How the Giant's Causeway and Game of Thrones are related in my opinion.

Cliffs of Moher

Last April, I travelled to Dublin and as a result of a fast visit I had to leave without enjoying two nearby wonderful natural sights from Emerald Isle: Cliffs of Moher (Republic of Ireland) and The Giant's Causeway (Northen Ireland). After I browsed a few brochures and read about the legends behind the latter, my imagination started to run wild as I pictured giants in the country as they are described in Game of Thrones behind "The Wall". 

Personally, I seriously believe there is a strong paralelism between this fictional world and the real one. The shapes of the two isles are pretty similar, and "The Wall" in the book could perfectly be a frozen version of Hadrian's Wall, the savages could stand for the much feared Celts (also called "ladies from hell" by Roman troops), while the Giants could be a fusion of reality with myths and legends. Am I going too far? Probably! But that is my stream of consciousness for you.

Now, What is the Giant's Cause way for real? 

The National Trust (UK) website uses the following description to refer to the location of this oustanding natural wonder "Flanked by the North Atlantic Ocean and a landscape of dramatic cliffs, for centuries the Giant's Causeway has inspired artists, stirred scientific debate and captured the imagination of all who see it". These basalt columns resulting from a volcanic eruption leave no one indiferent beacuse of their unique, impressive and geometrical beauty. Please, watch this video offering the human and divine perspectives of one geological jewel to be treasured.

I know for a fact that many scenes from Game of Thrones have actually been filmed at the Giant's Causeway. It was the scenery for The Iron Isles (House Greyjoy). But here, is it just me or this Westeros map could be related to a pair of inverted British Isles? I'll leave you with that deep thought...

Westeros map from Game of Thrones (source).

Poem-Shaped Pronunciation Challenge

"The Chaos", by Gerard Nolst Trenité (1870-1946), is a poem that reached me a few days ago via facebook. I have to admit that it was an interesting activity although too long a task to fulfill! If you are able to complete the reading until the very end and without a mistake, consider yourself a champion in phonectics!!!! I'll leave you with your task, which has the incredible and challenging statistics of not being correctly pronounced by 90% of native speakers!!!

Click to read the Pronunciation Challenge Poem

So....How was that??? Now you can listen to the correct pronunciation and double check your performance by clicking HERE. I didn't embed the link to avoid the temptation of easy cheating ;)

Have you heard about Threading?

If I had to enumerate the different uses some cotton thread could have, this would certainly not be it!!!

Unbelievable but true, eyebrow threading is quite the thing in India and it is getting more and more popular around the world. It is an ancient technique devoted to hair revomal and the good news are it causes no pain while respecting all skin types. Indeed, it is time to have a go at this interesting and useful beauty treatment !

Spain has little salons offering this service, such as Sundara ("beautiful" in Sanskrit) in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville....

Summertime: Wales (Cymru)

Definitely, the least popular destination touristwise in the UK, but not for that, the less interesting place to visit. It is true that we are often unfair with Wales, a country of rich culture and history, known for their gifted singing skills and breathtaking scenery, by not praising the country as it really deserves. Not in vain, 9 million people visit Wales every year and enjoy 641 castles, three National Parks, plenty of gorgeous "blue flag" beaches and a welcoming population of 3 million inhabitants, very much outnumbered by the 11 million sheep :D

Car Boot Sale, the other market.

I have previously devoted some posts to London Markets in the blog, but never to a different and funky type of market such as Car boot Sales. They are not exclusive from the capital, I know! As a matter of fact, you can find them in places ranging from tiny villages to big cities. But as I have just said, the topic of London markets led me here today.

By their name, I bet you have already guessed it out. Yes! They are markets on wheels and run by private sellers. They very much look like spanish "mercadillos", with two main differences: the seller profile and the stuff sold. In Car boot sales, you will find proud (or tired) owners of a wide selection of products such as houseware, antiques, collectables, books, toys, shoes, music...you name it!. This is also intimately connected to a common practice in the UK: charity / second-hand shopping. You can find a considerable amount of second-hand shops in the high street of even the smallest village you can think of. It is a cultural thing and there is a great business niche based on ethical, social and environmental grounds.

As for where to go to participate in this kind of "open air recycling-based shopping", the sales take place in particular places and under particular permissions. Actually, there are some directories guiding your options when considering this type of purchase: Car boot junction  is a general UK directory, while Time out is a more specific site devoted to London. 

I'll leave you with an example of what a car boot sale is like. You'll have the chance to have a close-up experience by examining the items sold, the venue aspect as well as listening to some of the sellers' stories :)

The Science Behind Romanticism

When we feel attracted to another person, there is much more science involved in that actual moment than we think. This video can help understand how our body really behaves and tests a potential partner when we set an eye on someone ;)

You can read more on the subject in this article by TEDEd Lessons Worth Sharing link.