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| Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:00 AM PDT  Ski holidays in switzerland are world class in every way. Switzerland offers exclusive resorts with excellent restaurants, breathtaking vistas and the finest skiing. Even non-skiers can have a great time with the abundant after-ski action. The Swiss have been hosting ski breaks for centuries. They have perfected the art of welcoming people to their mountains. Switzerland resortsSwitzerland has dozens of ski resorts. Each has their own charm and individuality. Here are a few of the best-known. DavosSuperb skiing awaits skiers of every skill level at Davos, where there are six separate ski areas spread over 320 square kilometers. Bünda and Bolgen have excellent bunny slopes. Pischa has easy blue and red runs. There's a challenging 12 kilometer intermediate run that stretches from Weissfluhgipfel to Küblis. Jakobshorn and Rinerhorn have exciting black diamond runs. Jakobshorn also has gnarly half-pipes and jumps for the thrill seekers. Snowboarders love the back country, off-piste acreage. Davos has 75 kilometers of prepared cross-country trails. KanderstegKnown for year-round skiing, picturesque vistas and enchanting chalets, the village of Kandersteg has maintained its charm while still offering everything a skier could desire. The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly. Beginner skiers will feel especially at home on the easy slopes. Nearby Lauchernalp has 25 kilometers of runs for all levels. Cross-country trails run from Kandersteg to the frozen lake at Oeschinen and beyond to Sunnbuel. Some hotels have direct access to the trails. GrindelwaldWith the looming north face of the Eiger as background, Grindelwald is a traditional resort with a modern feel. From the central village, all the ski areas in the Jungfrau ski region can be reached by gondola, cable-car and mountain train. With some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, Grindelwald is best-known for its "First" ski area. First boasts an extensive series of beginner slopes and wide blue runs. Intermediate skiers love the long red runs at First and Kleine Scheidegg. Advanced skiers can challenge themselves on the numerous black runs. Snowboarders will find a warm-up course at Oberjoch, a superpipe at Schreckfeld and a terrain park at Bärgelegg. Grindelwald also recently added the thrilling 'First Flyer' zip cableway.  St. MoritzStashed away in the beautiful Engadine valley, St. Moritz is a resort and a vacation getaway for the wealthy. All levels of slopes offer never-ending excitement to visitors. The frozen lake is surrounded by 350 kilometers of varied runs with breathtaking views. Non-skiers can have fun on the frozen lake during the continuous events taking place there. Cross-country skiers have over 200 kilometers of trails to explore. The tobogganing, hiking and sleigh rides through the Alps are outstanding. Corviglia and Corvatsch have blue and red runs for the novices and intermediates. Hahnensee and Lejins have long black runs. Corviglia is also home to several Olympic runs. There are obstacle parks and a wealth of snowboarding opportunities as well. Cross country skiers can choose from miles of trails through the lateral valleys and frozen lakes. Off-slope activitiesNon-skiers won't be bored on a trip to Switzerland. Skating, tobogganing, ice climbing, Nordic hiking and sleigh rides are available at nearly every resort. Each area has their own wonderful restaurants, charming shops and thriving nightlife. When you leave the slopes, or if you never ski at all, you'll find an abundance of activities in Switzerland.  Gear rentalRather than dragging your own equipment with you, check into renting your gear. You can rent everything you need at all the resorts. In addition to the convenience, you can try the best ski equipment. You can also rent from ski valets who will come to your hotel to pre-fit your equipment, so you don't miss a minute on the slopes. Rental packages are available for all levels of skiers. Some offer a discount on the price of rentals in their ski package price. TransportationYou can reach Switzerland easily by any means of transportation. Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel have international airports. An Interrail Pass is good across Europe, if you're planning to travel beyond Switzerland. France, Austria, Italy and Germany offer highway access to Switzerland, if you prefer driving. For travel within Switzerland, get a Swiss Travel Pass for train and bus accommodations. The Swiss railway, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, offers excellent service within the country. Photos by Jaamzp (1), TRAILSOURCE.COM (2), and nilsrinaldi (3) on flickr This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/ski-holidays-switzerland/ Related articles:Berlin's Alexanderplatz |
| Vulcan the Iron Man, the world's largest iron statue Posted: 16 Oct 2011 02:00 AM PDT  You're going to Birmingham Alabama this summer and want to see something out of the ordinary. Well, stop at the summit of Red Mountain, which overlooks the downtown area. Here you will find a 56 foot statue of Vulcan who was the blacksmith of the Roman Gods. Yes, right there in the middle of the Bible belt is a statue to a pagan God. Vulcan was built for the 1904 St Louis World's Fair, not to worship a pagan god. He was to represent the pride in the local iron industry. Vulcan weighs 51 tons and is the largest cast iron statue in the USA, and in fact the whole world. When he returned to Birmingham from St Louis, it was thought he would be put in the middle of town but the people did not want that. The reason? The Vulcan did not have any pants. The Vulcan was then sent to the fairgrounds where he received a pair of painted on overalls. His right hand was empty but over time he held a spear, a soda bottle, and even a jar of Heinz pickles. In 1946 a "safety torch" was put in the hand and would turn from green to red when ever there was a traffic fatality in the city. Today it burns just green when the button is pushed by a visitor. Today, the statue is surrounded by the Vulcan Park & Museum, including a viewing balcony over Birmingham, Alabama. There's also a museum and gift shop. In 1932 the Vulcan was erected on top of a 12 storey sandstone tower on Red Mountain. In 1999 he was determined to be a safey hazard and removed for repair but reappeared in 2004. Today as a guest you can stand next a replica of his giant sandaled foot but a trip to the top of the tower is still the highlight of the visit. For years when the visitor reached the deck the Vulcan naked bottom was hid from view. Today it is the first thing they see and Vulcan is Birmingham's pride after 100 years of false modesty. Vulcan the Iron Man location and hoursVulcan Park & Museum Vulcan Center Museum: Vulcan Observation Balcony: Photo by gregw66 on flickr This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/vulcan-iron-man-birmingham-alabama/ Related articles:The RAF Museum, London |
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