Monday, January 27, 2020

Visiting Interlaken †City of lakes and mountains

Visiting Interlaken – City of lakes and mountains Interlaken – City of lakes and mountains Hallo (Hello in German)! Interlaken is a small Swiss city set in the middle of two beautiful lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. It lies in the centre of the glorious Jungfrau region comprising of the legendary Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. Interlaken is the perfect place to stay for anyone who is visiting Switzerland due to its proximity to most of the tourist destinations and also other famous Swiss cities. Famous cities like Bern, Lucerne and Montreux can be visited as day trips from Interlaken. Turquoise lakes, pretty waterfalls and majestic snow capped mountains combined with an opportunity for adventure sports like sky diving, paragliding, bungee jumping and river rafting is what makes Interlaken an attractive and a unique destination in Switzerland. Interlaken is the perfect example of a place where beauty meets adventure! Best season to visit Interlaken Interlaken and its surrounding areas have something nice to offer throughout the year. Summer, from June to August is the peak season. With pleasant temperatures, clear skies, beautiful views of snow capped mountains, lush green surroundings and opportunities for adventure sports it is also the best time to visit Interlaken. But quite obviously the prices go up and it can get crowded during these months. Autumn from September to November is also a good time to visit, especially the months of September and October. The crowds start thinning but the temperature is still pleasant and you can visit all the nice places. Winter, from December to March can be avoided by most people except for ski enthusiasts. It is the perfect time to ski in the Jungfrau region. Spring, from April-May is yet another beautiful time to visit Interlaken. Days are cool and sunny and nights cold but not chilly. Skies start clearing up, hiking trails start opening up, flowers start blooming and it is a very prett y sight. Highlights (Things to do) Ride the highest railway in all of Europe to reach the Jungfraujoch peak, which is probably one of the most beautiful views you will see in your life! Do not forget to sit and relax in one of the restaurants in Top of Europe enjoying the view. Visit the Sphinx Observatory situated above Jungfraujoch, overlooking the infinite snows of Aletsch Glacier. Ski on the famous slopes of Jungfrau located with a backdrop of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks. Dine at Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant situated at the summit of Schilthorn in the Bernese Alps, which was a set for one of the James Bond movies. Cruise the beautiful Lake Brienz, nestled between the snow-capped mountains, tall cliffs and pretty waterfalls. Take a stroll in the picturesque and charming lakeside villages in the hop-on hop-off cruise. Hop on a Lake Thun Cruise to enjoy some charming vistas around and explore the beautiful oberhofen castle situated on the banks of the lake. Climb the Brienz-Rothorn railway and experience the vintage steam train ride that starts from Lake Brienz and reaches up to the mountains of Brienzer Rothorn, passing through a variety of landscapes including forests, meadows, pastures and finally the Bernese Alps. Make a day trip to the charming historic old town of Bern city. Try Sky diving in Switzerland! At Interlaken, adventure meets beauty and that’s what makes it a must try when you are in the city. Go Paragliding to enjoy the incredible views of the Bernese Alps at a much slower pace. Experience Night Sledding with Swiss Fondue at Interlaken during winter. Indulge in some Lutschine River Rafting with a view of the Alps! Participate in the world’s most popular mountain marathon, Jungfrau marathon! Interlaken being the starting point and Kleine Scheidegg the end point, the route includes all the beauties in the Bernese Oberland of Swiss Alps. Ride the Golden Pass line from Interlaken to Lucerne which traverses through Brunig Pass. Take a stroll or ride the horse-drawn carriages at Hoheweg Street, the heart of Interlaken. Hotspots (Things to see) Jungfrau Jungfraujoch: Ride the rail from Interlaken to the peak of Jungfraujoch which is a 2 hour journey and traverses through the mountains of Eiger and Monch. If you gasp at the fantastic views the train journey offers, then hold your breath when you reach the top! You are now on the highest point of Europe. Dine in one of the restaurants in ‘Top of Europe’ overlooking the mighty Jungfrau peak with the feeling of being on Top of the World! Sphinx Observatory: An astronomical observatory that is situated above the Jungfraujoch is a sight to see. The observatory is not open to public, but it has a viewing terrace which is open to public and offers incredible views of the Aletsch Glacier. Aletsch Glacier: The largest glacier in the whole of Alps, Aletsch Glacier is truly a nature’s jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ride the cable car to Bettmerhorn or Eggishorn and soak in the beauty of the place. There are some interesting hikes as well for adventurous people. Ice Palace: There is a very good chance that all the viewing platforms up on Jungfraujoch are crowded. Take this time to visit the Ice Palace consisting of interesting sculptures made of ice which includes animals, birds, furniture and a bar! Kleine Scheidegg: While going to Jungfrau, one has to cross the Kleine Scheidegg station and it is recommended that you make a stop here! Located below the mountains of Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger, it is at this place where you come face to face with the awe inspiring Eiger peak. Views are amazing and a lot of hiking trails also begin from Kleine Scheidegg. Schynige Platte: Vintage train, open carriages, breathtaking views of the Bernese Alps throughout, beautiful alpine gardens and finally a lunch/dinner at the Mountain Hotel! This is what a train ride to the Schynige Platte has to offer. Lake Brienz Lake Brienz Cruise: A themed cruise on the Lake Brienz like a Swiss Dinner or a Fish Jazz Cruise is the best way to explore the lake and its neighboring areas. Explore the tiny beautiful village of Brienz and do not forget to take home some souvenirs. You can also opt to get down at the Brienz village and take the scenic ride in Brienz Rothorn Railway. Giessbach Falls: Ride the beautiful turquoise lake to reach the thundering Giessbach falls. Lake Thun Lake Thun: Take a cruise on Lake Thun and make sure you stop at Saint Beatus Caves and Oberhofen Castle. Lauterbrunnen Isenfluh: Isenfluh is a charming tiny mountain village away from all the major tourist places and located very near to Interlaken. Unspoilt and untouched, this beautiful Swiss village also offers enchanting views of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valley and of course the world famous Bernese Alps. Take a cable car up to Sulwald to enjoy these views. Staubbach Falls: There are 72 waterfalls in the valley of Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach falls is one of the highest and spectacular ones of those. Easily accessible, the view of the falls is nothing short of spectacular. You can also climb up to the falls and take in the beauty of Lauterbrunnen valley from the top. Unterseen Aare Sluice Gates: Take a stroll in one of the Aare Sluice Gate located on the borders of Interlaken and Unterseen. The blend of mountains, hills and the charming old town of Unterseen combined with the turquoise waters of the Aare offers a pleasantly beautiful atmosphere. Unterseen Stadthausplatz: The town hall square with its modern buildings, restaurants and boutiques is a nice place to spend the evening. Harder kulm Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant: Ride the funicular to the mountains high up where a pretty restaurant and charming views await you. Look and admire the elegant Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks from a completely different angle while indulging in a Swiss fondue! Two Lakes Bridge: Situated very close to the Harder Kulm Restaurant, the bridge offers remarkable views of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun along with the mountains of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Beatenberg Niederhorn: Enjoy a beautiful ride from Interlaken to Beatenberg from where you can take the cable car to the peak of Niederhorn. If you think that the ride to the peak is very scenic, you are in for some surprise when you reach the peak. The view of Lake Thun and entire Bernese Alps is simply mind blowing! It also offers orientation hikes with 3 trails of varying levels. Shopping in Interlaken Head to Hoheweg Street for any kind of souvenir shopping. From the famous Swiss Cuckoo Clocks to Swiss chocolates, watches, knives, cow bells and liquor, you can find it here. For local Swiss crafts, wooden crafts and handicrafts, head to the village of Brienz. How to reach Interlaken Interlaken has no airport of its own. The nearest airport is located at Bern which is 45 minutes from Interlaken. It has 2 main railway stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken East (Ost). Both of them are well connected with trains from all major cities of Switzerland. There are also trains from Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Vienna and Salzburg to Interlaken. It is also well connected to other Swiss cities through buses. One can also drive in to Interlaken as there is a well maintained highway/autobahn that connects the city with all major Swiss and European cities. How to get around in Interlaken The city is so small that it can be covered on foot and is probably the best way to get around and explore. Hiring a car from a good car rental agency will be helpful since most of the attractions are at a distance from the city. You can also rent cycles, motorbikes or mountain bikes for an adventurous ride. Public transport consists of local trains and buses which are well connected to places in and around the city. Hiring a taxi is also a good option to travel around the city. Ride in the horse-drawn carriages especially in the Hoheweg Street for a more romantic holiday! Top areas in Interlaken Interlaken City Centre: Heart of the city, close to all the places and stations, City Centre is a good place to stay. You can also find some nice souvenir shops nearby. Hoheweg: Favorite hanging place for tourists and locals alike, Hoheweg Street is filled with restaurants, cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s, hotels, shops and boutiques. Beatenberg: Enjoy a quiet stay at Beatenberg Village while in Interlaken and enjoy nice views of the mountains and lakes around. Wilderswil: Another village located in the municipality of Interlaken, Wilderswill offers good stay options with nice views. Unterseen: A very pretty village that comes with history and attractions of its own is one of the preferred places to stay for people from all over the world. Matten: You can find hotels for cheap rates in Matten and the views can just not go wrong in any of the mountain villages neighboring Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen Valley: Beauty of Lauterbrunnen is already well-known. A stay amidst this beautiful valley could just add more charm to your Swiss holiday. Murren: It is a quiet, cozy, charming mountain village located at the base of Schilthorn. Danke (Thank You in German)!

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Henry V Represents the More Selfish Side

â€Å"Henry V represents the more selfish side of Kingship† Shakespeare creates two ways for the audience to see King Henry V. One way is King Henry being a gracious, caring king. The other way Shakespeare has created for the audience to see is King Henry being a selfish, cold king. Many people do believe that King Henry V is depicted as a selfish and cold hearted king who is not concerned or worried about the human cost of war. I believe the contrary. I believe that King Henry V was a loving and caring King towards the people of his country and family.In Act one scene one (line 39-40) Canterbury describes King Henry V as a thoughtful and devout ruler. â€Å"Hear him but reason in divinity, and all-admiring, with and inward wish, you would desire the king were made a prelate. † This indicates that the people of his country appreciate him and sees him as a considerate and divine king. King Henry V always tryst to stand by his Kingdom and protect it however he can. As he notices the assassination plot of Scroop, Cambridge and Gray in act one scene two (line 76-79) he sentences them to death.Though Scroop, Cambridge and Gray are his friends he still stands by his Kingdom to keep it safe. â€Å"The mercy that quick in us but late By your own counsel is suppress’d and kill’d. You must not dare for shame to talk of mercy, for your own reasons turn into your bosoms,† In act four King Henry V is sharing the concerns of the common soldiers. His bravery and courage are reflected in his soldiers; especially after his speech about ‘St Crispin’s Day’ In act four scene 3 (line 18-67). This day is called the feast of crispian. He that outlives this day and comes safe home†¦ He shall see this day and live old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors, And say ‘tomorrow is saint crispian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This shows that King Henry V is heroic to his soldiers and gives them faith and courage by this speech sh owing high spirits and strength. After the Battle (Act 5 scene 2) King Henry V proposes to princess Katharine of France.Though he has the power to force her to marry him, he decides to try to convince her by admiring her and telling her that she will have a good life with him as a husband. â€Å"But in loving me you should love the friend of France†¦ I will have it all mine; and, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then yours is France, and you are mine. † (line 167-169) Overall I think that King Henry V is a caring King with courage and a lot of Strength. He stands by his country and supports and protects it with all his faith and strength .

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Principles of the Enlightenment

Margarita Arnold HIS 112-100M Critical Essay #1 The three fundamental principles of the Enlightenment listed in the text of Traditions and Encounters are popular sovereignty, individual freedom, and political and legal equality. According to Gombrich, the author of the A Little History of the World, the three fundamental principles of the Enlightenment are tolerance, reason, and humanity. Traditions and Encounters describes popular sovereignty as a â€Å"contract between the rulers and the ruled† (623).The king or monarch is a representative of the people who has political rights, but the people hold their personal rights to life, liberty, and property. Individual freedom principle ties in to the personal right of liberty as a freedom of speech with no censorship. Political and legal equality states that everyone should be regarded as equals not matter what their profession is. Individuals should participate in creating laws and policy. If there is no general representative el ected, then the people would act as representatives.This is a  laissez faire thought- leave us be or let us do, although not mentioned in Traditions and Encounters as one of the fundamental principles. Laissez faire thought, meaning about the state of French commerce, did come after the Enlightenment, a little before the French revolution. Laissez faire encompasses the three fundamental principles in one thought: leave the people be. A Little History of the World states that tolerance, or common sense could unite all men and all beliefs â€Å"should be respected and tolerated† (214).Reason explained nature and paranormal things such as witchcraft. Gombrich proclaims that reason â€Å"is given in equal measure to all mankind the world over† (215). Human dignity prohibits a person to be publically humiliated. This meant that people could not be marked as criminals by branding or cutting of limbs. From Traditions and Encounters and A Little History of the World individu al freedom and tolerance could be compared as the same principle on the basis of tolerance could be regarded as the right to free speech and common sense that all people deserve.Gombrich pairs reason and tolerance in the same category, whereas they are quite different by reason meaning that things in nature could be explained by trial and error. Gombrich credits Frederick the Great as the bravest king to embrace the Enlightenment ideas because he wanted to make Prussia â€Å"a model state† (217). Gombrich’s assessment of Frederick the Great in A Little History of the World is accurately stated, because Frederick the Great did support the Enlightenment and made things easier for his people.He was still a king of course, and any tried to do what any king would: â€Å"to make Prussia the mightiest of all the German states† (217) The correlation between the Enlightenment and the revolutions are the ideas that the general population could have these rights of freedom , equality, popular sovereignty, and tolerance. Revolution comes after people realize that human rights are not administrated properly with great merits to John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who were courageous enough to speak out in those turbulent times. The Enlightenment did not single handedly cause the French or American revolutions.The French revolution occurred because of unrests in the middle and lower classes, lack of funds due to Seven Years War and the overindulgent spending of the monarchs. The American leaders were also influenced by the Enlightenment, and fought against their oppressor- England. Equality, freedom of speech and of the press, and religious tolerance are all Enlightenment ideas that were assimilated into the core and the laws of America. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote about the rights to â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness†.These ideas resonate John Locke’s argument in where individuals are the governors and that â€Å"the governments derive their power and authority from ‘the consent of the governed’† as stated in Traditions and Encounters, 625. These Enlightenment beliefs led unswervingly to the American Revolution, in which the colonists gained control over their own futures and the future of America. The American Revolution was especially productive, because it led to the establishment of a government by the people and for the people.The French and American Revolutions proved to the world that monarchs and overlords could be dethroned and that the common man, through reason, could attain his freedom. Without these revolutions, Europe would be stuck in an archaic system of monarchs and the Catholic Church ruling through fear and oppression. The differences between the American and French revolutions are that the colonies were revolting against an overseas king, while the lower class French were revolting against their king. The American Revo lution revolted against England, while the French Revolution revolted gainst France, Prussia, Austria, Spain, Britain, and the Netherlands as stated in Traditions and Encounters, 629. The French Revolution and American Revolution were fought in different parts of the world, as well as continents. The French Revolution was by far bloodier with the use of the guillotine, but lacked self-government as described in Traditions and Encounters. Gombrich’s description of the French Revolution in and A Little History of the World is a very violent revolution, which started with a very amusing characterization of the royalty.The kings of France â€Å"were incompetent, and content merely to imitate their great predecessor’s outward show of power† through â€Å"pomp and magnificence† (220). The kings of France were the only ones that did not live in a reality of the Enlightenment. Through the National Assembly, â€Å"terror [was] spread among the enemies of Reasonâ €  (225) and executions of the royalty such as King Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette prevailed. During the French Revolution, a new violent party emerged named the Jacobins.According to A Little History of the World, the Jacobins were â€Å"not only against the aristocrats: they were against anybody who disagreed with them, and anyone who crossed them lost his head† (224). One of the leaders of the Jacobins was Robespierre, a â€Å"stiff, sober and dry lawyer† (225) who always spoke about virtue. Robespierre was an insuppressible human being with a love for condemning people’s heads to the guillotine. Robespierre at first announced Christianity was an ancient superstition, then accepted God and declared himself as the priest of the Supreme Being.Traditions and Encounters compared to A Little History of the World Does not describe Robespierre the same way as Gombrich does. Robespierre is portrayed in Traditions and Encounters as a â€Å"popular radical† (629) who tried to eliminate Christianity and establish a cult of reason in place of Christianity with new calendar days and year. The Jacobins allowed some rights for women such as property rights, and divorce. It was not mentioned in A Little History of the World that Robespierre died by his favorite execution method: the guillotine.Robespierre was one of the leaders of the Jacobins, and he advanced the ideas of the Enlightenment through the Revolution. Robespierre advanced the Enlightenment through the reign of the Jacobins, and the use of the guillotine, sending people to their deaths who still believed in monarchy. After the French really saw what he had done, his reign of terror has gone too far, Robespierre was sent to guillotine by his own people that he liberated.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Translating Feel to Spanish

The English verb to feel is one of those verbs that can be tricky to translate to Spanish. More so than with most words, you need to think of what the word means when trying to come up with a Spanish equivalent. If youre fairly new to Spanish and trying to think of how to say a sentence using feel in Spanish, you should probably see first if you can think of a different, and simpler if possible, way of saying what you want to say. For example, a sentence such as I feel sad means basically the same thing as I am sad, which can be expressed as Estoy triste. In that case, using sentirse to translate feel would also work: Me siento triste. In fact, sentir or sentirse frequently is a good translation, as it usually means to feel an emotion. (Sentir comes from the same Latin word as the English word sentiment.) But sentir doesnt work with many uses of feel, as in these sentences: That feels smooth. I feel like going to the store. I feel that its dangerous. It feels cold. In those cases, you need to think of a different verb to use. Here are some of the ways you can translate feel:   Feeling an Emotion As stated above, sentir or sentirse can often be used when referring to emotions: Me siento muy feliz. (I feel very happy.)Me siento fuerte psicolà ³gicamente. (I feel psychologically strong.)Se siente en conflicto cuando necesita escoger entre uno u otro. (He feels conflicted when he needs to choose one or the other.)No sentimos nada. (We dont feel anything.) However, Spanish has many expressions using other verbs to express emotions. Here are a few: Estoy muy feliz. (I am very happy. I feel very happy.)Él tenà ­a miedo. (He was afraid. He felt afraid.)Tengo celos a mi hermana. (Im jealous of my sister. I feel jealous of my sister.)De repente se enojà ³. (Suddenly he got angry. Suddenly he felt angry.) Sentirse is frequently used with como to express the concept of feeling like a ...: Se sintià ³ como una extraà ±a en su propia casa. (She felt like a stranger in her own home.)Me siento como una estrella del rock. (I feel like a rock star.) Feeling Sensations Spanish generally doesnt use sentir to express what is felt with the senses. Sensations are often expressed by idioms using tener. If describing what something feels like, you can often use parecer (see next section): Tienen hambre. (Theyre hungry. They feel hungry.)Tengo frà ­o. (Im cold. I feel cold. It feels cold here.)Tenà ­an sed. (They were thirsty. They felt thirsty.) Meaning ‘To Seem’ When to seem can be substituted for to feel, you can often translate using the verb parecer: Parece lisa al tacto. (It feels smooth to the touch. It seems smooth to the touch.)Parece que va a llover. (It feels like its going to rain. It seems that it is going to rain.)La herramienta me parece à ºtil. (The tool feels useful. The tool seems useful to me.) Meaning ‘To Touch’ Tocar and palpar are often used to refer to touching something. Although palpar comes from the same source as palpate, it is used much more often than the English word and can also be used in informal contexts. El mà ©dico me palpà ³ el abdomen. (The doctor felt my abdomen.)Todos tocaron la piel de zorro para que les diera buena suerte. (Everyone felt the fox skin so it would give them good luck.) ‘To Feel Like’ Meaning ‘To Want To’ A phrase such as to feel like doing something can be translated using querer or other verbs used to express desire: Quisiera comer una hamburguesa. (I feel like (eating) a hamburger. I would like to eat a hamburger.)Prefiero salir yo con mis amigos. (I feel like leaving with my friends. I prefer to leave with my friends.)Katrina no tenà ­a ganas de estudiar. (Katrina didnt feel like studying. Katrina didnt have a desire to study.) For Giving Opinions Feel is often used to express opinions or beliefs. In such cases, you can use opinar, creer or similar verbs: Pienso que no me gusta. (I feel I dont like it. I think I dont like it.)Creo que Argentina es el mejor equipo del mundo. (I feel that Argentina is the best team in the world. I believe that Argentina is the best team in the world.) ¿Por quà © supones que tienes una infeccià ³n? (Why do you feel you have an infection? Why do you suppose you have an infection?) Key Takeaways Although sentir and sentirse are the most common verbs translating to feel, in many situations they would be incorrect.Other verbs that are frequently used for to feel include tocar, querer, and creer.A good way to translate feel is to instead translate a synonym for feel as it used in the context.