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Italy, Venice: Doge’s Palace, Venice
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The Doge’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale, was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Venetian Republic. The Venetian Gothic construction started around 1340 and was modified many times over the centuries due to fires and governmental needs.
France, Paris: Liberty Leading the People in the Louvre
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Though foreigners flock to see the Mona Lisa, to the French, the most important painting in the Louvre – the unofficial national painting of France is this one, Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix. The bare-breasted female figure, who is called Marianne became a symbol of Liberty for the French Republic. Though Delacroix painted the July Revolution of 1830, the broken bodies beneath the flag depict the 40 years of civil war, political and social upheavals necessary to conquer the monarchy in order to win a representative government. The huge 8′ by 10′ scale adds to the dramatic patriotism.
US: Pawtucket, RI – Dragon Boat Racing & Taiwan Day Festival in Blackstone Valley
Now in its 18th year, the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival is an extraordinary event for the whole family to enjoy. Join the thousands of people who attend each year for exciting competition, family-fun, and a great opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture.
Racers continue to use the fiberglass Taiwanese-style dragon boats gifted to them from the Republic of China (Taiwan) and incorporate the skill of flag-catching in each race.
The course length is 1,000 feet long up the Pawtucket River, with three boats racing at a time. A unique element to the races is the larger Taiwanese-style dragon boats, wood paddles, and the flag-catching in each race. If the flag is missed a penalty is added to their time.
Sanctioned by the Eastern Regional Dragon Boat Association, the RI Chinese Dragon Boat Races consist of two divisions: the Mixed Division, which requires a minimum of 6 female paddlers, and the Open Division that has no gender restrictions.
In addition to the exciting boat races, under the giant tent you will find Taiwan Day festivities with some top notch entertainment including cultural performances, many art & crafts tables, and the ever-popular dumpling eating contest. The festival also has a great selection of vendors, interactive activities, and food trucks.
Don’t miss the great entertainment throughout the day including:
- The popular Chinese dumpling eating contest
- Taiwanese arts & crafts tables
- Lion dancers
- Yo-yo performances
- Interactive games and activities
- A fun (and messy) watermelon eating contest
- Food trucks
- Vendors
With so much to see and do…the Taiwan Day Festival is truly a great opportunity to witness some wonderful traditional Chinese and Taiwanese entertainment.
Parking and shuttle buses: Parking and shuttles for teams and attendees will be located at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center‘s lot, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI. Shuttle buses will start at 7:00 am and run until the awards ceremony has been completed.
Photo credit: James Toomey/Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
Location: Festival Pier, Pawtucket River, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Date: Sat, September 9, 2017
Time: 8am – 5pm
Tel: 401-724-2200
dragonboatri.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: tourblackstone.com
Cosmos Tour: Prague Vienna Budapest – Free Higher Education
If you study in Czech in the Czech Republic, there are no tuition fees at public higher education institutions. If you learn in another language, fees vary depending on the language of instruction or the courses.
www.cosmos.com/Product.aspx?trip=46050
Cosmos Tour: Prague Vienna Budapest – 20th Century Czechoslovakia
After WWI, in 1918, the victors carved up a new map of Europe. Creating something that they called Czechoslovakia, they sewed together parts of countries. The people who now spoke four different languages did not share a common background.
After WWII, it became part of the Soviet Bloc. In 1968, there was a brief period of liberalization called the “Prague Spring”. The underground movement against their government was not successful and Soviet tanks rolled in.
However by 1989, the Velvet Revolution (during the fall of communism), it finally became free and democratic again. Finally in 1993, the country peacefully split apart to become the Czech Republic with about 5 million people and Prague as its capital. The other part, Slovak Republic, has about 10 million people, and its capital is Bratislava .
Cosmos Tour: Prague Vienna Budapest – Budweiser and Pilsner Beer
Budweiser beer was developed in the Czech Republic. It was originally called Budvar (and still goes by that name in some countries). Beer has been brewed in Budweis since 1245. It tastes different here than the one in the US.
The two cities most associated with Czech beer are Pilsen and Budweis which both had breweries in the 13th century. The 2 most famously exported Czech beer brands are Pilsner Urquell, which was the world’s first pilsner (pale lager) and Budweiser Budvar. Pilsners have a clear golden colour, a light flavor and lots of foam.
In 2012, for the 20th consecutive year, the Czech Republic had the highest beer consumption per capita in the world – 170 litres per person.