Archive for » Март, 2013 «

Tower Bridge in London

тауэрский мост в ЛондонеOne of the most popular among tourists and most visited English sights is Tower Bridge in London. Even if you have never seen it before – you’ll immediately recognize this place. It appeared following the decision of the London Parliament that passed the bill on a bridge construction over the Thames in 1872: the city needed one more bridge to harmonize with the architecture of the Tower of London. So an architect Horace Jones worked out a design of a draw bridge in Gothic style.

It has two towers interconnected by few passages for tourists at the height of 42 meters over the water and 34 meters over the highway. The symbol of London also has bascules weighing 1200 tons each, they can open to form an angle of 86 degrees and to let heavy ships with carrying capacity of about 10000 tons sail beneath. more »

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

People worldwide celebrate Happy Valentine’s Day in February, 14th. This is when they try to congratulate the beloved ones and show their affection to them in various ways. Traditionally people give small presents to each other on St. Valentine’s Day – flowers, chocolate sweets, plush toys and valentines, of course – special cards, usually heart-shaped, with tender words of love expressed in verse sometimes. Some romantic couples, who love this holiday passionately, celebrate by declaration of love and engagement. They believe it can bring them happiness. more »

30 St Mary Axe Skyscraper

30 St Mary Axe Skyscraper

The world famous skyscraper St Mary Axe, which stands in the downtown of London, was built right at the place of the Baltic Exchange destroyed in 1992 by the gunmen of the Irish Republican Army. Due to the shape of the construction and the greenish glass of the building face, the skyscraper earned the nickname “cucumber”. The tower was built in 2004 under the project of a well-known English architect Norman Foster, author of numerous unique projects famous all over the world, at the commission of Swiss Reinsurance Company. Even being still unfinished it already became one of the main sights of the British capital. more »