Traveling Through Europe(Sep 18, 2011)
The summer of 2005, my friend and I decided to apply for a summer program as part of our graduate degree and travel from United States to Europe and specifically to Brugges in Belgium, so as to attend an intensive seminar at The College of Europe on Politics, Policies, Lobbying and the European Union. Although I have never visited Belgium before, I was really excited to discover, while browsing the internet, that I was about to visit one gorgeous and historical city of the "Old Continent," while enhancing my academic knowledge and meeting new people.Before leaving the US we printed any information we could find regarding the city's tourist locations, interesting cafes and historic buildings. Although Brugges is a very small town, it offers a lot of possibilities to those interested in exploring its excitements. But even if it surpassed our expectations, visiting only one European town or country seemed a waste for such a trip. Thus, we decided in advance to research the opportunities a young graduate student has while traveling around in Europe and the most convenient, cheap and interesting way to go from city to city and country to country was via train. The Eurorail trains are the simpler way people have to visit a variety of European destinations, as boarding a train actually offers to the adventure-seekers the possibility of having an extraordinary trip and admiring the countryside in the meantime.In fact, upon the completion of the summer program, we packed our bags and traveled from Brussels to Amsterdam. The Netherlands' capital was a combination of beauty and adventure. The city streets, the people walking or bicycling around, the nice weather and its countless river docks create a unique combination of images, which are food for hungry eyes-like ours. Since we had less than 48 hours available to see as much as possible, we decided to pay a visit at the Van Gogh Museum, walk the Red District by night, and of course take the tram to travel through the city and gaze its unbelievable beat.Next stop was Paris, France. Lucky as we were to find an available and affordable room as soon as we got off the train station, the next thing was to find a map of the city and its incredible metro system and travel around to check everything! Notre Dame, bridges, the Eiffel Tower, the Bastille, Champs-lyses, small cafes and long walks across the Seine River or through the area of Montmartre, made our stay in Paris unforgettable. In fact, one of the best pictures we got from this trip was in front of the Arc de Triomphe and we took it by ourselves-both faces appear on the frame. Monte Carlo was our next and most expensive destination, but its beaches and sun gave our trip a legendary feel.Next, we visited Italy. Florence and Venice, two of the most important trade cities in Europe offered us some life-time opportunities. Historical monuments, paved streets, canals, museums, restaurants and Italian cafes convinced us that Italy is actually much more than an interesting destination. In fact, I fall-in-love with almost every single building we crossed and by the time we had to catch our plain back, I though we have made a huge mistake; our eight day trip should have lasted a lifetime.
Is Your Gucci Watch Fake(Sep 18, 2011)
With fake Gucci watches sold via the Internet and in back alleys by shady street vendors, bargain-hunting Gucci lovers need to know how to identify the real deal. If you are looking for authentic Gucci watches and cannot afford to pay top dollar at Gucci boutiques or upscale department stores, you need trusted insider information and clues to authenticity. From the history of fine Gucci craftsmanship to tips on recognizing a real Gucci watch from a fake replica, learn how to analyze authentic Gucci merchandise from its widely available, yet cheaply-crafted impostors.History According to Gucci.com, in 1921, Guccio Gucci opened a luggage store in Florence, Italy. His store featured hand-crafted leather goods combined the elite workmanship of Tuscan artisan with the opulent aesthetic of European nobility. Knockoffs or unauthorized replicas of Gucci merchandise first appeared in the late 1970s and early 1980s.Significance he introduction of the Gucci Accessory Collection in 1979 gave customers access to Gucci merchandise at a lower price point, but helped to diminish the rich history and exclusivity of the brand. Gucci Timepieces was first created in November 1997. Gucci timepieces were widely available at mid-price department stores, but are no longer sold in establishments that do not carry luxury goods exclusively.Types Gucci sells three categories of timepieces: automatic watches, quartz watches and bracelet watches. Gucci watches are crafted out of white gold, yellow gold or stainless steel. The watches include styles for men and women and are available from a low of $895 to a high of $12,900 for the 2008 horsebit cocktail collection watch. Authentic Gucci watches are sold only in authorized Gucci boutiques, department stores and on Gucci.com.Features Most fake Gucci watches use cheaper materials such as sterling silver or gold overlay. The metals used in authentic Gucci watches are denser and heavier. A fake Gucci watch will be considerably lighter than its authentic counterpart. Gucci watches utilize Swiss movement and always have a crest logo engraved on the back of the watch face. It is important to note that the insignias and logos located on the back of authentic Gucci watches vary with each season and watch design.Warning Fake Gucci watches are widely available on the Internet, sold by street vendors and even available in independent fashion boutiques. Beware of buying Gucci watches online. Unscrupulous sellers on eBay and countless replica websites sell fake Gucci watches daily. Look for proof of purchase, identifying serial numbers and sales associate numbers to verify when and where the Gucci watch was purchased. If the price point of the watch is lower than 35 percent off of the retail price, the Gucci watch is usually a fabulous fake.