ABBA reunite as silicon dolls, at the ABBA-museum in Stockholm, see more atwww.abbathemuseum.com
Livaktige og skremmende like originalene. Slik lyder dommen over silikon-utgavene av de fire ABBA-medlemmene. Silikon-utgavene ble nylig avduket på ABBA-museet på Djurgården i Stockholm, skriver VG.
ABBA-medlemmene Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvæus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad og Agnetha Fältskog har selv vært med på å lage figurene av seg selv – ikledd legendariske scenekostymer fra 70-tallet.
-Figurene er penere enn originalene, sier Benny Andersson om resultatet.
Figurene er altså i silikon og alt er laget for hånd. Hundrevis av fotos er brukt for å få med små detaljer som fargen på øyne, hår, øyenbryn og tenner.
Kostymene har ABBA-medlemmene selv valgt ut: supergruppen poserer i scenetøyet fra USA-turneen i 1979.
The following information appears on www.visitsvalbard.no – the tourist office of the Norwegian territory of Svalbard.
The solar eclipse on March 20th 2015 is a very exclusive happening that can only be seen on shore at the Faroe Islands and Svalbard in the whole wide world.
Longyearbyen, the main settlement, or “capital” of Svalbard.
The interest for the happening is huge, and it’s a challenge to get accommodation for all that want to visit Svalbard
After a long and dark winter, the first beams of the sun will reach Longyearbyen on March 8th, as every year. But in 2015 the sun will not stay for long, as only 12 days later it will yet again disappear.
But this time luckily only for a few short minutes on the 20th, when the solar eclipse appears.
The interest for the solar eclipse is huge worldwide, and we receive several requests for information on accommodation on a weekly basis.
Regretfully we’re not able to help as much as we would have liked to, as it has been more or less fully booked for several years allready. The best advice we can give is to contact the different hotels and guesthouses directly in case of cansellations.
Or you may advertise your request for private accommodation on Facebook, where this site is popular in Longyearbyen:
For those having a place to stay, the local community is working on the preparations regarding safety and some common arrangements. This means the yearly “sun feast week” around March 8th will be stretched untill the 20th. More information on this will be ready primo 2015.
Information to visitors from the Governor of Svalbard
The Governor of Svalbard has also issued a general information to all travelers visiting Svalbard these days – which we strongly recommend to read prior to arrival:
Reiser i påskeferien i år øker med 11 prosent i forhold til i fjor, og Las Palmas på Gran Canaria er fortsatt den suverene vinneren . På andreplass ligger i år Bangkok, med London på tredjeplass.
Det viser ferske tall fra reisebyrået Ticket, skriver nettstedet www.travelnews.no
I år øker reisene i påskeferien til Las Palmas med hele 64 prosent.
Også Barcelona øker denne påsken – med 75 prosent, og klatrer tre plasser opp på Tickets toppliste. Et annet reisemål, som ennå ikke er i Tickets topp 10-liste, er Dubai i De forente arabiske emirater.
– Etter at Emirates har kommet seg inn på det norske markedet ser vi kraftige økninger av reiser til Dubai. Folk benytter seg av muligheten for å fly direkte hit. Det er en flott by å feriere i som er perfekt for folk som er på utkikk etter å prøve noe nytt i påskeferien, sier Ellen Wolff Andresen, markedssjef i Ticket, til travelnews.no.
Charterselskapene melder om fulle fly, men er man heldig får man tak i en restplass til for eksempel Gran Canaria eller Lanzarote.
– Et tips for de som ikke finner en charterreise som de ønsker er å bestille fly og hotell. Det er mange fordeler med det, blant annet at man da kan være litt mer fleksibel i forhold til avreise og hjemreise. I tillegg er man også omfattet av pakkereiseloven, forteller Wolff Andresen til travelnews.no
TOPP-10 PÅSKEREISER
1. Las Palmas 2. Bangkok 3. London 4. Amsterdam 5. Tenerife 6. Barcelona 7. Alicante 8. Lisboa 9. Paris 10. Roma
The sun will be completely obscured for approximately two and a half minutes at precisely 9.41am for approximately two and a half minutes over the Nordic archipelago.
Torshavn
Speaking to www.independent.co.uk Total Solar Eclipse Coordinator at Visit Tórshavn, Torstein Christiansen said that all of the regular tourist accommodation had sold out:
“Hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels were all fully booked in Tórshavn a while ago”, Mr.Christiansen says.
However, after an appeal by his organisation, residents are providing extra accommodation in spare rooms and summer houses and, at the time of writing, there is still “a lot of capacity”.
Johanna Rasmussen, owner of the Hotel Føroyar in Torshavn said that her hotel had been fully booked for two years and that guests would be arriving from as far as Australia and the US.
Torstein Christiansen said that around 8,000 tourists were expected to visit the islands, which have a population of 50,000, over the period surrounding the event.
He said that this would be a welcome economic boost to the islands, where the tourist season traditionally begins a few months later in May.
Se også vår store blogpost om Færøyene på / see also our extensive blog post about the Faroe Islands at www.minbestereise.blogg.no
According to an old Faroese legend four brothers lived in the village of Sumba at the most southern point of the Faroe Islands.
The were all brave and strong, but they were constantly quarrelling and fighting and sometimes even threathing to take each other’s lives. One day they were out in the mountains tending their sheep when darkness suddenly fell upon them. They were terrified and promised the Lord that if they survived this experience they would change and become better men. Soon after the sun came out again and legend says that they hugged and never fought nor quarreled again for the rest of their lives.
This legend is believed to be a recollection of a total solar eclipse recorded in the Faroe Islands on 30 May 1612 at 11.25 am. On 20 March 2015 a total solar eclipse will once again cover the Faroe Islands in darkness at 9.41 am.
The Faroe Islands will be one of only two places in the world where this eclipse can be observed from land. Seeing a total eclipse is perhaps one of the most spectacular astronomical and natural phenomena that you will ever see. Being on the right spot is essential, and on 20 March 2015 the obvious spot to view the total eclipse will be in the Faroe Islands.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and blocks out the direct light of the sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks out the sun completely, forming a shadow on the earth. For this to occur, the sun, the earth and the moon come in a straight line in their orbits and it will seem like the moon has covered the sun.
In a total solar eclipse you will be able to see “The Bailey Beeds”, which is where light from the sun breaks through the uneven surface of the moon. The diamond ring effect marks the beginning and end of totality as a bright flash of light and is one of the most amazing features of the eclipse.
As the shadow of the moon starts to move across the sun, it will look like a small bite which gradually increases in size. Watch for Baily?s Beads where the sun shines through the rugged surface of the moon creating points of light on the edge of the moon?s disc. These can only be seen for a few seconds. Just before the sun disapears, The Diamond Ring effect is seen as the single bead of light which looks like an enormous sparkling diamond on a shiny ring.
When the shadow of the moon covers the sun entirely, the sun’s atmosphere (corona) can been seen as a faint halo. This phase is known as totality. As the moon moves away from the sun, Baily?s Beads may be seen again before the sun fully emerges.
WHERE TO SEE THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
The Faroe Islands and Svalbard are the only places in the world where you can experience the total solar eclipse. The Faroe Islands are preparing for some major celebration following the eclipse.
Looking for a different way to cool off in the Caribbean? If you’re in St. Thomas, consider taking a stroll through Magic Ice.
It’s located on the United States Virgin Islands capital of Charlotte Amalie’s waterfront, and is the world’s largest permanent ice gallery, housed in an 8,000-foot space chilled to a frigid 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brainchild of the Norwegian owner of an ice-carving school in Lithuania, Kirsten Holmen, the exhibit features around 20 sculptures, which are changed four times a year by a visiting team of Lithuanian carvers.
You’ll don a hooded cape, gloves and leg warmers (we also recommend wearing closed-toe shoes) before entering the artfully lit cold room, where sculptures depict everything from marine life to mythical creatures, and there’s an ice slide for playful visitors in search of an unusual photo opp.
It only takes about 20 minutes to see all the pieces but the included swig of Cruzan rum at the bar – also made entirely of ice – may tempt you to linger longer.
And if one shot isn’t enough, there are plenty of other varieties of the St. Croix-made flavored rum you can pay to sample as you sit astride a fur-covered ice throne – a cool proposition indeed.
Magic Ice is open seven days a week. Admission is $22, and includes a shot of Cruzan rum and a souvenir glass.
Owner and general manager Kirsten Holmen, running the Magic Ice gallery consept for 15 years, opened Magic Ice in Charlotte Amalie in January 2012, and also running Magic North in Svolvaer (opened in 2004), “capital” of the spectacular Lofoten Archipelago in Northern Norway, and, in April 2014 she opened Magic Ice in downtown Oslo, capital city of Norway – and with a focus on the art of Edvard Munch.
One of her main mentors and door-openers have been Gerhard Heiberg, prominent Norwegian businessman and sports administrator, and member of the International Olympic Committee. He was the guest of honour at the opening of Magic North in Svolvaer, while Oslo mayor Fabian Stang cut the ribbon at the Ice Magic opening ceremony in the capital last year.
The number of visitors at the Oslo Magic Ice is expected to reach between 40,000 and 50,000 in 2014, while several hundred thousands have visited the Magic North in Svolvaer, according to the Avisa Nordland newspaper in Norway.
Magic Ice has a long-standing business relationship with the cruise industry, and large numbers of the visitors at the three venues are cruise passangers.
Last year Kirsten Holmen told www.an.no that she was in dialogue with one of the worlds biggest cruise line companies regarding opening a fourth Magic Ice on a private island, but would not go into details.
The Royal Mint is aiming to cash in – as a tourist destination by opening its steel doors to the public for the first time in 1,100 years.
Visitors will be allowed inside the high-security Royal Mint to see how five billion coins are made each year.
Bosses at the Mint – the oldest manufacturer in Britain – plan to make money by opening a new £7.7m visitors’ centre next year to attract tourists.
Curious visitors will be able to tour the inner workings of the factory where the coins and medals of more than 60 countries are made every year.
Shane Bissett, head of commemorative coin and medals, said: “This is an exciting development in our mission to welcome visitors to a unique behind the scenes experience.
“The new visitor centre will showcase over 1,000 years of coin-making history, and showcase the heritage, craftsmanship and innovation for which The Royal Mint is known all over the world.”
The giant Royal Mint factory in Llantrisant, near Cardiff, South Wales, will display the rich collections of historical medals and coins.
Armed Ministry of Defence Police oversee security of the 35-acre site which operates round-the-clock to produce 90 million coins a week.
A London mint started operation from around 650AD – although at one time there were about 70 mints making money for different banks.
But from the reign of Henry VIII only the Royal Mint was in operation in London.
It moved to Wales to be opened by the Queen in 1968 in readiness for the introduction of the decimal coinage – and employs more than 900 people.
The visitor centre is expected to open in the spring of 2016 after the Welsh Government has contributed a £2.3m grant towards the cost of the project creating 40 new jobs.
Tourism Minister Edwina Hart said the project had the potential to be an “iconic attraction” as visitors see how the money is made.
Nå åpner Le Manon,, en ny restaurant i Carlton Oslo Hotel Guldsmeden i Parkveien, skriver Se og Hør.
Den danske hotellkjeden Guldsmeden, med hoteller i København, Aarhus, Oslo og Bali, er feinschmeckernes valg i København, og gjennomfører interiør og tankegang etter økologiske, bærekraftige prinsipper i kombinasjon med ypperlig kvalitet.
Le Manon erstatter restauranten Kontrast.
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A new Oslo restaurant, LeManon,,in theCarlton Oslo Hotel Guldsmeden, inParkveien street, is about to open.
The Danishhotel chain Guldsmeden (“The Goldsmith”),withhotels in Copenhagen,Aarhus in Denmark, Oslo andBali, are the connoisseur’schoice inCopenhagen. The chain is known for combining green values withsuperb quality.
VisitOSLO enters a unique deal with Ticketmaster – read more at www.visitoslo.com
VisitOSLOs populære kulturkalender viser nå live informasjon om tilgjengelige billetter, takket være et unikt samarbeid med Ticketmaster. Det er første gang den internasjonale billettgiganten gir tilgang til API-et på denne måten.
Unikt samarbeid – Som oftest får vi henvendelser om samarbeid fordi man ser en mulighet for å tjene mer penger for seg selv, og vanne ut lønnsomheten i allerede eksisterende forretningsmodeller, sier Tormod Olsen, markedsdirektør i Ticketmaster Norge.
– VisitOSLO hadde en annen tilnærming. De ønsket å øke antallet besøkende på arrangementene i Oslo uten at de selv skulle tjene på det. VisitOSLO var kun opptatt av at kultursektoren i Oslo skulle selge flere billetter. Dermed fikk vi til en løsning som var god for alle parter.
Det er første gang i Europa at Ticketmaster har latt eksterne utvikle tjenester på Ticketmasters API.
– Jeg er glad og spent på hvordan Ticketmaster sine data vil kunne bidra til en bedre opplevelse for turister og andre kulturinteresserte. VisitOSLO er et merkenavn med sterk tillit i markedet. Tillit er noe som er viktig for oss som er i en bransje med mange aktører som operer med falske billetter etc.
– VisitOSLO har også de senere år vist et sterkt fokus på digital kommunikasjon sammen med en åpen og inkluderende holdning ? disse to egenskaper er spennende og gir rom for at mange kan dra nytte av API-et, uten at vi opplever at VisitOSLO har en egeninteresse, forklarer Olsen.
Nå kan du se om det er billetter igjen til arrangementet du ønsker å gå på.
Fins det billetter, er du bare ett klikk unna Ticketmasters kjøpsløsning.
Innovasjon gir økt verdiskapning Kulturlivet er blitt en viktig del av det folk kommer til Oslo for å oppleve, som gjør det godt å bo i byen og gjør det interessant å drive sin virksomhet her.
– Den nye løsningen skal bidra til å øke lønnsomheten hos alle som arrangerer noe morsomt i byen, slik at de kan fortsette med nettopp det. Kulturetaten i Oslo kommune har derfor støttet prosjektet økonomisk med innovasjonsmidler, sier byråd for kultur og næring, Hallstein Bjercke.
Folk reiser ikke til en moderne by som Oslo bare for å se fjell, fjorder eller hoppbakke og vikingskip, tror Bjercke:
– Det folk kommer hit for, er å oppleve pulsen i byen og alt den har å by på av mennesker, opplevelser og muligheter.
– Jeg har stor tro på at denne løsningen både vil bringe flere besøkende til Oslo og gi flere utsolgte arrangementer. VisitOSLO gjør veien mellom interesse for arrangementene og selve billetten sømløs gjennom innovasjon og kobling av data. Jeg vil berømme VisitOSLO for at de har fått til dette samarbeidet med Ticketmaster, og det er nettopp denne typen prosjekter Oslo kommune ønsker å støtte med sitt innovasjonsprogram, sier Bjercke.
Nasjonalforsamlingen i Frankrike har vedtatt en lov som vil redusere strømprisene i det delvis selvstyrte, franske territoriet Wallis og Futunaøyene i Stillehavet.
Strømprisene på Wallis og Futuna er fem ganger høyere enn i Frankrike, nå skal prisene ned på fransk nivå.
Øyenes strømforsyning kommer fra oljeaggregater, og driftskostnadene har økt kraftig de siste årene.
Territoriet er geografisk sett langt unna Frankrike og Europa, men like fullt en del av EU, slik som andre franske oversjøiske områder i Karibia, Sør-Amerika, Afrika, Indiahavet og Oseania.
Regjeringen på Amerikansk Samoa arbeider med planer for å tiltrekke seg flere cruiseskipanløp til hovedstaden Pago Pago. Målet er 25 cruiseskip per år innen 2021. Dette betyr 45000 cruisepassasjerer til byen i denne perioden.
Pago Pago er allerede en kjent og populær havn for seilere, og byen har også i dag en del cruiseanløp, men på et langt lavere nivå enn andre dypvannshavner i regionen.
Myndighetenes planer innebærer også gjenåpning av gondolbanen til nasjonalparkområdet rundt Mount Alava – den eneste gondolbanen i Stillehavet – og flere organiserte økoturisme-turer som inkluderer blant annet dykking. Det blir også diskutert om man skal starte ferjeruter til noen av småøyene, som den avsidesliggende, privateide Swains Island, eid av Jenkins-familien i generasjoner, og kan bare besøkes med spesiell tillatelse.
Gondolbanen ble bygget i 1965 for å frakte mannskaper som skulle bygge et TV-tårn på toppen av Mount Alava. Banen ble senere stengt og har mer eller mindre forfalt.
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The Government of American Samoa are working on plans to attract more cruise ship arrivals to the capital Pago Pago. The goal is 25 cruise ships per year by 2021. This means 45,000 cruise passengers to the city during this period.
Pago Pago is already a well known and popular port of call for for yachts, and the city also currently have a few cruise ship calls, but at a far lower level than other deepwater ports in the region.
The government also plan a reopening of the tramway / cablecar to the National Park area around Mount Alava – the only gondola in the Pacific – and more organized ecotourism trips that include diving.
Whether to start ferry routes to some of the smaller islands, like the remote, privately owned Swains Island, owned by the Jenkins family for generations, and visited by special permit only.
The cablecar in Pago Pago was built in 1965 to transport work crews to build a TV tower on top of Mount Alava. The tramway was later closed.
