Most Beautiful Swiss Villages

Switzerland, a landlocked country, is located in western Europe, between Austria, Germany and France. Switzerland is known for its bilingual nature. Parts of the country speak French, while others speak German and, in some towns, residents speak both. There are beautiful villages all around Switzerland, many of which date back to the fourth century. Some villages offer lakeside locations and mountain views, plenty of hiking trails, boat cruises and snow sports in the winter.

Spiez

• Spiez is a small village on Lake Thun in north-central Switzerland. On the edge of the village are the Niederhorn mountains that run all the way to the Bernese Alps; the village is also encircled by vineyards and boasts a large castle as the high point of its skyline. Visitors can visit the castle, which doubles as a church, or book a cruise on the lake. Those that prefer hiking can walk trails around the lake or in the nearby mountains. History or wine aficionados can visit Spiez's museum of viticulture and local history or simply enjoy a glass of wine in a lakeside restaurant.

Ringgenberg

• Ringgenberg is located in northeastern Switzerland, on Lake Brienz. Ringgenberg is a popular summer destination for Swiss vacationers looking to swim since the lake's summer water temperatures are quite warm. Building codes ensure that the buildings in this village retain their centuries-old veneer, giving the village a historic look. The village museum gives visitors a peek into the town's past; it stands alongside a cheese storage shed, a main house and an oven building. Nearby are the villages of Goldswil and Niederreid.

Appenzell

• Appenzell is located in northeastern Switzerland, in the Alpine region. The town is the capital of the area known as Appenzell Innerrhoden -- the region of Switzerland with the smallest population. Appenzell is recognized for ornamental houses, which makes it an ideal destination for those hoping to snap stunning photographs. Shoppers can find a large number of local products in the town's stores, which are perfect place to scoop up souvenirs or gifts for friends. In the summer, when the snow on the Alps is partially melted, large and majestic rock formations can be seen on the cliffs around Appenzell. Hiking trails in the hills are also open to hikers in this temperate weather. In the winter, however, there is an abundance of snow for cross-country and downhill skiers.

Sion

• Sion, also known as Sitten in German, is the capital of the Swiss region of Valais, a bilingual area speaking both French and German. The area around Sion is marked by vineyards and castles; the Valeria Fortress, for example, can be seen from a distance and is one of the defining features of the Sion landscape. Sion is also Switzerland's oldest town. The Valais area in which Sion resides is known as Switzerland's premiere winemaking area and some of its wines, such as Fendant, are known the world over. In and around Sion are the Saint-Leonard subterranean lake -- an underground lake big enough for boat cruises -- and the Derborence forest.

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The Advantages of the Roman Arch

Although the Roman arch didn’t originate with the Romans, they’re the ones who pushed its limits and spread its popularity. They incorporated the use of arches into their infrastructure. The Roman arch consists of bricks or “voussoirs.” These voussoirs are built in such a way that they push outward and downward from the “keystone” or central voussoir. The keystone supports the other voussoirs. Even today, architects and builders make use of Roman arch design because of its clever design.

Large Areas

• Roman arches stacked together side-by-side are able to cover long distances and large areas of roofing. Common examples of this are aqueducts and barrel vaults. Barrel vaults – used today in stadiums – were commonly used for entrances and exits for large buildings. These consist of a series of arches, or a continuous arch, to form the ceiling of a structure – often looking like the inside of a tunnel or barrel. Ancient sewers also made use of barrel vault technology. Later, medieval churches and cathedrals made use of modified barrel-vault ceilings.

Large Interior Spaces

• Using arches in structures allows for a large spatial area in rooms. For example, the use of arches in barrel vaults, groin vaults, pointed arched vaults and roofs allows for a much stronger and larger space than what would be possible with a traditional flat roof lacking an arch. The prevalence of barrel vaults in public buildings allowed larger buildings that could accommodate more people.

Versatility

• One of the many advantages of the Roman arch, or arch variations, is the capability to be formed into other architectural structures, such as vaults and domes. Domes consist of arches that meet at the center. Vaults are arched-masonry structures made to form ceilings or roofs. Examples of vaults are the barrel vault, groin vaults and cloister vaults.

City Growth

• A huge advantage that the arch provided was enough stability to successfully build long aqueducts over large regions. Previously, cities needed to be built close to a river or other source of water; however, after the Roman arch made aqueducts possible, large cities connected to distant water sources could grow large due to water availability.

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The Most Popular Spanish Sports

When one thinks of sports in Spain, soccer likely comes to mind. Spain is one of the leading nations in soccer games each year, and you won't have any trouble finding fans of the sport wherever you go. Other popular Spanish sports include basketball, tennis and handball, as well as various motorsports.

Football

• Internationally, soccer is known as football, and this continues to be the most popular sport in Spain. The Spanish League, "La Liga," is often considered to be the best competitor in the world. Spain has played in the FIFA World Cup 12 times since the 1930s, and also prevail regularly in the Olympics.

Basketball

• Basketball is another popular Spanish sport. The Spanish ACB is a major European league and have won many championships, including gold medals at Eurobasket, a basketball championship held by FIBA Europe.

Tennis

• Rafael Nadal is considered to be the greatest tennis player from Spain. He has won the French Open numerous times, and Spanish tennis players have also won the Davis Cup and other notable titles. These victories have led to much popularity for tennis in Spain, and it continues to train fierce competitors, both male and female.

Cycling and Motorsports

• Cycling became very popular in Spain during the 1940s. Today, along with the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) is one of the most high profile cycling events in the world. Spainards have won this tour, as well as Tour de France. They also regularly participate in Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy).

  Motorsports are also widely recognized, and Spain has hosted three Grand Prix motorcycle races on their land. Notable racers regularly compete for Spain in both endurance racing and rally championships.

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How to Call Amsterdam From the USA

When you do not know how to make an international telephone call, it can seem rather confusing. After all, foreign phone numbers seem to be so long in comparison. If you are planning on making a phone call to Amsterdam -- which is the Netherlands' capital city -- from the United States, the process is very simple and quick.

Things You'll Need

Telephone with a long-distance calling plan
Telephone card (if necessary)
Phone number in Amsterdam

Tips For You

1. Make sure that you have a long-distance calling plan or an international calling card. If you do not have long-distance set up on your telephone, you will not be able to dial numbers outside of the United States. One way to get around this is by purchasing an international phone card on the Internet or at your local drugstore. These phone cards are relatively cheap. Buy roughly or just over the amount of minutes that you need to be on the phone to Amsterdam. For example, if you plan to speak for about 45 minutes, purchase a card with 60 minutes on it.
2. Be aware of dialing codes. To make a phone call abroad from the United States, you must dial the international access code, which is 011. Then, research the Netherland's country code. To make a call directly to a nation, it is vital to be aware of its specific country code. In the Netherlands' case, the code is 31. Dial the international country code with the country code immediately following it.
3. Take the "0" away from the start of the city code. The Amsterdam phone number you have begins with "020," as that is the city code. To make international phone calls, it is always necessary to remove the "0" from the beginning of the code first. After you do this, the beginning of the phone number you are going to dial should look like "011 31 20" with the rest of the digits following.
4. Figure out the local time in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is in a totally different time zone than the United States, so avoid being rude and calling at an overly early or late hour. Amsterdam is six hours ahead from the East Coast of the United States and nine hours ahead of the West Coast. Think ahead before making a call to Amsterdam. You do not want to risk waking someone up and dealing with a groggy and unhappy person.
5. Make your phone call. Be sure you have entered your international access code, the country code for the Netherlands and the city code for Amsterdam. Enjoy your call, and maybe you'll pick up a few words in the Dutch language.

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Main Foods of Kosovo

It's not hard to find a juicy burger and crispy fries in Pristina, but indulging in the young capital's Italian or Irish offerings means missing out on some of the best Balkan comfort food around. Whether cozying up in a corner restaurant or being invited into the home of mountain-dwelling Kosovars, fill up on traditional pastry, meat and savory accompaniments.

Flija

• In the U.S., summertime campfire baking may consist of melting chocolate and marshmallows together with graham crackers. In Kosovo, a large, flaky, signature pie is the masterpiece that comes out of hours around an open fire with family and friends. Flija consists of layer upon layer of a simple crepe-like batter cooked in a flat round pan with a special metal cover heated over the coals. Between the thin layers of pastry, a melted cream-cheese mixture gently is applied. The flija is cut into wedges like a pie and serves as a base for all sorts of tasty adornments, from sweet honey or jam to pickled vegetables and cheese.

Meat

• Meat lovers can find something to chew on in Kosovo. Residents prep for the winter by preparing pasterma in advance, a dried beef served with pickled vegetables. One favorite casserole in the country, elbasan tava, is a hearty mixture of chunks of lamb baked with a blend of corn flour, yogurt, eggs and garlic cloves. Raznjici is a Balkan kebab that usually features pork or veal. Cevapcici consists of barbecued minced meat -- much like a sausage without the casing. To find a traditional patty-shaped meat dish, ask for the Balkan burger known as a pljeskavica, which can include beef, veal, pork or all of the above in the mixture.

Burek

• Burek blends Kosovars' love of meat with flaky flija layers in a pie that depending on the filling and one's tastes may be consumed for any meal of the day. Call it Kosovo's traditional fast food, as bakers roll minced meat or vegetables with the dough, slice up the finished product and serve it with yogurt for an anytime snack. Burek may be stuffed with cheese, spinach, fruit filling or chunks of potato. Not every traditional bread in Kosovo is light and flaky, though, as households regularly enjoy proja with a meal. This cornbread becomes extra rich with yogurt and cheese blended into the batter of flour, cornstarch, eggs and milk.

Hajvar

• Ajvar, a savory relish that may include red bell peppers, eggplant and garlic, works in harmony with Kosovo's other main dishes as a complement to flija, a condiment for pljeskavica or a spicy kick for a veggie burek. According to the Southeast European Times, ajvar gets its start by frying red peppers before they are peeled, then grinding and boiling them. The mixture is slowly stirred for hours while salt and oil are added to the paste, with hot peppers added for a spicier variant. A similar paste called pinxhur combines eggplant, tomatoes, garlic and peppers; both are canned and stored.

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Time Difference Between Ramstein, Germany & California

Ramstein is located within the German state of Rhineland-Pfalz. The city is a part of Kaiserslautern county and it adheres to the Central European Time Zone. In the month of March, the clock moves ahead one hour due to daylight-saving time. California is in the western United States and falls within the Pacific Time Zone. Like Ramstein, California's clock also moves ahead one hour during the early summer months.

Time Difference

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is nine hours ahead of California's Pacific Time Zone. So when it is 5 p.m. in Ramstein, it is 8 a.m. in California. When it is 2:35 a.m. in Ramstein, it is 5:35 p.m. in California. The time of hour will always vary, but the minutes will not.

Coordinated Universal Time

• The world's clocks are regulated by a time standard known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Currently, the UTC is officially held at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. This time standard is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). All of the world's time zones are regulated in terms of positive (+) or negative (-) hourly offsets from the UTC. Ramstein's Central European Time Zone is listed as UTC+01:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. This means that the time in Ramstein, Germany, is always one hour ahead of the time in Greenwich, London. During daylight-saving time, the Ramstein clock moves ahead an hour, changing from UTC+01:00 to UTC+02:00. California's Pacific Time Zone is listed as UTC-08:00 when daylight-saving time is not in effect. Therefore, California is always eight hours behind Greenwich. When daylight-saving time is in effect in California, the Pacific Time Zone moves to UTC-07:00.

Time and Dates

• Due to the nine hour time difference in Ramstein and California, dates can vary. The difference allows for it to be a Tuesday morning in Ramstein when it is still Monday night in California. When it is 4 a.m. on June 25 in Ramstein, for example, it is only 7 p.m. on June 24 in California.

Daylight Saving

• Ramstein's Central European Time Zone skips an hour ahead during daylight-saving time. Since 1996, this change typically occurs on the last Sunday in March. Central European Time becomes known as Central European Summer Time. The time switches back in Ramstein on the last Sunday in October. Since 2007, daylight-saving time comes in California on the second Sunday in March. Pacific Standard Time becomes Pacific Daylight Time, and the clocks move forward an hour. Daylight-saving time ends in California on the first Sunday in November.

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What Are Some Italian Landforms?

Italy, with its distinctive boot shape, is a European peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea. The country is mountainous with two major chains, the Alps in the north and the Apennines extending the length of the country. A cluster of volcanoes is located mostly in the south and southwest. In addition to the peaks, plains, rivers and foothills make up a major part of the geologic landscape of the Italian peninsula.

The Po-Venetian Plain

• The Po-Venetian plain is located in northern Italy between the Adriatic Sea, the Alps and the Apennine mountains. The plain was once a gulf in a tectonic trough that filled over time with deposits from the seas, rivers and glaciers. Today, these deposits are almost 5 miles deep. The majority of the plain is flat. Once covered with forests that have since been harvested, the Po-Venetian plain is now considered the breadbasket of Italy for its rich agriculture land. Swamps and bogs are common throughout the plain.

The Italian Alps

• The Italian Alps are part of the Alpine chain in Western Europe formed when the continents of Europe and Africa collided. The Italian Alps are divided into three parts: the Western, Central and Eastern Alps. The most famous peak in the Italian Alps is Monte Cervino, also known as the Matterhorn, located on the Swiss-Italian border.

The Apennines

• The Apennines are a range of mountains that travel the length of the Italian peninsula for 830 miles ending on the island of Sicily. Often called the backbone of Italy, the Apennines are the source of most major rivers in the country. The highest peak in the Apennine range is Mount Corno at over 9,000 feet. Like the Po-Venetian plain, the Apennines were once heavily forested but due to thousands of years of human harvesting have now lost most of their forests.

Mount Vesuvius and Other Volcanic Structures

• Italy has a large number of volcanic structures for such a small country, due mostly to convergence between the African and European continental plates. The most famous Italian volcano is Mount Vesuvius, part of the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, known for the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano, active in vaying degrees, are other famous volcanoes on the Italian mainland and surrounding islands.

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