is in progress (2012).

The city of Constantine is also a cultural, architectural and industrial center with the presence of two major universities: Mentouri Constantine (UMC) University is one of the largest in Algeria and the University of Islamic Sciences, an architectural wonder.


La Place de la Brèche (Place du 1er Novembre) Constantine
November 1st Place (Place of Breach)

Places to visit Constantine:

- The Suspension Bridge Sidi M'Cid was built in 1912 just up a natural arch. The bridge has a length of 164m and a height of 175m from the deck with a view across the gorge and the valley of Hamma is fantastic.

- The War Memorial is an Arc de Triomphe at the top of a cliff on the right bank with stunning views of Constantine.

- The Bridge of El Kantara, Pont Sidi Rached, the Devil's Bridge and the Falls Bridge.

- The Emir Abdelkader Mosque which shares the building of the University of Islamic Sciences is an architectural masterpiece of Arab-Andalusian art.

- The Museum of Cirta in 1930 and has antique diver, Numidian and Roman as well as collections of Orientalist paintings of the nineteenth century remains.

- The Breach (November 1st Place) is a square in the city center of Constantine, it takes its name from the French invasion, it is at this location that the French soldiers were a breakthrough and thus occupied the city.
 


La Mosquée Emir Abdelkader de Constantine
The Mosque Emir Abdelkader
 More Pictures:

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Constantine_bridge.jpg 

 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Amazing video .. passport renewal, Japan needs 3 minutes

Japan surprised by all the innovations and inventions, they are always proactive in everything, even in the passport renewal, a treatment that burden many people, especially the procedures in some countries of the world take weeks long.

Only in Japan is renewed passport in a period not exceeding minutes before the device is similar to an ATM machine, and in the video show a girl how you view the issuance of a passport after delivery and renovated the old.

The steps begin by touching the screen which requests to provide proof of identity card "identity", and the introduction of identity is inside the device, which is to identify the owner of proof, to be then asked the old passport and display it on the device to identify the data.

After that, comes a step footprint to make sure the machine that the passport holder is the owner of the fingerprint, to followed by taking a picture of the face, to be inside the machine processing of new passport within 3 minutes, then is taken footprint again, to come out the new passport wrapped and ready for use.



 

13 truths to travel even more efficient!

You probably already have your favorite websites to plan your vacation, but here are 13 truths that will allow you to travel even more intelligent.

Although Internet use

With the Internet, everyone improvises travel agent, but to get the best deals, delete your search history. If you've seen a deal on a site, clear your cookies (cookies) before returning to the web site. The rebates sites detect when a visitor comes to their site and can increase the price you saw the last time.


 
 
call

For the best accommodation rates, call the hotel directly. The manager will usually offer you a better price than you will find online. The hotel is full? Ask when cancellations take effect and call the correct time to get tickets last minute.


http://ispyoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Free-spy-call-download-for-smartphone-using-iOS7.jpg

Ask what you want

The hotel rooms are not all alike, some are larger and offer a nicer view. When you arrive at the hotel, ask if it is possible to get a better room. You have a few more dollars to spend? The hotel may have a better room to offer at an affordable rate.


 

Check your calendar

Some travel experts say Tuesday afternoon is the perfect day to purchase tickets for domestic flights. But, according to researchers from the University of Texas A & M, the weekend would be the best time. To make the best decision, check Bing Travel Price Predictor that makes monitoring rates and follows trends.




The best days

For a trip to North America on Wednesday is usually the cheapest day to fly, because most travel vacationers end weekends. Otherwise Tuesdays and Saturdays are also days that offer better prices.


  

Digital Thinking

Take pictures to remember important things such as where you parked your car the look of your bag and the number of your hotel room.


 

Travel during the low season

Almost all cities have their own mini low season when prices are lower and you'll get last minute deals. Visit New York after Fashion Week, after the Venice Film Festival or New Orleans after Mardi Gras.
The last day of an important event, hotels lose much of their clientele and restaurants have fewer reservations.


   

Collect your points

You have accumulated reward points? Call after midnight to speak to an agent of customer service. This way, you will get expert advice and you will have more choice because airlines usually offer new stocks to 12 h 01.


 

Use your social network

Ask your Facebook friends and those who follow you on Twitter if they have any recommendations for the destination you want to visit. Know some friends who like to attract attention is finally useful! And do not forget to "love" the Facebook pages of tourist offices and the main attractions of the destinations you visit to be informed of bargains.


 

Transact intelligently with banks

Financial institutions have branches abroad, which means that you can use their ATMs to withdraw local currency without paying the costs of international transactions. For example, HSBC has its own branches worldwide.


  

Take a travel insurance

Check if you are covered by your credit card company or group insurance from your employer. Avoid insurers who ask you go ahead hospitalization costs. Even if you only make a few trips a year, it is best to take a multi-trip insurance policy at an annual rate.


http://blog.allianz-global-assistance.be/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/assurance-voyage-panne-de-voiture.png 

Protect yourself

Do you know your passport number by heart? This is not necessary if you have left a copy of your number to a trusted friend or a family member in case of theft or loss. Better yet, scan the details of your passport and send you the email. You can get your message to your arrival.


 

Indulge

If you must stay at the airport for a certain period of time, it may be a good idea to get a pass for a day to enjoy the show of the airline. Or if you need WiFi, closer to the living room and enjoy the free service.


  

The 10 most bizarre tourist attractions in the world

You know the most popular: the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But there's a safe bet that you've probably never heard of these strange and bizarre works in different corners of the world.

The Thumb

This work represents one inch in height of 12 meters is located in the business district in Paris, France. This giant sculpture by César Baldaccini is called Le Pouce and is undoubtedly one of the strangest and most unusual works in the world. The sculptor is known for breeding large size of small objects of life; in this case, the thumb is the exact replica of his. The most bizarre is not so much the gigantic thumb erected in 1965, but the fact that nobody really seems to understand the meaning of the work.


 

Park underwater sculptures Molinere

You probably know not a fleet of underwater sculptures was a necessity for our planet. The first of its kind was created in 2006 by Jason DeCaires Taylor. British sculptor has made casts of cement from real people to create a world of underwater characters, near the coast of Grenada in the Caribbean. The best known work represents people in circle holding hands. This strange park can be visited by snorkelers and glass bottom boats.


  

The inverted statue of Charles La Trobe

In many ways, this statue is a faithful representation of Charles La Trobe, the first lieutenant governor of Australia, unless it is installed upside down. Why is that? Australian sculptor Charles Robb explains that this is what makes this work memorable, located at La Trobe University in Melbourne. However, many spectators and locals think it is disrespectful to the memory of Charles La Trobe.


 

The granite monument Georgia Guidestones

You will find the Georgia Guidestones monument at the highest Elbert County Point, Elberton, Georgia (USA). Arranged in a star shape, granite blocks bear an engraved message containing the rules by humans after the Apocalypse to restore humanity. Entries are four ancient languages: ancient Greek, Babylonian, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Sanskrit. This monument was erected in 1980 at the request of an anonymous group. The message focuses on the following concepts: the need to keep the human population to less than 500 million, the unification of mankind through the establishment of a new language and a new order of spiritual values. Yoko Ono is one of the followers of this particular landmark United States.


   

The hand of the desert

In the Atacama Desert in Chile, a huge hand Emerging from the sand. As you approach, the hand is growing like a giant character trying to get out of the sand. Created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal, this hand is literally in the middle of nowhere. If you have the opportunity to visit the Chilean desert, enjoy the very successful effect of the work.


  

The suspended rhino

There is much to see in Potsdam, Germany. But there is probably nothing as strange and disturbing as sculpture suspended Luisenplatz rhinoceros. There is little information available on this work, but we do know that it was created by Italian artist Stefano Bombardieri. And it is heavy, very heavy.


  

Manneken Pis

What for? Several theories, some wacky, explain its origin. According to legend, the statue located in Brussels was erected in 1600 to commemorate the memory of a boy who would have saved the city from fire by extinguishing the fire with his urine. Another says that the sculpture commemorates a young king who used to piss on his enemies. Whatever the reason for which it was carved this young naked boy urinating into a fountain, it is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.


 

Salar de Uyuni

This ancient prehistoric Lake Andes is now the largest salt desert known world. It has an area of 10,582 square kilometers, it is home to half the world's reserves of lithium and contains 10 billion tons of salt. Although this Bolivian symbol was not made ​​by man, it ranks in our category of strange. Its very unusual appearance and makes it an interesting place to visit even if in reality it is just a huge mass of salt.


  

The statue of the hanged

One gets the impression of a man who plunged to his death, but in fact it is a bronze statue of a hanging from a building in Prague, Czech Republic man. And the man is not anyone. The creation of the artist David Cerny controversial is supposed to represent Sigmund Freud, hanging by one hand. Despite its strange, weird character and a little disturbing, this sculpture is dear to the Czechs because it represents the fall of communism in a country that was torn apart by this system.


  

The fountain of child Eater

The picturesque town of Bern in Switzerland has beautiful scenery at every turn. The only element of place in this picture postcard is Kindlifresser fountain, which could be translated as "the eater of children". Few other adjectives that can describe strange and surprising this disturbing monument. The statue depicts an ogre devouring a young child while others are waiting to be eaten in his wallet. It is strange that the origins of this statue are not really known. Some believe that this is a performance to frighten Jews and others, it would be the king of the Titans Cronus, a character from Greek mythology who would have eaten her offspring to prevent take his throne. Although no one is sure of its origins, this statue gives a blue funk children of Berne since the middle of the fourteenth century. It's a good way to ensure that children always behave well.


  

 

10 sites glamping most luxurious in the world!

If you want to spend a fortune on a hotel room, do it in style. These 10 locations luxurious stays offer unparalleled access to the beauty of nature and the cottage there is none.

Kaya Mawa, Malawi

Completely renovated in 2010, this hotel on the seafront boasts the integration of the local community. Labor, which comes from neighboring villages, was formed on site and each room has been designed by a textile workshop of the island employing single mothers. Located on the island of Likoma, Lake Malawi, the proposed activities at the hotel include sailing, kayaking, kite surfing or scuba diving and snorkeling. You can also just stroll on the island of 18 km2, on foot or by ATV.


 

Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia

Modern design, two national parks and the coast of the Southern Ocean, are the attractions of this superb property of Kangaroo Island off Adelaide, South Australia. Book one of the 21 suites and enjoy the unobstructed view of the ocean, the local art and outdoor terrace. If you manage to leave the comfort of your room, you can enjoy endless pleasures of the "Galapagos of Australia", including fishing, surfing from the beach, guided hikes and excursions with a naturalist to see kangaroos, wallabies, sea lions and other wildlife of the island.


  

Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, BC

Facing Port Hardy, on the other side of the Strait of Queen Charlotte in northern Vancouver Island, the Nimmo Bay off the beaten track. You can not get there by plane or boat. If you do not have a private plane, you take care of your travel: a seaplane flight 90 minutes from downtown Vancouver! Once there, enjoy the multitude of activities: kayaking, climbing, bear watching and snorkeling are a few possibilities. Amenities include a hot tub in cedar, with a pontoon campfire, a tropical rain shower, pool with waterfall, and in each room, biscuits and homemade truffles.


  

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

At about half an hour's drive south of Napier on the North Island of New Zealand, along the coast of Hawke's Bay and beyond several famous vineyards, you will find a nondescript gate with intercom, providing access to the huge property that is still a farm. The estate also boasts a world class golf course, a hotel, a spa and a restaurant. You still have to drive 20 minutes on a winding road to get to the hotel. Beware of birds flitting around the bush and sheep crossing the road!


  

andBeyond Mnemba Island, Tanzania

Zanzibar is already a romantic place in itself; the Mnemba Island off is even more withdrawn. This "barefoot paradise" only accommodates 20 people at a time. They enjoy a beachfront accommodations, gourmet meals, make snorkeling offshore trips scuba diving near the island surrounded by coral reefs and having an interesting fauna. Come between April and August to witness the nesting sea turtles, supervised by the hotel staff. Suni, a small antelope, can be seen wandering around the island, and dolphins sometimes play around divers.


  

Mahua Kothi, India

At the heart of India, four in the closest you will find 12 kutiyas (jungle huts) in this property of Bandhavgarh National Park Airport. These are huts in name only, because each one has a private courtyard, a private bathroom, air conditioning and even a basket of yoga accessories. The resort is famous for wildlife viewing: naturalists take you on excursions to the park, four wheel drive vehicles to observe the wild boar, sloth, gaur (Indian bison), hyena, leopard, the highlight of the expedition, the tiger.


  

Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize

Purchased by the filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola in the 1980s and used as a private family resort until 1993, this 20 room property is nestled in the jungles of Belize, the boundary of the forest reserve of 43,000 hectares (107,000 acres) of Mountain Pine Ridge west of the town of Dangriga. All cabanas and villas are equipped with handmade soaps; they are equipped with an iPod dock and a "shellphone" to contact the front desk; you can enjoy food and beer in the region. It features a local craft store, stables for horse riding, an organic garden and a spa where one uses only local ingredients.


  

Ol Donyo Lodge, Kenya

If you are looking for the quintessential African safari, this is the place. Besides the elusive 'Big Five' - lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo - you might notice giraffes, cheetahs, oryx, etc. The exclusive environment will allow you to browse the property on foot, bike or horseback and in four-wheel drive vehicle. If you want to break an observation of wildlife, there is plenty to do in the hotel: spend the afternoon in the infinity pool, enjoy a private dinner in your villa or glass around the fireplace outside before going to sleep in your bed on the roof, under the stars.


  

Crans Luxury Lodges, Switzerland

The five private cottages in western Switzerland are to the gondola that takes you to alpine excursions throughout the year. In winter, try skiing, paragliding, sledding and snowshoeing. In summer, golf, hike bike, are climbing and more. Three of the cottages include a private spa with sauna and hot tub. Each has a room to store skis, you can enjoy the services of a concierge, catering and on-demand access to the best attractions in the area (custom shopping, perhaps?).


  

Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

With its contemporary minimalist look, this grand hotel in the rainforest is designed for a comfortable and modern where you focus on the spectacular setting and not on the color of the draperies. The view of the forest from the bed through the windows that run from floor to ceiling, will make you want to call room service! But rather head over to the dining room two floors to enjoy Ecuadorian cuisine expertly prepared with spices, ingredients and regional forest fruits. Once outside, take a walk on the nature trails and let the guides direct your gaze on the abundance of flora and fauna - insects, amphibians, rodents, birds and even mushrooms.


  
10 sites de glamping les plus luxueux du monde