Kulturama in Zurich
Have you ever had a desire to touch an actual mammoth tooth? You can in Zurich, Switzerland, at the Kulturama Museum , a museum which provides children, adolescents, and public groups the opportunity to explore paleontology and early human civilizations.
Founded in 1978 by Paul Muggles, Kulturama provided a permanent exhibition space for his traveling exhibitions known as “Man in Primitive Times,” and “The Human Being — From Conception Until Death.” It’s sponsored and supported by the School of the City of Zurich and the Education Directorate of the Canton of Zurich.
At Kulturama, guests will see displays and information about evolution over the course of 600 million years, concerning not only animals, but humans, human biology, and civilization’s history. It combines with that history the natural sciences, offering two different journeys in time: On the first floor, you’ll explore how 600 million years of evolution led to human civilization. You’ll see suspended from the ceiling a pterodactyl skeleton “flying” overhead, with a spectacular wingspan of 23 feet. On the second floor, you’ll get to know specifically how human beings developed. Here, there’s an area called Erlebnispfad, designed specifically for school children and teenagers to provide hands-on activities and games in order to explore the evolution of animals and mankind, the human body, as well as various parts of the Stone Age.
The museum is divided into five topics: Evolution, which displays fossils of various countries and times, including busts of primitive men, a replica of a tyrannosaur skull, a plateosaur and a pteranodon; Anatomy, where the actual skeletons of animals and men help guests understand the position of bones; Human Biology, which includes the development of the human embryo; Anatomy, which teaches people about what human organs look like and how they function; and the History of Civilization, including a presentation of mummies, including skulls and shrunken heads.
If you live in the city or you’re traveling and staying in the hotels of Zurich with your family, the Kulturama could be an excellent way to spend an afternoon. Reserved in the morning for schools and groups of guided tours from nine to noon, the museum is open in the afternoons from one to five on Tuesdays through Sundays. It’s also possible to receive a guided tour outside regular hours by calling 044-260 60 44.
Trapeze Through London
Looking for something a little more on the unexpected side for your family to do in London? You’re in luck, the Gorilla Circus will teach adults and children the basics of aerial circus skills. You and your family can take either a single-swing ‘Try-n-Fly’ taster session, which is a single swing that’s a guaranteed adrenaline rush, or a structured class to become a full-fledged ‘Flyer’. This open air trapeze contraption, which offers a tremendous amount of fun and thrills, consists of two swings that are 25 feet up in the air where you and your family will gather for a 90 minute session.
During the course of the session, you’ll progress from hooking your legs over your head and hang upside down to getting caught by an acrobat. Naturally, there’s a safety net below all ‘Flyers’, and everyone is fitted with a safety belt that is attached at the other end to your instructor, an instructor well equipped to take your weight if you fall. The Gorilla Circus and their trapeze is touring London this summer and will be at the Regent’s Park from July 27th to August 23rd, then it will be at the Roundhouse from August 26th to the 30th. So make your hotel booking in London now and bring you’re whole family along.
Classes are Monday through Friday from 4:30pm and at 7pm; Saturdays at 11am and at 2pm; Sundays at 11am and at 3pm. ‘Try-n-Fly’ on Sundays only at 1:30pm. Ages 3 and up can take the ‘Try-n-Fly’ that costs 4 pounds or ages 6 and up can sign up for classes that cost $22 pounds. If you have a group, you do need to make special arrangements. Classes last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, it all depends on the number of students. Booking is highly recommended.
Afterwards, or before hand there are several restaurants close by, like Carluccio’s, La Siesta and Karaam Lebanese Restaurant. Three pubs are nearby as well, like the Red Lion, Lodge Tavern and Castlbar.
Music on the Rocks in Positano
During the day, Positano, Italy, is an engaging town of white homes and beautiful flowers lined in tiers against a mountain-side cliff, pressed right against the sea. It’s a place reserved for pedestrians only, so there’s not the distraction of any cars and trucks. It’s a place where musicians have come to compose music and write lyrics, to relax in a place that may seem impossibly idyllic and whose relaxed nature has been captured on film for movies, such as “Under the Tuscan Sun.”
Strolling through the town will bring you to many breath-taking sights of the sea and architecture. At night, though, most likely you’ll be wondering if there’s any place to go? Any drinks in Positano? Any dancing? Is there a nightlife here on the edge of the sea?
No doubt you’ll find recommendations that will direct you to Music on the Rocks , a restaurant and club located practically on the water. The nightspot is open to the sea, and while it may be one of the few (if not only) options in Positano, this is not at all a bad thing. There’s great music here and strong drinks. Like most clubs, the crowd doesn’t arrive until late; however, the lines may be long if you wait. The common wisdom from past club-goers is to dress well and arrive slightly early, or arrive even earlier and go upstairs to have dinner at the restaurant. The drink prices may rival those of New York, but you’ll have an unbelievable atmosphere — large open windows to the sea, rock formations, terrific bartenders, and plenty of people who are relaxed and fun. With stunning views of the ocean and night skies, it’s an incredible place to dance as well.
The club draws in not only locals and tourists, but people eager for late night dancing from all over southern Italy. Like any night club, it’s more crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. The place, though, is not likely to get really busy until 12:30 a.m. or even 1 a.m., but it’s open until four in the morning, by which time visitors will be ready to return to the Positano hotels of their choice where they can sleep as late as they’d like.
Turning Mexico City’s Pink Zone into A Golden Zone
The Pink Zone in Mexico City, also known as Zona Rosa, is conveniently located next to the Historical Centre and it’s where the main financial and commercial axis, Reforma Avenue, crosses the main part of the city. The Pink Zone is an excellent place to go shopping and there are many great places to stay [...]