The seagrass meadows around the Maldives are under threat. But the government now plans to place this valuable ecosystem under protection. As well as serving as nurseries for sea life, they act as carbon sinks and protect the atolls from erosion.
Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic state in the Indian subcontinent of Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent’s mainland.
Visiting Paris Museums: The Centre Pompidou & Bourse de Commerce I’m bringing you with me to see two incredible museums in Paris – The Centre Pompidou & Bourse de Commerce. The Centre Pompidou has one of the best contemporary art collections, and the Bourse de Commerce has an exciting group of artists on view right now including (but not limited to) Urs Fischer, Claire Tabouret, Florian Krewer, and more.
Encompassing a picturesque mountain valley nestled at the base of towering peaks, Snowmass Falls Ranch offers the ultimate combination of natural beauty, seclusion, and access to world-class amenities. This stunning 650± acre ranch is highlighted by lush meadows, tumbling streams, aspen groves, and forested hillsides, all set against a backdrop of snowcapped summits. Mount Daly dominates the view from the ranch headquarters, and a fortuitous bend in the valley brings additional peaks into view, including Clark Peak and Snowmass Mountain. It is an incredible setting for a multitude of activities – fishing, hunting, riding, hiking, ranching, entertaining, or just relaxing.
Snowmass Falls Ranch is the last privately-owned property in the upper Snowmass Creek valley. The access road ends at the front gate, and surrounding the ranch is the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness. This massive 181,535-acre roadless area has over 100 miles of foot and horseback trails and six of Colorado’s peaks over 14,000 feet, accessible right from the property. This not only creates a gateway to an enormous wilderness playground, but a desirable end-of-the-road setting removed from development and other private landowners. By nature of being surrounded by pristine wilderness, the ranch feels much larger than its deeded acreage.
Madison, the capital city of Wisconsin, lies west of Milwaukee. It’s known for the domed Wisconsin State Capitol, which sits on an isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona. The Wisconsin Historical Museum documents the state’s immigrant and farming history. The city’s paved Capital City State Trail runs past Monona Terrace, a lakefront convention center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Mindanao encompasses the large island of Mindanao plus smaller islands in the southern Philippines. In its largest city, Davao, the Philippine Eagle Centre and Davao Crocodile Park showcase local wildlife. The urban People’s Park features statues of indigenous people and the Durian Dome, named after the spiky, smelly fruit that grows in abundance on Mindanao. Southwest, the Mount Apo volcano has trails and a lake.
While Paris has not been known as a cycle-friendly city, all that is changing, with some 50km of bike lanes added in 2021.
It’s rush hour on the rue de Rivoli – the iconic thoroughfare that stretches through the heart of Paris – and, for a moment, the only sound to be heard is the dinging of bells. Where once this major artery would have been teeming with traffic, it is now dominated by bicycles. Other than a section of the street reserved for buses, taxis and emergency vehicles, here the cyclist is king.
Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes. On Lake Bled, a glacial lake fed by hot springs, the town of Bled contains a church-topped islet and a cliffside medieval castle. In Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, baroque facades mix with the 20th-century architecture of native Jože Plečnik, whose iconic Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) spans the tightly curving Ljubljanica River.
Sochi, a Russian city on the Black Sea, is known as a summer beach resort, and was host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Its parks include the palm-filled Arboretum. It’s also notable for 20th-century neoclassical buildings such as the columned Winter Theatre. Forested Sochi National Park is a 1,937-sq.-km protected area in the nearby Caucasus Mountains. Some 70 km inland, Krasnaya Polyana is a prominent ski resort.
Otranto is a coastal town in southern Italy’s Apulia region. It’s home to the 15th-century Aragonese Castle and 11th-century Otranto Cathedral, with a rose window and ornate mosaic flooring. At the harbor, Torre Matta tower has sweeping sea views. Nearby beaches include the popular Alimini Beach. Inland are 2 lakes: the saltwater Alimini Grande and spring-fed Alimini Piccolo. South is the Punta Palascìa lighthouse.
Video timeline: 0:00 Drone intro and Map 1:29 Port of Otranto 4:31 Aragonese Castle 6:15 Via Immacolata 10:08 Seafront of Heros 25:10 Porta Terra 26:00 Porta Alfonsina 28:38 Cathedral of Saint Mary 34:39 Aragonese Castle 37:40 Walking on City Walls 47:46 Seafront of Heros 51:55 Beach of Otranto 56:36 Albi Beach
This walk near Vienna takes place at beautiful Schloss Hof. Schloss Hof extends over more than 70 hectares in eastern Lower Austria. The splendid ensemble, consisting of the two-story castle, the garden and the manor, is of particular importance in terms of art and cultural history. In 1725, Prince Eugene of Savoy acquired a four-winged castle from the 17th century and had it expanded into a magnificent palace complex. At that time the impressive ensemble of palace, garden and manor complex, which can still be seen today, was created.
Video recorded: October 26, 2021
Boomers Daily 