Fly Over Manhattan in a Helicopter

I’ve always a dream to fly over Manhattan in a helicopter, thus however I was in town the other day I decided to go for a ride and bring my camera. Well, considering the company I was flying with wouldn't allow me to remove the door or bring anything larger than a handheld camera, I decided to focus mostly on testing my Epic's stills abilities by shooting at a higher frame rate and faster shutter. However this was a great first flight over the city! I plan on chartering a longer stock footage gathering adventure with a gyro once I upgrade to the Dragon sensor. I’ve captured all hand-held at 5K 60fps with a 90° shutter.

NYC From Above from Patrick Lawler on Vimeo.

Blue Grotto Cave” is a Special Tourist Destination in Italy

The Blue Grotto is one of few sea caves, worldwide, that is flooded with a vivid blue or emerald light. The quality and nature of the color in each cave is determined by the specific lighting conditions in that particular cave. So, you must be bewitched by the unearthly exquisiteness and glowing blue waters in the Blue Grotto sea cave, scoured the web looking for more. So, you could be find a favorite spot of a Roman emperor, has inspired artists for several centuries, and has become a massive tourist attraction on the Isle of Capri. In Blue Grotto, the light comes from two sources; one is a small hole exist in the cave wall, exactly at the waterline, that is a meter and half in diameter. This hole is hardly big enough to admit a tiny rowboat, and normally used as the entranceway. In photos taken from within the cave, the above water half of this hole seems as a spot of dazzling white light.

The other source of light is a second hole, with a surface area about 10 times as large as the first, which lies right below the entranceway, separated from it by a bar of rock between one and two meters thick. However much less light, per square meter, is able to enter through the lower opening, but its large size ensures that it is the primary source of light. The stunning effect of the light from the above-water opening, it is difficult for a tourist who is in one of the row-boats to identify the shape of the larger hole, the outline of the bar that separates the two holes, or even the nature of the light-source, other than a general alertness that the light is coming up from underneath, and that the water in the cave is more light-filled than the air.

Therefore in rough seas and at high tide, the famous sea cave is not accessible; it has also been closed to tourists in the past due to water pollution in the form of raw sewage. It is not the only sea cave in the Island of Capri and it’s not the only blue grotto in the world, but it’s absolutely the most famous. A tourist who places a hand in the water can see it "glow" eerily in this light. The grotto was famous by the Romans, and apparently used by the Emperor Tiberius during the years when he retired to Capri. Roman Emperor sculptures of the appropriate period showing Neptune and tritons have been recovered from the cave and it is thought more might lie on the deep bottom. Further, the discovery of remains of an ancient landing place and the work on an underground tunnel, form an image of a natural cavern adorned by statues. The grotto has appears in many books, and highlighted in the 1953 Newbery Honor book, Red Sails to Capri, by Ann Weil. In Alberto Moravia's 1954 novel Contempt “Il disprezzo”, visions of the hero appear when he decides to pay a final visit to the cave. Although in May 1949 Princess Margaret visited Blue Grotto. Once upon a time, Roman Emperor Tiberius used this lovely Blue Grotto, a sea cave, as his personal swimming pool. He loved the Blue Grotto so much that it was his favorite “nymphaeum”.

The grotto was recognized to the locals under the name of “Gradola”, was abandoned and feared by local sailors because of legends of spirits and demons which populated the cave. But it was avoided because due to be inhabited by witches and monsters. As the time passes, the Blue Grotto became a popular tourist destination in the 1830s, after the visit of German writer “August Kopisch” and his friend Ernst Fries to the cave in 1826 and after the issuing of the book of “Kopisch Entdeckung der blauen Grotte auf der Insel Capri” in 1838. They were directed to the cave by a local fisherman “Angelo Ferraro” and during their journey, they’ve noticed the presence of Roman structures in the cave. Since then the Blue Grotto has become the emblem of the island of Capri.

Moreover entrance to Blue Grotto on a day when the water is perfectly calm enough, the visitors are allowed to go inside. The Blue Grotto is one of those places, where at peaks times the queue of tour boats and those arriving by land can be one to two hours long, even though the total time stays in the cave is only a few minutes. Many visitors are wondering what all the fuss is about? it’s a cave with a small pool of blue water and will begrudge the cost and time involved in seeing it. While the others are adore the place. Despite of all facts, it’s must see place if you’re going to Italy. 

 Source: Charismatic Planet

“Basalt Prisms” An Ideal Picnic Place in Mexico

Los Prismas Basálticos also called “Basalt Prisms” is tall columns of basalt rock that line a ravine through which water runs from the San Antonio Dam, which falls through the prisms and into the river. This ravine area was part of the Santa María Regla Hacienda and it was first promoted by Alexander von Humboldt in 1803. So are let you to be amazed by the natural beauty of the Basaltic Prisms, rock formations carved by water over millions of years, thus formed in a flawless geometric structure. This geologic phenomenon is really unique in the whole continent. Basaltic Prisms is located just 30 minutes from Pachuca, Hidalgo’s capital, in the town of Santa María Regla, these stone columns are listed in one of the 13 natural wonders. 

 

It is perfectly surrounded by forests and lush green vegetation, and picture-perfect for hiking, or taking trips in hot air balloons and camping, and are a “must visit” landmark in Hidalgo. These’re an extensive network of cracks often develop in basalt, which may extend several meters deep. These cracks tend to leave columns between them which are approximately hexagonal six sides in shape. They’re around 98 feet high and their flanks are washed by the Azul and San Antonio Regla dams, giving a natural sight that has long impacted local and foreign visitors. . The walls of the canyon, called the Barranca de Alcholoya, are lined by polygonal columns between 30 to 35 meters high with six sides. It is believed that the basalt columns were formed by the slow cooling of volcanic lava. The noticeable columns are backed by even more polygonal basalt columns. There’re two waterfalls. The higher one has its water supplemented by diversions from adjacent dams. The lower one is called the Cascada de la Rosa. The canyon has been prepared by the addition of stairs, walkways and hanging bridges for easy access. Therefore among the most famous & recognized examples of basalt columns or pavements in the world are Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland), Fingal’s Cave (Scotland) and Devil’s Postpile (California, USA).

Well, to wander among its rocks, get wet in the waterfall formed by spring water, and later, relish a picnic in the nearby green areas. This is the ideal place, where you can spend a day full of intense adventure with your family and friends, and when the sun goes down, prepare you tent and spend the night in the valley, surrounded by the forest and relishing the attractive view. You can also flee the heat to cool down in the nearby swimming pools, play football, basketball and volleyball in their courts, go horseback riding in the surrounding areas or take boat trips on the San Antonio dam. Moreover you can bring your own food for a picnic or have a food at the stands set inside the tourist area presenting typical local dishes such as barbacoa, enchiladas served with salted meat, pastes and other jewels of Hidalgo’s cuisine. In conclusion, if you wish to keep the best souvenirs of the prisms in the palm of your hand, don’t forget to visit the handicraft shops offering objects made of obsidian, clay and wood, as well as garments made of wool, and many other curiosities.

Source: Charismatic Planet

Amazing Penthouse Located at the Top of a Historic Ski Jump in Norway

This historic ski jump will soon be serving overnight visitors reaching new heights with an astonishing, modernized penthouse apartment that is suspended around 200 feet in the air. The lofty living space at the top of the Holmenkollen competitive arena in Norway was before a waiting room for the participants of 1952 Winter Olympics. Now it has been emerged in an apartment set to open at the end of March. Therefore adventure lovers and ski passionate can relish the remarkable vantage point overlooking snowcapped mountains with all the comforts of home. Hence from the rooftop terrace, visitors can even take glimpses of the “Northern Lights” on a clear night. Moreover the lodging company AirBnB commissioned the project as part of a promotional contest, in which the company will give away the first night’s stay to the winner of an essay competition. The progressively popular website that coordinates “places to stay from local hosts in 190+ countries” is famous for providing accommodations in strange venues.Without any doubt the ski jump lodge ranks among the most exclusive. The apartment’s webpage amusingly advises would-be guests, “Please do not apply if you are scared of heights.”