The Sacred Lake of Reeds...

Over 12,000 feet above sea level, Lake Titicaca forms the border between Bolivia and Peru.  Fed by five rivers and connecting several Bolivian and Peruvian towns along the shoreline, the lake is held sacred by both nations and the native people continue to live peacefully by the tranquil waters of the lake.

Native Peoples

Lake Titicaca has several islands that are home to the regions indigenous tribes.  The important islands include the Uros Islands, home to reed gatherers Suriqui, the last bastion of boat makers, the Amantaní, home to shepherds and agriculturists, the Taquilea home to the artisans and finally the islands of the sun and the moon – Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna.  Most islands are inhabited, although there is a lack of modern conveniences so visitors who intend to stay overnight often carry their supplies with them.

Reed Boats

The Uru and Suriqui people are considered the last practitioners of the tradition of building reed boats from Totora reeds.  These reeds grow quickly and even form small islets that last about three decades before they sink to the bottom of the lake.  Today, visitors may see the gathering of reeds and the construction of boats that are used for fishing and travel across the lake. 

Three Cultures Co-Exist in Tbilisi, Georgia...

In Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, an Eastern European nation that used to be a part of the Soviet Union, three different cultures co-exist in harmony.  Like in much of Eastern Europe, the dominant religion here is Orthodox Christian, but the city also features sizeable Jewish and Muslim communities.  Tbilisi is notable for being one of the very few locations in the works where a mosque and a synagogue are situated alongside one another.

Tourists visiting Eastern Europe will want to take several days in Tbilisi in order to take in the sights of this historic city.  The Parliament building, also known as the State Chancellery, as well as the building of the Supreme Court of Georgia are located in the capital and are important cultural landmarks.  Another attraction that draws crowds is the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, also known as the Sameba Cathedral.  This beautiful cruciform church contains nine chapels and serves as the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Those who appreciate the performing arts will find a great deal of interest in this city.  The Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre and the Marjanishivili State Academic Theatre all operate out of Tbilisi.  Museums are another important feature in the city; when Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union, Tbilisi was one of the four cities in the nation with the most museums.

Amman – more than meets the eye!...

If it’s an authentic, historic Middle Eastern experience you’re looking for, you won’t find it in Amman.  More modern than antique, Amman doesn’t hold a candle to Cairo or Damascus in terms of impressive Islamic culture.  If you’re booking flights to Amman in an attempt to find a culturally significant Arabic city, you may be sorely disappointed by the Westernised atmosphere permeating the city.

There are two sides to Amman: the rigidly Islamic and conservative eastern end of the city is home to the urban poor and contains expansive Palestinian refugee camps on its suburban fringe, while the modern western side of town is the cultural and financial hub with pleasant residential neighbourhoods, trendy restaurants and pubs, and magnificent galleries.  It is essential to experience both sides of Amman if you want to get a true sense of the city, or even Jordan itself.

The influx of Palestinian – and, more recently, Iraqi – refugees has permanently altered the personality of the city.  Most of these displaced expats are highly educated and unfazed by the closely monitored social and cultural control exercised by Amman’s Islamic conservatives.  These immigrants have joined with young Jordanians to reshape Amman into a more tolerant, forward-thinking metropolis.

If it is diversity and an international flare you’re looking for, flights to Amman will not disappoint.  If you arrive in Amman seeking medieval bazaars and classic Islamic architecture, you won’t find it.  But if you want a warm welcome, a thriving downtown scene, and a city with a charisma all its own, you won’t want your flights from Amman to depart too soon.

European culture and sport...

There are 50 sovereign states that make up the continent of Europe, as well as six regions or territories that are partially recognised. These states and territories are home to over 700 million inhabitants, all known as “Europeans” but whose diversity is evident in the areas of language, religion, government, philosophy, culture, economy, etc. When speaking of a “European culture,” it is difficult to separate the overlapping, cross-cultural diversities that make up the “culture” of this vast continent. In the area of European sports, however, we can speak in terms of similarities and differences, all of which contribute to form a healthy blend of apolitical, cross-cultural cooperation and understanding.

In recent years, attitudes to sports as a means of fostering intercultural harmony have been a strong force behind the policies and treaties of the European nations. In 2008, against the backdrop of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, European Union (EU) sports ministers adopted a joint declaration on Social Significance and Dialogue in Sport. A declaration was also appended to the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, emphasising the “social significance of sport, in particular, its role in forging identity and bringing people together.” In terms of the most popular sport in Europe, football is number one. Governed by a pan-European body called the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), there are over 50 national football associations, whose official languages are English, German, and French. Other popular European sports include basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, bicycle racing, and rugby.