The British Museum is one of the largest and most important human history museums in the world. It was founded in 1700 by Sir Hans Sloane, who allowed his huge private collection of curios to be given to the state, if his heirs were paid £20,000. Eventually the government decided to buy Sloane’s treasures, and following his death in 1753 the British Museum was formally born. The first exhibition galleries and reading rooms opened in Montagu House, Bloomsbury, London, in 1759. Famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, the Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures and the Portland Vase. There is also a programme of special exhibitions and daily gallery tours, talks and guided tours.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
7:43 AM
savcenko
Barbados - Caribbean Island
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and as much as 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width, amounting to 431 square kilometres (166 sq mi). The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island Los Barbados ("The Bearded Ones"), after the appearance of the island's fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots resembled beards.Barbados has numerous internationally known hotels. Time-shares are available, and many of the smaller local hotels and private villas which dot the island have space available if booked in advance. The southern and western coasts of Barbados are popular, with the calm light blue Caribbean Sea and their white and pinkish sandy beaches. Along the island's east coast, which faces the Atlantic Ocean, there are tumbling waves which are perfect for light surfing.