some interesting places

some interesting places 

In the 1950s, Matera, a town carved from the earth in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, was declared la vergogna nazionale: the shame ofItaly. At the time, some 16,000 residents lived in Matera’s sassi, districts distinguished by their ancient, rock-cut dwellings, some of which were accessible only by a trapdoor and ladder. Whole families shared the cramped, unlit spaces with sheep, pigs and goats; starvation was rampant. Declared unsafe and unsanitary, the sassi were evacuated in 1952...................more detail

Paris' haute couture revival 

Paris' haute couture revival

  

PARIS: Just a few years ago it was on the brink of extinction. Now, haute couture - the 150-year-old Parisian tradition of making unique, astronomically-priced handmade gowns - is back.

The fall-winter 2014/15 collections started with brio Sunday with the Atelier Versace show, graced by Jennifer Lopez. The calendar has expanded to five days from three this season to make room for 12 major houses as well as a whole swath of up-and-coming names. Additions in recent seasons include the return of big-hitters Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Maison Schiaparelli.

So why did the tide turn?..................Read more

Bike sculptures in NY City promote urban art, cycling 

Bike sculptures in NY City promote urban art, cycling

Reuters

NEW YORK: An 82-year-old Mexican artist is hoping that 122 bicycle sculptures he has erected around New York City will get people on their bikes, spur an interest in urban art and create greener, healthier cities.

Each steel sculpture by Gilberto Aceves Navarro weighs up to 550 kilos, is from 1.8 to 2.4 meters high and features large bicycles with disproportionately smaller cyclists in different poses............Read more

Can living like a star produce a happy ending? How? 

  

Author and celebrity-watcher Rachel Bertsche spent nearly a year emulating the lifestyles of several famous female stars, seeking contentment, productivity and better arms.

Her new book, "Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me: The Pursuit of Happiness, One Celebrity at a Time," is "The Happiness Project" meets People magazine.

Most celebrities are graced with devotees and burdened with haters, and this book - like the A-listers it covers - will likely face both. Some will hail it as a fun, thought-provoking, self-improvement memoir, while critics may call it self-indulgent and shallow................Read more

Strong quake hits Mexico, Guatemala; 4 dead 

Strong quake hits Mexico, Guatemala; 4 dead

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico: A magnitude-6.9 earthquake on the Pacific Coast jolted a wide area of southern Mexico and Central America Monday, killing at least four people while damaging homes, hospitals and churches.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 6:23 a.m. (7:23 a.m. EDT; 11:23 GMT) on the Pacific Coast 1 mile (2 kilometers) north-northeast of Puerto Madero, near the Guatemala border. It initially calculated the magnitude at 7.1 but later lowered the figure to 6.9.

Firefighters spokesman Raul Hernandez said at least two people died in their homes from collapsed walls in the Guatemalan town of Pati, in the border province of San Marcos. Another woman in Quetzaltenango died from a heart attack.......Read more