The town is well-known for its ancient history (mainly Greek), culture (it lures many an artist), art, amphitheaters and architecture. It is also known for its connection to Archimedes and the fact that it was a major city in the Mediterranean in the ancient times. Siracusa is located on the Ionian Sea on the south-east coast of Sicily, which gives it its beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise shade of the sea.

There are many places worth seeing in Siracusa but if you go to only one place, it has to be the small island of Ortiga, which is picturesque in its beauty. Taking a stroll down lungomare or into one of the tiny streets will be worth your while. And when you come out into the main square, you’ll see amazing architecture of the white-washed cathedral and the buildings surrounding it. You can even admire it from one of the many cafés lining the side of the square.

Other sites worth taking a look at are the Roman amphitheatre (one of the largest ever built in ancient times); stone quarries located near the theater with its most famous one, Orecchio di Dionisio; the fountain of Arethusa where the nymph hunted by Alpheus took shelter there; and archeological museum. There are many more places to see and a short day to spend there simply doesn’t seem enough.

It is definitely one of the more charming towns in Sicily and even if only for the white-sand beaches, it is worth a visit.

I have recently seen “Kung Fu Panda” simply because my husband and I don’t have any children it usually takes some time before we go down the list of all the movies we want to see we make our way to the cartoons (well, you can’t really call them cartoons anymore, can you? They are mostly computer animated these days). So, after a few months, we finally decided it was time…

“Kung Fu Panda”, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu, is a story of an average panda bear named Po, who loves kung fu and dreams about becoming the famous Dragon Warrior. Through events that are beyond his control, he undergoes the training with the kung fu Master. The filmmakers came up with some funny scenes for the training part of the movie, which is pretty substantial but light in mood.

Moreover, Po is a good-natured character and (even if you might have figured out the end of the movie) you find yourself keeping fingers crossed for his success. And Po is very likable, mainly because he is fat and cuddly (as any panda bear would, I imagine). This seems to be something to which children respond very well. 

Although computer animated films can be quite incredible (no pun intended), as it is in the case of “Kung Fu Panda”, sometimes I miss the good old cartoons…But this one is quite beautiful, I must admit (even if grudgingly…). So, if you have kids and for some unforeseen reasons they still haven’t seen “Kung Fu Panda”, it would be a good idea to buy the DVD for your home collection.

photo credit: Pingu1963

In our constant search for the newest and best beauty products out there we often forget that the simplest solutions tend to work best. Our mothers and grand mothers used the natural remedies fro many things (beauty included) and it has been proven to work. So if you are fortunate enough to live in the climate where many types of fruit are available throughout the year, use the fresh fruit to make masks. And for those who live further north—frozen fruit works as well, since it was picked in its ripest and has a lot of nutrients. Just remember to thaw whatever fruit you decide to use for your masks.

Beautifying fruit mixtures can nourish your skin, moisturize it and purify and exfoliate. Some even have stress relieving properties. They work so well because the fruit is full of vitamins, minerals and alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids.

Here are some simple recipes for all-natural beauty masks:

• Purifying for oily skin

You need: 6 large strawberries+ 1 Tbsp of thick cream or Greek style yoghurt

Clean the strawberries and mash them with a fork, add cream or yoghurt to make a mixture. Apply it to your face for 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Follow with a toner for oily skin.

• Moisturizing for normal skin

You need: 2 peaches+ juice from half a lemon

Peel the peaches and remove the pit, cut in chunks and blend with lemon juice until smooth mixture if formed. Apply mixture to your face and keep on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a moisturizing gel or light cream.

• Nourishing for dry skin

You need: 1 banana+ 2 tsps of honey

Mash the banana with a fork and mix with honey so you’ll get a consistency of a mousse. Apply to your face, neck and chest and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a good nourishing cream.

You should use fruit mask once or twice a week on clean skin. If your skin is sensitive, it is advisable to check first whether you will develop a reaction to the fruit ingredients in your mask before actually applying it. The best way to do it is to apply a bit of a particular fruit behind your ear. If a reaction develops (e.g. redness), do not use that fruit. You may still be able to use other fruit but keep in mind to check first.

I can honestly say that I am a fan of Grisham’s, especially when he sticks to what he knows best, which is a suspense novel. I’ve read most of his books and enjoyed most of them (with the exception of “A Painted House” ad such). And “The Broker” follows in the steps of some his best work.

The nearly-former president grants a controversial pardon to a notorious Washington power broker, Joel Backman, who spent the last six year in a federal prison. However, nobody knows that the president did so under the pressure form the CIA director who wants Backman for himself. It seems that at the top of his game, the broker stumbled upon some secrets that, if revealed, may compromise the world’s most sophisticated satellite system. The system that nobody knows who it belongs to and the CIA is desperately trying to find it out.

So they smuggle Backman out of the county, give him a new identity and wait for the opportune moment to leak the information about Backman’s whereabouts to the countries supposedly involved in the scheme. Then they sit and wait for their move. The question, however, is not whether the broker will survive but who will be the one killing him.

It is a fast-paced novel that will keep you turning pages to the wee hours of the night trying to find out whether this small pawn in the big game will be able to outsmart them all… And it was particularly enjoyable for me since it partly takes place in Italy (the country I fell in love with a few year ago). So if you like suspense novels with thrilling action and dangers lurking at every corner, you will not be disappointed with Grisham’s “The Broker”.

Are you aware that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution (of the United States, of course) allows invasive searches at border checkpoints? Nothing new, you think. Well, it isn’t but one of the federal statutes defines the border zone as an area of 100 miles inland of the actual border (known as ‘Constitution-Free Zone’).

At first glance 100 miles may not seem like much but consider this: nine of the top ten metropolitan areas are in the zone, 12 states are completely inside the Zone (these are Delaware, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont), 99% of the population of California lives within those 100 miles and, more importantly, 2/3s of all the US citizens live in the Constitution-Free Zone, which means they can be deprived of their Constitutional rights at any moment.

 So what does it all mean? First of all, it means that border patrols can set up random checkpoints within the Zone and ask drivers for their documents (including passports) as well as perform car searches without consent. And this is the law so there is nothing you can do as a citizen if it happens to you. It seems to me like a great abuse of one’s rights, if I’ve ever seen one.

Is this the land of freedom the rest of the world is aspiring to? Somehow, in the course of the history, the Americans have lost their grip on what constitutes freedom and I must say, citizens of other countries all over the world have more rights and freedoms than Americans. Go figure…

Here are 7 natural remedies for beautiful hair:

• Apple Cider Vinegar—removes product buildup, reduces dandruff and restores luster to dull hair. It also stimulates hair follicles to enhance hair growth.
  Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and pour the mixture over your hair after shampooing. Massage into scalp and hair for about 5 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• Olive Oil—not only does it moisturize and hydrate damaged and over-processed hair, it also adds shine and eliminates dandruff and dry ends.
  Rub ¼ cup of warm extra-virgin olive oil into your scalp, cover with a shower cap     and leave overnight. Wash hair as usual in the morning.
• Baking Soda—removes product residue from your tresses leaving hair clean, more manageable and shiny.
  Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your favorite shampoo and wash your hair concentrating on scalp. Follow with a good conditioner and rinse with cold water to seal hair cuticles.
• Honey—this amber liquid is packed with vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, copper, magnesium and potassium and when used on hair and scalp, it reduces dandruff and adds shine and moisture.
  For a moisturizing hair mask: mix ½ cup of honey with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Put the mixture on your hair, cover with a towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo as usual.
• Avocado—packed with vitamins (including vitamin E—a known antioxidant) and minerals (e.g. potassium, which promotes hair growth). The fruit hydrates hair and helps it regain its body, shine and elasticity.
  For soft, shiny hair mix one mashed avocado with 2 tablespoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of olive oil. Leave on hair for 30 minutes then shampoo and condition as usual. Or leave overnight under a shower cap once a week.
• Soy—full of protein (hair’s main building element) as well as minerals (magnesium, calcium) and B vitamins, which strengthen hair and increase healthy growth.
  After washing your hair, pour a cup of soy milk over your locks and massage it into hair and scalp for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
• Milk—not only does it strengthen bones, it does the same for your tresses. It also stimulates hair growth with calcium, controls sebum production with vitamin A and moisturizes, softens and shines with lipids.
  Mix ¼ cup of dry milk powder and ½ cup of water into a paste, massage into hair and cover with a hot towel. Leave on for 30 min, rinse and shampoo as usual. 

photo credit: Chesi - Fotos CC

So Americans have made history last night… I never thought I would actually see this day come… Not long ago I said Americans weren’t ready to have a black man for their president, even though I strongly supported Sen. Obama… However, last night the whole nation has proved me wrong (and I am so glad for it)…

And the whole world was watching… It is amazing when you stop to think about the interest and excitement this election has gathered from other nations. I had a great opportunity to see it first hand here in Europe and it seems as all the Europeans were holding their breath watching the people across the ocean vote… More importantly, it seems they were hoping for exactly this outcome.

And even though it was pretty much obvious for at least a few days now that Barack Obama was going to win, I am still surprised (pleasantly)… It has truly been amazing to witness the Americans transcend and overcome their differences and most importantly the racial issues for a bigger cause.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America,” president elect, Barack Obama said last night in Chicago’s Grant Park.
And hopefully to the whole world as well…

As for “Religious Perception”, it left me quite stunned, although I really shouldn’t be, knowing what I know about Christians in general. I even considered myself a Christian once but I don’t believe in labels anymore…

Watching that show last night, I’ve come to a realization that (contrary to a popular belief) Christians are a very intolerant people. It is ‘my way or highway’ mentality and it strikes me as odd (to say the least). Didn’t Jesus teach love, acceptance, tolerance and equality for all people, no matter who they are, where they come from and what they do? And knowing that the God they so fervently believe in has a specific message, yet they somehow fail to implement that message in their lives, is a bit mind-boggling.

I’ve met Christians from various nations and I used to tend to think Catholics were the least tolerant of all. However, I’ve come to realize that American Christians (whatever their choice of religious denomination) are the most narrow-minded and the least tolerant. A scary thought when you consider the fact that a general belief is that USA is a country of freedom and tolerance. But is it really?

According to the American Constitution, the state and church are supposed to be separate. Yet every dollar bill boasts a phrase “In God We Trust”—a clear violation of that law. Furthermore, if an American citizen does not believe in any God and, say, wants to form a group or an organization for the purposes of gathering and discussing one’s beliefs (as if in a church), the said organization cannot get federal funding because one of the conditions is a belief in some supernatural entity.

To make things even worse, many American Christians believe evolution is not science but a theory (one of many) of the origins of life. Mind you, a theory means there is no scientific proof. However, scientists have proven this one years ago. The most disturbing thing is that in some states certain Christian groups want creatism (God created the universe and everything in it) to be taught at schools right along evolution since they believe these two views are philosophies.

I have never thought I would come to the conclusion that a country the rest of the world thinks of as a land of freedom is so behind the times. Luckily for me, I got my education in Europe and there is no doubt in both school system and church as to the scientific side of evolution. And surprisingly, the Church (Catholic, in the case of my country) managed to find a middle ground that supports both views without excluding one or the other.

It leaves me wondering why American Christians are so afraid of science or any free thinking, for that matter, and why are they so intolerant of everything non-Christian?

photo credit: quinn.anya

The amber liquid has been known for centuries to do wonders for one’s health and beauty since it has a number of properties and can be used in a variety of ways. It is an antimicrobial and a mild laxative; it can be used as a moisturizer or an antibacterial agent for cuts and infections, it helps your body retain calcium and it even helps with loosing weight.

It is said that consuming up to four tablespoons of honey a day can greatly improve your health. Moreover, a bit of honey before bed can help with longer and better quality sleep. Studies show that children who consumed honey before bed slept better and coughed less at night. Additionally, honey is packed with free-radicals-fighting antioxidants (combine with green or black tea for an antioxidant bomb) and has been a know beauty agent for a lot of women over the centuries.

Here are a few tips for using honey in your beauty regimen:

• Facial Moisturizer—apply honey to your face and leave on for a few minutes than rinse the excess with warm water. It works well with all skin types because it doesn’t clog pores and has antimicrobial properties, which prevents bacteria from growing thus helping with acne and breakouts. Its antibacterial properties also help with skin irritations.
• Facial Scrub—add rolled oats or sea salt to your honey, mix and massage into your skin. This type of scrub will exfoliate your skin without drying it out or over-exfoliating.
• Bath—add a tablespoon or two of honey to your bath for a moisturizing and skin softening effect.
• Hair Conditioner—squeeze a small amount of honey into your palm and apply to your hair (especially dry ends) after shampooing. Leave for a few minutes (depending on how damaged or dry your hair is) and thoroughly rinse off. It will keep frizz and fly-aways a bay.
• Hair Shine Serum—mix a tablespoon of honey with a cup of very warm water, put the mixture into a spray bottle, spray on damp hair and comb through to add shine to your tresses.
• Lip Balm—add a few drops of honey to a small amount of petroleum jelly and mix well and you’ve got a natural and moisturizing lip balm. You can also add essential oils of your choice for an additional effect.
• Shaving Balm—mix one part honey and two parts cream and apply to your legs instead of soap or your shaving cream. Not only does it hydrate and moisturize while shaving but also reduces razor burn and irritation.
• Manicure/Pedicure—rub some honey into the rough areas on your feet (hills, balls of your feet) as well as cuticles (both of your toes and fingers) before soaking them for your manicure/pedicure. It softens rough skin for an easier removal.

Keep in mind that the darker the honey, the more antioxidants it has and the best honey to get is the raw, unprocessed one you can get from your local farmers market.

photo credit: chad_k

I have recently found an interesting article about how to make your own skin care products, which I found quite useful. Considering the fact that my complexion is not only oily but sensitive as well, it is sometimes pretty difficult for me to find any type of products that would combat my problems and not irritate my skin. So I’ve decided to give it a try (I will let you know how it went in a while; need some time to see the results, right?).

And in meantime, here are some of the tips for making your own oily skin care products (such as masks, toners etc):

• Use fruit juice or milk to reduce oil production while retaining moisture. Juice from pineapples, cucumbers, tomatoes, limes, lemons or strawberries work well as a toner and mixing the juice with yoghurt or two egg whites works as a mask tightening pores (puree the ingredients and wash off after 10 minutes).
• Essential oils work well reducing oil (e.g. Ylang Ylang, lemon and cedarwood) ad fighting acne (e.g. camphor, juniper berry, lavender and tea tree oil).
• Blend milk or coconut milk with your cleaner for a gentler cleaning effect.
• Ground nuts are fantastic for scrubs to refine pores and fight blackheads.
• Clay or green clay are very good ingredients for purifying mask. Mix one part clay with two parts water, one teaspoon honey and a few drops of the essential oil of your choice and apply to face. Rinse with a hot washcloth after 15 minutes.

And one more little tip I had discovered by experimenting with food: honey works miracles if you have any skin infection or irritation (both outside and inside)… Sweet experimenting!