-News & Events- 2012 Rio Carnival, the most famous Carnival of Brazil, has opened on Friday, February 17 and will last for the next five days, untill the "Ash Wednesday", on February 22. The annual Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (held before Lent) is a place for a spectacular parades, brilliant costumes, colorful performances and endless dances. The final event will take place on Saturday, February 25.
Every year Rio de Janeiro attracts thousands of tourists to watch the world biggest Carnival. This year about 2 million of people took part in the "Cordao da Bola Preta" parade, which held on the streets of Rio. In total, during 2012 Rio Carnival, will be organized some 400 parades.
The hotels in Rio are full to the limits, because of a big number of tourists this year. About 850,000 tourists are said to be in Rio de Janeiro.
This year, the 62nd annual Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale 2012, began on 9 February and is expected to run until 19 February 2012.
The Berlinale is one of the biggest and leading film festivals. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, it is held every year in February, since 1978, in Berlin (Germany). The highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlinale is The Golden Bear (Goldener Bär). Another honored prize is the Silver Bear - an award for the best short film and for individual achievements in acting and direction. The festival is devided into the several sections. Among others are: Competition, Panorama, Forum, Generation, Berlinale Shorts and Retrospective. Since 2000 the Theatre at Potsdamer Platz (Berlinale Palast) is the house for the main events at the Berlinale.
10 days in Berlin is a good reason to not only dive into the cinema world but also is a good chance to discover the most interesting places in the German capital. Berlin has a wide range of places to visit. Beautiful squares and spectacular architecture of the central city, endless museums and galleries, exhibitions and clubs.
Things to do in Berlin
1. The Gendarmenmarkt The Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful square in Berlin. With The Konzerthaus (a concert hall) in the middle of the square, and two magnificent Cathedrals - the French and German. In the center of the Gendarmenmarkt is set a statue of German poet Friedrich Schiller. Both Cathedrals built in the 1700's and reconstructed during 1780's. The German Cathedral was almost completely destroyed after World War II and was rebuilt from 1977 to 1988. Today the French Cathedral houses a Huguenot museum and the German Cathedral works as the Bundestag's museum about German parliamentary history. On the Gendarmenmarkt is a large number of restaurants, shops and hotels.
2. The Brandenburg Gate The Brandenburg Gate, built from 1788 to 1791, is probably
the most well known symbol of Berlin and Germany. This landmark is located on the Unter den Linden, Pariser Platz 0117. The design of the Gate is based upon the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens (Greece). Atop the gate is the Quadriga - the sculpture of a chariot drawn by four horses driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. After Napoleon conquered Berlin in 1806, he took the Quadriga to Paris. But it stayed in France not long and in 1814, after Napoleon's defeat, the goddess Victoria returned to Berlin and received the Iron Cross, a new symbol of Prussian power.
3. Pergamon Museum The Pergamon Museum is the most visited museum in Berlin, built during 1910-1930 on the Museum Island, primarily for the Pergamon Altar, found by Carl Humann. The museum collection is subdivided into the Antiquity Collection, the Middle East museum, and the museum of Islamic art.
The monumental Pergamon Altar is a famous work of art of the Hellenic period. It has been delivered from Turkey. The Altar is a one of the terraces of the Acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Another famous exponents of the museum are: Market Gate of Miletus, The Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way from Babylon, The Mshatta Facade.
-News & Events- / -City Guide- The traditional Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia 2012) has opened on Saturday (the 4th of February) and will last for the next two and a half weeks, untill "Fat Tuesday" on February 21. Venitian Carnaval 2012 is held under the slogan "Life is theatre! It's time to get masked" (italiano-"La vita e teatro. Tutti in maschera").
The famous city on the water attracts every year a thousands of tourists to watch and take a part in the Venitian Carnaval which is taking place against the background of the unique scenery. A trip to Italian Venice during the Carnival will be interesting for every traveler.
Festivities as always began on the Saint Marco Square (Piazza San Marco) where is set a fountain with a red wine. In addition, this year in Venice at the entrance to the Grand Canal, has appeared a 9-meter high wooden statue of a bull, which will be burned on the last day of carnival.
Due to this year's slogan "Life is Theatre", all the squares, streets, canals and bridges of Venice in the next few days will turn into a real theater area, where will be given, perhaps, one of the most interesting and exciting performances in the world.
The most interesting ceremonies during the Carnaval are "The flight of the Angel" (February 12),"Water parade", dedicated to all Venetians and Guests (February 5), and "The Best Masked Costume Contest " (February 19).
According to organizers, due to bad weather, the traditional water parade of boats on Sunday is cancelled. The event will take place the same today, February Sunday 5th, starting from 11.30 am, at Cannaregio, with the Food Feast by AEPE and artistic performances.
On February 12 in the central square of San Marco, from a hundred-metter tower, an "Angel" will come down to the crowd. Usually this flight attracts the largest number of viewers.
Each day during the Festival of Venice, will be filled with a numerous of carnival exhibitions, theatrical performances and musical programs, which will take place throughout the city from the morning and till the late evening.
According to the program of Venice Carnival 2012 events among others we suggest to take a part in: "Festa Veneziana" (February 5, at 11.30 am, at Cannaregio), "The Ice rink at Piazza Ferretto", € 5-10 (Feb 5, 11:00-19:00/Feb 7-21, 15:00-19:00) "Opening of the Gran Teatro di San Marco with the artists of the Carnival Festival" (Feb 11(-21), 11:00 Piazza San Marco) "Parade for the Best Masked Costume Contest of the Carnival 2012" (Feb 11-13,16-18 at 11:00 and 16:00 Piazza San Marco) "The theatre of sweetness - music, flavours and chocolate" (Feb 11/12 10:00-19:00 Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio) "Volo dell'Angelo" - Reebok Angel Flight" (Feb 12, 12:00 Piazza San Marco ) "Black & White night" (Feb 13, at 19:00 Piazza San Marco) "The theatre of sweetness - Special St Valentine's day" (Feb 13-14 10:00-19:00 Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio) "The Best Masked Costume Contest - The Final" (Feb 19, 14:30/16:00 Piazza San Marco) "Carnival in the Old Town Centre" (Feb 20, 15.00 /16.00 Venezia-Murano-Burano) "The silent water parade" (Feb 21, 23.30 From Rialto to San Marco, Single place: € 75,00; Entire gondola (max 5 places): € 350,00 ) "The Wine Fountain " Every day in Piazzetta San Marco it will be possible to taste a selection of the best wines of the region Veneto.
And on February 21 the "Silent regatta" of the gondolas will complete the Festival of Venice 2012. A water parade of traditional rowing boats will float along the Grand Canal, from Rialto to San Marco.
Traveling in Italy this month check the weather forecast for at least 5 days ahead, because of the cold winter over Europe. Travel safely!
-News & Events- [Last updated on 5th February 2012] The Central and Eastern Europe faced these days the most strong frosts have seen for the past 6 years, with below freezing temperatures down to -35 by Celcius (-31 degrees Fahrenheit). Affected areas impresses with its scale from Turkey to Germany.
Traveling in Europe these days are not likely and even dangerous for the life in some areas. Winter holidays and extreme cold winter, which is managing now over Europe, are two different concepts.
Ukraine and Poland are among the most affected countries, with the temperatures down to -35C during the nights. In the capitals, Kiev and Warsaw, the temperature last night was -28 and -24 by Celsius (-18 and -11 degrees Fahrenheit).
The real temperature will feel much lower in comparison with the nominal temperature because of the correction on the power of the wind and humidity level.
