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Early Maps Fetch a King’s Ransom

Despite the popularity of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and all the thousands of earth orbiting satellites, there are roads less traveled and places few have seen. Our current system of cartography (map making) was first developed by the Greeks, their maps remained unchallenged for centuries. The early map makers had exquisite imaginations and only the Mediterranean world was represented; anything beyond their knowledge, the cartographers would draw dragons, flora and fauna and even mermaids.

The art of the map maker has always attracted man’s fascination with faraway, unknown places. Cartography itself antedated printing and writing; probably the oldest known map was found on a Babylonian clay tablet, Imago Mundi, which dated back to 2500 B.C., it’s displayed in Harvard. The oldest Africa map , Da Ming Hun Yi Tu, dates back to 1389 and is on display in Cape Town and the Tabula Penutingeriana, a map showing the road network in the Roman Empire, dates back to 4th century, covering Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia.

After 1500, there were three events that contributed to cartography; first, the rediscovery of Ptolemy’s ‘Geography’; second, the invention of printing and engraving and the expeditions into Africa and to the New World. This renewed interest was especially advantageous for the works of Gerardus Mercator , the creator of the first modern world atlas in 1570, for the country of France that produced the first national survey in 1756, and for England’s national survey in 1801.

These early maps were surprisingly inexpensive even though books of maps brought a high price, like Mercator’s atlas, which was found recently in a Belgian roadside bookstall, was sold for a price-tag of $300,000. Auctioning off early maps can bring a wide range of bids, like for an 1844 map of New York brought in a winning bid of $650 and a 112 double-page maps that were published by Abraham Ortelius in 1584, brought in a winning bid of $20,000.

By World War II, cartography was becoming very complex, and with the advent of computer mapping, which was developed in the 60′s, the early, imaginative drawings of the Greeks has now gone to the way side, but can fetch a kings ransom, if ever auctioned.

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Ray from Georgia

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Brooklyn’s Prospect Park: 150 Years of Renewal and Revitalization

The wonderful park in Brooklyn, Prospect Park, has been through many times of birth, decay, and rebirth. There are many individual facilities in the park and each one is rich with the history not only of the park, but of this particular New York borough as well. In recent years, the park has been going through several projects of rejuvenation and renovation, all under the care of the Prospect Park Alliance. Thus creating once again, a transformation which makes this location in Brooklyn one of the most popular destinations for tourists and residents alike.

The bandshell for instance, was originally designed and built by Aymar Embury and was recently refurbished in 1983, under the direction of the Prospect Park Alliance. Today, many people enjoy a night out in one of the best restaurants Manhattan and Brooklyn streets are lined with, and then a wonderful outdoor concert at the bandshell.  For the children, and for carousel enthusiasts of all ages, the carousel of Prospect Park is another one of the many individual aspects of the park, that has a rich history all its own.

There have been many carousels in the park since 1874.  Some of the early carousels burned down, and the one that still turns in the park today, was moved from its original location on Coney Island.  This one was closed down in 1983 due to the increasing deterioration over time, but again, the Alliance stepped in, and in by the fall of 1990, the carousel became the first project completed during the massive project involving all of the aspects of the park.  More than eight hundred thousand dollars were raised to fix the parts that had broken, and restorative artists removed about twenty layers of paint, to reveal the original paint on the carvings of Charles Carmel.  Any time spent in New York is not complete without a trip to Brooklyn, and any day in Brooklyn, is so too, not complete without a walk through Prospect Park.

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Fort Wayne’s humble beginnings

The area that is now Fort Wayne, IN was once a settlement of the Miami nation of native Americans called Kekionga. The Miami were visited by French Missionaries in 1676 on their way back from a missionary to Lake Michigan. By the 1680′s the French had established a post there because it was on a crucial portage route from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. By the late 1690′s the French had established Fort Miamis as one of a series of forts built by the French from Quebec to St. Louis. From the 1690′s on trade routes were established through out the area and the region prospered. In the 1770′s under the direction of General George Washington the Indiana territory became under the control of the United States and began the influx of population, being mainly Europeans moving westward from newly established coastal states in the east. The city of Fort Wayne, IN was finally incorporated officially in February of 1840. With the construction of the Wabash and Erie canals Fort Wayne flourished and prospered until the building of the Railroads reducing traffic on the canals greatly.

Fort Wayne is located on the Great Plains in fairly flat territory along the banks of the St. Mary and St. Joseph Rivers. These rivers converge to form the Maurnee River which flows tot eh north and west emoting into Lake Erie. With marshes and wet lands to the south and west of the city of Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne is great place for bird watching, fishing and experiencing what the rivers have to offer. Many hotels Fort Wayne will be able to help you in finding out the best places to go for wildlife viewing. North and east of Fort Wane is

Fort Wayne experiences 4 distinct seasons. Winter can be cold and snow fall can be frequent. Summers are hot and fairly humid. Spring and fall tend to be more temperated and the humidity lower.

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Eunice de Souza, Goa Roots

Of all of India’s splendid five-star hotels, Goa has a flavor unique to the country.  With its famous beaches, that have attracted counter-cultural adventurers for the past few decades, there is a sonic culture here that lives in a vibrant and inviting night life.  There are also forests for adventurous hikers and wildlife sanctuaries for families, reflecting the enormous biodiversity of the region.  There are places where the Portuguese influence is more keenly felt, and also areas that predate this, reflecting the city’s continuous inhabitation for over two thousand years.  Our hotels, then, offer the same high standards that reflect the best in the industry, with local differences that will delight guests of all ages.  We also proudly offer splendid extras, providing amenities to help facilitate the rejuvenation of the body and spirit.

Goa itself is a fascinating study in cultures.  With a large expat community and the diversity of the local communities in Goa’s neighborhoods, one can hear multiple languages and experience multiple points of view.  There are a number of musicians, visual artists, and writers that have connections to Goa, and one of these is poet Eunice de Souza.  She was born Pune, in 1940, to parents who came from Goa, and she currently lives in Mumbai.  Educated in Mumbai and at Marquette, in the U.S., she recently retired from her post at St. Xavier’s in Mumbai, where she was the head of the Department of English for twenty-five years.

Eunice de Souza has written several books of poetry, as well as serving as editor for multiple poetry editions.  She has also been active in theatre, as an actor and director, and has written literary criticism as well as books of children’s literature.  She is known primarily as a poet, however, and her work is exceptionally evocative of the space between cultures, languages, and geographies.  Her voice is an extraordinarily musical one, and the complicated rhythms and cadences can only be appreciated in its oral rendering.  It is also an extremely intellectual literature, moving seamlessly between doubt and belief, cynical observation and emotional catastrophe, making it a work that is pleasurable on multiple levels.

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Valencia: Rich in Historic and Contemporary Architecture

Valencia, Spain experienced a dramatic increase in tourism and outside interest beginning in the mid 1990s. This former industrial city has quickly become known for its interesting history, culture and beaches. In 2007 it gained greater prestige by hosting the renowned America’s Cup, an international sailing competition. The city has many monuments, which attract visitors, such as the City of Arts and Sciences and the World Heritage Site. The Serrano Towers and the Quart Towers are amazing relics of the medieval city that have been restored for contemporary appreciation. Malvarossa Beach remains a favorite destination for travelers who are staying in one of the 5 star hotels Valencia.

The City of Arts and Sciences, “Cuidad de las Artes y las Ciencias was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, in collaboration with Felix Candela. It is an amazing example of contemporary architecture and consists of 5 areas or buildings. These include an opera house, which is also a performing arts center, the L’Hemisferic which has a planetarium and an Imax theatre, a beautiful garden walkway, an open air oceanographic park and a science center. Each of these offers a breathtaking view of incredible avant-garde architecture and design.

The World Heritage Site, “Lonja de la Seda” is an amazing example of late Gothic architecture and is one of the premiere tourists attractions of the city. It was built between 1482 and 1548 and served as a civil building. The secular nature of this incredible building was uncommon in a time when most great structures were created for spiritual worship and services. This illustrates the great power and wealth held by this major Mediterranean mercantile town. Valencia’s prominence dates back further than the mid 15th century and the construction of Lonja de la Seda. Previously there had been another building in this location, and it also served secular or mercantile purposes. The Oil Exchange, “Lonja del Aceite” was the location of great business activity, including more than the name imply’s. Toward the middle of the 15th century the city had become so prosperous that the new building needed to be constructed, which is the one that remains today

Tags: 5, hotels, star, Valencia