One would assume that ghosts are only found in certain areas, however I was pleasantly surprised to read Judy Kaelin's recent article about the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. What an unlikely and fascinating place to embark on a ghost tour! This particular hotel is associated with many Victorian ghost tales. Of course, the hotel used to cater to the elite of the area so it's of no surprise that some of those figures stayed around a bit longer for the view of centuries past.

The hotel featured a hundred sleek horses for the pleasure of the guests seeking the early morning pleasure of sight-seeing along the trails of Eureka Springs. Elegant ladies in long skirts, hats and veils riding sidesaddle alongside fashionably dressed gentlemen enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of the morning.


Read more: Take a Tour of Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Compliments of shjdata (a photographer in their spare time)

Urnes Stave Church is one of the oldest surviving examples of a stave church. This particular traditional style reflects one of Norway's contributions to architecture.

The ornate decoration on the church have been given their name according to the style, which is Urnes style. The location of Urnes Stave Church is legendary. Situated in a glacial valley and designed in a way that its true nature is one of a kind, has placed this structure on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

If you plan to take a trip to Norway, you mustn't miss Urnes Stave Church which is located in the southern part of Norway, close to the edge of Fjord. You can't miss it, with its spectacular snow capped mountains as a backdrop.

The History of Urnes Stave Church

Urnes dates back to 1130, with its timbers being felled between 1129 and 1131. Many people believe it was used as a private church for a powerful family, the Ornes. Archaeological evidence and research on the site suggests that two other churches were present predating Urnes. The second church was incorporated carefully into what we see today.

Around the late 11th century, the door panels were intricately carved with interlaced ribbon snakes and dragons. A strange mix of designs to be sure. This style, however, had been adapted in stonework and metalwork, and it was widely copied in the areas where the Vikings traveled.

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The Architecture

The type of architecture takes its name from the upright posts that form the framework of the church.The area around the center of the nave is raised so that the multiple roofs are slightly reminiscent of a pagoda. There are also shingles, finials, and external galleries. The roof, as far as what the consensus is, is less spectacular than the door panels, which were taken from the second church.

The Artistry

Picture Sources
Icostlow

How many you, and let me see a show of hands, visit entertainment sites almost every day to see the latest news, information about new movies coming out, and your favorite celebrities? In my case, I have to say at least once a day. Besides the fact that I’m obsessive about new travel destinations, I’m just as interested about celebrity life.

No matter if I’m checking out Reese Witherspoon’s favorite new shirt she found at her favorite boutique in Soho, or finding out what’s going on in Sandra Bullock’s marriage, not that it’s any of my business-I have to know! It’s a guilty pleasure, but I tend to use my knowledge for the greater good, that being my unique style that I may have borrowed from Jessica Alba the week prior.

I think the interest comes from the unknown, you know, you just wonder what’s going on or what did go on in those fabulous houses in the Hollywood Hills. Or maybe, it’s just about the history of Hollywood and those classically beautiful actresses like Vivian Leigh, Maureen O’Sullivan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn.

Personally, I like to think I grew up admiring these actors and actresses, and what they really stood for. I would sit on the couch with my dad on Sunday afternoons, watching Showboat, or he would take me to the latest movies. All of the movies he brought me to see always had a purpose and a message behind them. Most of them were historical releases, but that explains why I appreciate history so much more now. Some of my favorites were Born on the Fourth of July starring Tom Cruise and Glory starring Matthew Broderick.

Today, the movies have really become a reflection of the times. There’s so much new technology, which of course shows in the movie Avatar, and so much romance and life, like in Valentine’s Day starring Ashton Kutcher. The times have changed, but I think it nice once in a while for celebrities to remind us that they're just as normal as we are.

The Frankenstein Fortress, not to be confused with Frankenstein's Castle, is located in Standfordville, New York. The vision for this haunted theme park came from the artistic mind of Peter Wing.

I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Wing, the cousin of Peter, while writing online. Richard prompted me to take a look initially at Wing's Castle, which is now a global phenomenon. I did a feature on the site over at Ancient Digger, if you want to find out more.

As for Frankenstein's Fortress, it is a gem of a haunted theme park for the ghost enthusiast and the paranormally(if that's a word) obsessed.

Peter Wing's study of the Director’s work allowed him to see the careful craft of bringing out an underlying darker story beneath the script. He now uses this and a Federico Fellini approach to the haunted theme park in Stanfordville New York.One of its major features is the fact that 95% of the props and costumes are also made from recycled materials, this gives this Haunted Attraction its unique character and all that have seen it rave.

Find out more about the operating hours and entire history and vision that brought Frankenstein's Fortress to life.

Travel from Rudiger Anderson on Vimeo.

Sometimes it's increasingly hard to experience new places due to time and money constraints. However, it's nice to witness an inspiring or exotic location through the eyes of another traveler. Photographers often use their keen eye to capture luscious landscapes or their sense of community, as they mingle with the locals. This video by Rudiger Anderson is a perfect example of the kind of trip we can take through the lens of another.

My fiance and I, on occasion, love to take time out and head to some of the smaller casino/arcade shops around town. We've come to the conclusion that if we were willing to drive two hours to the casino in Tampa, and lose, we were willing to give online casinos a chance. In the past, it's been a challenge to find sites that work with US citizens when cashing out, so that's why I use Online Casinos Planet for the latest news in gaming.

The site is not an actually casino, but it has an extensive list of legitimate casinos around the world, as well as online casino sites. There's review information for those of you that seek sites and locations that are user friendly and have great payouts. In addition, there are percentage rankings and bonus amounts listed in order of the highest pay and the most popular casinos.

For those of you that love tournaments, which I do, there is a specific section on Online Casinos Planet that explains how the process works including:

• How to participate.
• Maximizing your chance to win. 
• Tips and tricks.

In all actuality, this site is an information portal for individuals, like yourself, that enjoy online games and land based casinos that are safe and secure, and you actually have a great shot of winning money once in a while. Most of all, the information is easy to follow and the site is super user friendly with search options custom made just for you. Check it out today!

Source

The Hotel Dieu in Beaune France was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, the chancellor of the dukes of Burgundy, and his wife, Guigone de Salins. Initially, the hospital was established to administer to the poor. It wasn't until 1452 that the Hotel Dieu admitted its first patient on New Years Day.



Architecturally, the hospital is quite plain from the outside, however if you head inside to the cobbled courtyard, you'll be inspired. The walls are primarily made of timbers, which surprisingly are in a wonderfully preserved state. Those timbers are adorned with tiles, formed into geometric shapes and patterns, and a series of gables are topped with slender apexes.



Like many 15th century hospitals, there is a covered walkway, or gallery, for the nuns to walk under during inclement weather on their way from room to room.



The main chamber in the Grande Salle de Povres (Pauper Ward) boasts ornate timber ceilings. Interestingly, the beds are arranged to face the altar so that patients could partake in services. The smaller ward, called the Salle St-Hugues, was for wealthier patients.



The last patient signed out in 1971, however the hospital has been transformed into a museum, displaying over 500 years of medical care for the poor.



As a visitor, you won't want to miss a trip to the Salle St-Louis at Hotel Dieu, which houses a huge altarpiece of the Last Judgment by Roger van der Weyden. If you forget your magnified glass to look at the fine details of the artwork, they will be provided on your tour.

Today, the site is run by Hospices de Beaune and its principal fund raising event is an annual wine auction. No surprise for many, as Beaune is the capital of Burgundy's wine region.

Pictures Compliments of BradleyFrome36

In the wake of the volcanic eruptions in Iceland, it's nice to remember what this beautiful country is all about. Follow a couple on their first trip to Iceland to a country that's filled with geological wonders, plenty of humor, parking for electric cars, and a wonderful history.

If you'd like more information about travel to Iceland, check out the Iceland Travel Guide.

Just recently, I made a wonderful friend at a site called Carolines Cove. Caroline was an office assistant, but just this past Wednesday, she got accepted at St. Andrews University for Archeology. She told me I was an inspiration to her and it was all my fault that she applied. That has to be one of the best compliments I've ever had.

Caroline will be studying Scottish History, and I couldn't be more green with envy. She actually used to live beside Rossyln Chapel as a child, one of my favorite places on Earth mind you, and walk her dog on the grounds. There's so much amazing history in Scotland, and Caroline gets to see it everyday.

I wanted to congratulate her, and her honor, and feature one of the most prestigious and beautiful campuses in the world. Welcome to St. Andrews!



Pictures compliments of  LittleBuddha198










Photography compliments of LifeClan

Over the past year, my fiance and I have been living in an apartment near our college, however, during the Fall semester will be at the university.

We have decided to look into a Rental Property near the campus to cut down on the hour drive. The issue is, the last time we looked for an apartment or house to rent in the present area we are right now, if was quite difficult to find a place that would work with us.

I talked to my mom about the situation, since for the past 35 years, she has been working hand in hand with HUD on rental assistance for the elderly. She told me that there are so many options available for people looking for reduced rents based on their lower incomes. HUD also has a House Choice Voucher Program that pays for part, if not the entire amount of your rent owed.

Considering neither myself or my fiance has the time to look in the area we will be living, we have to use online searches to find these types of properties. I found a site called HousesForRentShop to search for the ideal home in our price range, and with some amenities that we require. All you have to do is put in your zip code, the amount of bedrooms, baths, and price range you are looking for, and Wallah! You get the results right away.

Not only do you get pictures, floor-plans, prices, and a contact sheet to contact the owner if you interested, but you also get an entire interactive map of other properties in the surrounding area. This is so much easier than calling people from newspaper and internet listings.

Not to mention, if you're looking to lease to own or if you are in the market for foreclosure listings, there's also a section for that on your search results. Our last home was a foreclosure, so we got it for a steal after one of the hurricanes hit it. That was close to 7 years ago.

If you need information on how to rent a home or apartment, you have to check online first.  It's cuts out the hassle and it saves you so much time.

Although we usually take our archaeological tours over at the Ancient Digger, I wanted to share with you one of my latest travel exposes. Copan, located in Honduras, is one of the most spectacular pre-Columbian civilizations ever to be found.

What distinguishes Copan from the other pre-Columbian ruins is that, the people were not forced to leave by the Spanish. In fact, they appear to have moved before their arrival, at least two years prior to the conquistadors.Read the entire published story about the Ruins of Copan in Honduras.

I was taking a much needed walk down the trail with my camera in hand, just in case I spotted anything that inspired me. Well, trees and nature always inspire, however I wasn't expecting what was captured on my film when I came back home.

I walk down the same path every Tuesday and Thursday, but something had changed. Something, like a mist or a ghostly apparition wanted to make it's presence known.

Is is a ghost captured on film? What do you think? Why would something like this appear on film on one of the clearest days?

Note: This picture has not be altered in any way.

Photography By Lauren Axelrod

I never imagined that a train station could become the site that you actually wanted to visit while on vacation. Imagine, you travel to London to see the sites, only you find yourself spending the day at St. Pancras International, marveling at the glorious architecture.

Shiny, renovated St Pancras is one of London’s must-see sights, whether you’re hopping on a Eurostar to the continent or just treating yourself to a glass of fizz at the champagne bar stretching beside the platforms. Come anytime to stroll open-mouthed around the Barlow train shed, once the world’s largest enclosed space and now part of the world’s most jaw-dropping railway station.

Check out Lonely Planet's lists of some of the most talked about European train stations.

Copyright vlconroy

Here's the key to saving money with glasses online, and why you should stop buying them at local retailers.

My story

A few months ago, I had to purchase several pairs of eyeglasses due to a mishap with my new puppy. She, for some reason, likes the taste of glass lenses, so I was left with some chewed up frames, and nothing else.

For many of us, anytime you need to replace your glasses, you just go to the nearby optical store and they fill your prescription with the information they have on file. Here's the problem with that. Since you already acquired an optical exam with that particular store, they hold the key to the prescription. Therefore, you're forced to buy glasses from them no matter what the cost.

Since I spent a whopping $300.00 on two pairs of glasses, plus the exam, I decided I had to find another way to replace my eyeglasses. I found a company called Zenni Optical online specializing in prescription glasses for affordable prices. All I needed to do was provide a prescription stating what my pupillary distance was. Now, considering I had previously had an exam at the optical store, I knew that my PH had been recorded in my file. Typically, you will not be provided with this information during your exam since this would empower you to purchase your glasses from another supplier. That's exactly what I've been doing!

During this tough economy, we can't afford to spend more money on items that typically need to replaced, quite often in my case. My issue is that, I have a design oriented taste, and I like my glasses to match my personality. So what does that mean? It means that I like to have several pairs of glasses. I'll have one for writing on the computer, those in particular need to be light and comfortable. One pair for school, which need to be easy on the eyes and one for going out at night, in particular something a bit stronger for my tired eyes.

At Zenni Optical, I can buy up to 6 pairs of glasses and still be under $100.00. You just can't beat that price. Just remember, it typically takes a little under two weeks to receive your glasses, but don't be concerned. Your glasses will go through rigorous quality checks before they're sent, which is why they take a bit longer for them to get to you. Check out Zenni Optical today and start saving money on prescription glasses.

I know it's more geared towards kids, but when the movie Night at the Museum came out in the theaters, I was the first in line for a ticket. Just imagine, you and thousands of historical exhibits trapped in a creepy mansion all night long, and you with only flashlight.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland is making a night at the museum a reality for thrill seekers and brave tourists. The best aspect about the tour is that are no lines to see certain exhibits, especially considering you won't be elbow to elbow with people in the dead of the night. Let's be honest. Not everyone wants to peer into a sarcophagus of a couple thousand year old mummy in the dark. Would you?

"The Kelvingrove is a completely different place at night," said Norman Walker, the guide who leads the Night at the Museum tour.

"It's quite creepy and I wouldn't like to be in here on my own at night when the lighting is low - especially in the Egyptian Room, which is all about life and death," adds Clare McLeod, director of Intermezzo Promotions, who organise the private night-time tours.

Check out what the Daily Record is saying about this creepy night at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland

About the Photographer

"Hi, my name is Elena. I live in Southern California. Most of my photos capture my hiking and backpacking trips. I bought my first digital camera in 1998."

Elena is actually a Software Engineer, who received her MS in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Dnepropetrovsk State University, Ukraine. 

Check out more photo's from enorthroup 

Are you in need of a moving truck? Many of you I'm sure, like many other thousands of people every year, find the act of moving a very daunting task. Prices can be sky high, and in some cases, the companies reputation is less than impressive, however the price fits your budget.

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