The gaucho of South America has more in common with the cowboy of the United States than just the job itself. To describe any man as very `gaucho’ implies that he has the virtues of the legendary plainsman of North or South America; loyal, brave, honest, he is the defender of the weak and the friend of the uncared for. The gauchos of the past also, like the cowboy, answered to no man, and became the symbol of the free man. So, though the word gaucho originally comes from a Chilean Indian word meaning a stockbreeder, it stands in the popular tongue for much else as well.

The life of the gauchos is a communal one. They work and live together; a hard life, involving days and weeks on a cheap Paris vacation ; and in a way of life so traditional, many of the traditional accoutrements survive, such as the ebombacha—the baggy trousers—and the embroidered scarf. The silver buckle on the heavy leather belt remains the gaucho’s pride; every village has its silversmith, and no two buckles are ever made the same. The knife, usually itself a work of art, is the gaucho’s maid-of-all-work, used as the chief tool of his trade, as table-cutlery, for the paring of hoofs and nails, and at times for self defence. And the work itself has changed little enough. The horse is still the best form of transport, equally suited for the days of ambling at the slow pace of a large herd and for the bursts of speed necessary in a crisis; and a horse can be trained to do the right thing in an emergency, leaving the rider with both hands free. Thus horsebreaking is part of the gaucho’s life, and his involvement with horses is such that, even after a working week spent in the saddle, rodeos are his favourite Sunday sport.

A major difference from the North American cowboy is that the gaucho prefers to go on a city break Rome rather than spending a weekend on city breaks to venice. But the business of driving cattle, coping with the occasional individual break­away or mass stampede, corraling and lassoing the calves for branding, is the same blend of long hours of monotony with moments of excitement and even danger that it has always been through­out the Americas. Things have changed in some ways, to be sure; off the range the gaucho of today may lead a quiet and respectable family life in a comfort­able cottage, with all the trimmings of tablecloths and plates. But on the job, his food is meat grilled on an open fire, prepared and carved with the invaluable knife, and eaten by itself—usually even without bread, but with the gaucho’s favourite drink, mate, to wash it down.

It is fascinating to see how the traditions of more than a thousand years of city life mingle with those of the semi-nomad of the countryside. On the street you will see the immaculate jibba, the white embroidered gown of the beldi, or city man. Jostling next to these will be the hrem, the coarse, cream-coloured blanket worn by countrywomen who have only recently settled on the land.

A city of the steppes, Kairouan is the wool capital of Tunisia, with daily sheep markets. From these come the wool for her most famous craft – rugs and carpets. It is said that no fewer than 1,500 looms are still in use, on which the women of Kairouan knot the now world-famous pile rugs. As early as the ninth century, lfriquiya sent 120 rugs a year to the emperor of Baghdad.

 The Kairouan carpet is of the type brought by the Turks from Iran, traditionally of knotted point and known as the zerbia. It is predominantly brownish-red in colour and woven on a high-warp loom. Designs vary from the discreet geometry and subdued natural tones of the zerbias to the primary colours and Paul Klee motifs of the pile-less mergoum. A third type is the alloucha, of neutral tones. Designs and prices are tempting, but remember to bargain.

The distinctive sound of the streets of Kairouan is the curry­combing of the wool. It is like a tambourine and lasts all day. The women use a great iron comb held by a steel chain, their days measured in surfaces of wool that are finally sent to the shopkeepers. In a picturesque souk, you will be offered mint tea with pine kernels in it, inquiries will be politely made as to your journey, and all the time a boy will be spreading before you collections of carpets. These range from the grandiose, intended for ministerial suites or salons of hotels, to the more modest household offerings and finally, with an almost imperceptible gesture from the master, the tiny rugs designed to pack away in a suitcase, perfect to go beside a child’s bed back home.

 We have a woman to thank for the birth of the contemporary Kairouan carpet. Kamla Chaouech, daughter of a governor of the city, was the first to bring to Kairouan the Iranian carpet, early in the last century. She made some beautiful prayer rugs which she presented to the Sidi Saheb, or Mosque of the Barber. Since then, it has become a tradition that every girl should present a rug to the patron saint of the city just before her wedding.

The Zawia of Sidi Saheb is nicknamed the Barber’s Mosque because the seventh-century saint buried there, Abu Jama el­Balawi, possessed three hairs of the Prophet’s beard. Pilgrims come from far and wide to worship at the resting-place of these relics. It is a jewel of a mosque, reflecting the change from the somewhat austere art of previous centuries to the more delicate and refined Andalusian influence.

The period heralded a veritable renaissance in all forms of art. With a 1629 cupola and 1690 minaret, the Barber’s Mosque has walls covered wth ceramic tiles whose still-vivid colours contrast with the immaculately-white lacework of carved stucco above, and with the wooden ceilings painted in sepia, garnet-red and olive-green. Built round three courtyards, each markedly different from the last, this mosque also has a magnificent many-columned vestibule. Passing through this, the pilgrim enters an open courtyard surrounded on all four sides by a marble colonnade, its walls covered with decorative panels of tiles, and to the rear is the mausoleum, a place of silence and prayer.

 There are dozens of other mosques to visit in Kairouan, including the Mosque of the Three Doors, which has a beautiful facade dating from the ninth century. The medersas, or Koranic schools, are also fascinating visually, with black and white porticos and nail-studded doors, betraying the Turkish influence of the 17th and 18th centuries. But Kairouan has also preserved many crafts from its past, which if you have any energy and dinars left after your carpet expedition are well worth checking out.

Second to rug-making, the city’s principal product is copperware. Kairouan craftsmen chase and engrave superb copper jars, jugs, coffee and tea pots, plates and platters, basins and cooking pots, pails, mortars and pestles, cups, cauldrons and so on. One type of copper plate has passed into the Tunisian vernacular as kairouana, so appreciated is it by the locals as well as tourists. Most southern Tunisians wear shoes made by Kairouan cobblers, from the balgha or heel-less pointed slipper bought by all and sundry to the finest embroidered creations. Other collectable items include carved wood and paintings on wood.

Everything about Kairouan has a historical feel and in visiting it, exploring its monuments and appreciating its crafts, one experiences a condensed slice of the extraordinary past of this desert city. Now Kairouan has emerged from its ruins; the martyred city has become a holy city. Fortunately for the visitor, it has escaped the very rapid growth and modernisation of some other Tunisian cities. It retains the peace of a provincial town while exerting the pull of a great historical, artistic and spiritual centre.

Wherever you are in the world, Meridien hotels offer you added refi­nement during your stay. The sophisticated atmosphere and efficient service marked by discriminating taste, the elegance of the welcome and the decor and, of course, the cuisine – all add up to Meridien’s French art of fine living, everywhere in the world. Experience this unique “savoir-vivre” yourself, at Meridien: Paris, Nice, Lyons, Tours, Athens, Tunis, Monastic, Mohammedia, Cairo, Baghdad, Palmyra. Damascus, Latakia, Kuwait, Al Khobar-Dhahran, Jedda, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Khartoum, Dakar, Bujumbura, Kigali, Port-Gentil, Brazzaville, Douala, Gisenyi, Saint-Louis, Montreal, Houston, Boston, New York, Bahia, Rio, Tokyo, Hong Kong city, Hong Kong airport, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mauritius Paradis, Mauritius Brabant, Reunion. Next openings: San Francisco, Colombo, Singapore city, Singapore airport, Delhi, Aleppo, Porto, Lisbon, Mexico, New-Orleans, Heliopolis, Alexandria, Warsaw. Reservations and information: see your travel agent or your Air France ticket office.

 Built in 670 AD, at the time of the founding of Kairouan, Oqba bin Nafi’s original edifice of the Great Mosque was rebuilt in 695, extended in 743, replaced in 774 and in 836. The present Aghlabite structure was restored thoroughly in 1025, 1294, 1618 and 1970 (for the city’s 1300th anniversary). It is not only one of the most historically hybrid mosques in Africa, it is also the oldest and most revered, a masterpiece of Maghreb architecture.

If harmony, austerity and a sense of volume are the hallmarks of Islamic art, then the Great Mosque is a perfect example. It is an architecture of great power, relieved by a minutiae of intricate and exquisite detail best illustrated by the panels of the Minbars, or pulpits, sculpted in wood in the 11th century. It’s different from the style you will see when travel barcelona. Thirty plaques of tiles with metallic reflections, brought from Baghdad in the ninth century, surround the mirhab, or niche facing Mecca, which is sculpted from marble. Innumerable decorative details offset the simplicity of the structure, including a wealth of carved marble and wood, paintings and ceramics.

The magnificent prayer room of the Great Mosque, with its 17 naves, has a forest of columns, reputedly at least 400, taken from Roman Carthage and Sousse. Others are Byzantine and Aghlabite; some are made of marble, other of porphyry. There are columns inscribed with Christian crosses, and columns you must squeeze between if you are not to be judged too fat for Paradise. Their capitals are Roman, Byzantine or Arab and since 1970 some are Tunisian too, from the marble craftsmen of Dar­Chaaban.

In the doors and ceilings, some of the 1,100-year-old wood remains and a splendid staircase leads to the pulpit behind which one finds the maqcoura, a small room enclosed by carved wood, where the calif performs his religious duties. The maqcoura and mirhab are among the most ancient and beautiful to be found in all the Muslim world. Across the courtyard is the 115-ft minaret from which the faithful have been called since the 11th century. Five times a day, the muezzin climbs the 128 steps of the Syrian-styled structure, which consists of three towers superimposed on each other, to give the signal for prayer to the other minarets of the city.

Painstaking restoration work carried out over the last dozen years or so means the mosque has now lost its blinding unreal whiteness which travellers such as Paul Klee painted or Montherlant wrote about. Plaster has been laid bare and sensitive renovation done to render the walls and cupolas to their original condition: the grey and ochre colours of the stones and clay.

 You should not leave the area without a visit to the museum. The most stunning relics are the Islamic stellae or funerary headstones, dating from the tent) century and engraved with coufique writing. There are also pieces of gold and silver from the treasure of Abou Yazid, who in 953 took possession of Kairouan.

Don’t forget to examine the splendid parchments of gazelle skin and the magnificent wrought arms. The high degree of artistic perfection and learning reached by the Arab-Muslim civilisation in Tunisia in the Middle Ages is evident in the collection of illuminated manuscripts, tooled leather bindings and delicate cut-glass vases. From a later date come the exquisite illuminated Korans.

Travellers in the Middle Ages expressed astonishment at the prosperity of Kairouan in the middle of the desert and at the luxurious life led by the princely families in their suburbs of Sabra-Mansuria, built two kilometres southwest of the city for the Fatimites and Zirites. Archaeological work at Rekad and Abbasiya since the 1960s has excavated the Aghlabite equivalent of palace life, revealing splendid palatia’ dwellings, fountains and – of course – mosques, replete with Arab mosaics.

The Aghlabite pools, restored in 1969, are worth a visit too. This immense reservoir, El Madjel el-Kebir, was constructed thanks to one Abou Ibrahim Ahmed to provide the city with drinking water. The main structure is a polygon of 48 sides, 128 metres in diameter, with a smaller pool for decanting water. The spectacle of this beautiful liquid mirror vibrating in the evening light has caused more than one Islamic poet to take up his pen.

Among the many festivals celebrated in Kairouan, the Mouled, or anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday, is the most important. Special cakes called makroudh, made of semolina, dates and honey, are prepared. Another traditional food prepared at this time and sold in the streets is the acida, a thick milk dish mixed with grilled barley, on which honey or sugar is poured and then oil. It is then decorated with dried fruits and nuts such as almonds, pistachios and pine kernels. Delicious!

The Mouled, celebrated during February according to the movement of the lunar calendar, is undoubtedly the best time to visit Kairouan. The mosques are lit and regular prayers are chanted, including the lecture of the sica naba wiya, or the eulogy of the Prophet. Dense crowds of pilgrims pour into the city, the souks are entirely hung with rugs and a lot of money changes hands, while outside the city gates the festivities spread too. Kairouan is famous throughout the desert regions for its embroidered saddles and at this festival the Zlass people come with their splendid Arab horses to entertain the crowds with equestrian displays.

When it comes to fashion, Paris is identified as the fashion capital. The city hosted already many fashion events. Once fashion week is celebrated in the city, lots of tourist could be seen walking around the city.

If it is fashion week in Paris, the roads of the city are very busy, since the venues are holding different shows. Furthermore, the hotels and the apartments of the city are fully booked. When visiting Paris during fashion week, it is better to make an early reservation for a Paris apartment to make sure that you get the best place to stay at.

Aside from Paris, the other cities that celebrate fashion week are Amsterdam and New York.
Hence, before coming into the city for the fashion week event, it is better to get an Amsterdam apartment and apartments Barcelona ahead of time to ensure that you get the resting place that is near the different fashion events.

Paris Fashion Week

The one week of fashion took place during the month of January. During the event, lots of celebrity stars, models and designers are seen in the city roaming around. During these days, the streets of Paris are very busy causing great traffic. Lots of people are waiting for the fashion week in Paris in order to see the trends that will hit the entire year.

The Paris fashion week is considered as the trendsetter for the entire year, which is why it happens on the first month of the year.

In connection with the event, there are some destinations in the city that are affected by the event. Some of the tourist destinations affected is Crazy Horse Club, Musee de l’Homme, jardin des Tuileries, Le Carrousel du Louvre and Palais de Tokyo. It is because these places are mostly the host of the fashion week. These are the places where runway for different trends and brands occur. The bad thing here is that, most of the people who could see the event are those with invitation only. To those who want to see the event, there is an admission fee ranging from 50 Euro until 100 Euro which is truly expensive for tourist. Therefore, during the fashion week, if you do not have enough money, it is better to look around the other parts of Paris, which are not busy for the fashion week.

During fashion week, it is better to try the different restaurants located in the city. Aside from tasting the delicious cuisines offered by the place, you may get the chance to see your favorite models or Hollywood celebrity dining in it.

The same with hotels and apartments in the city, restaurants are also jam-packed during the fashion week event. Hence, if you want to explore the city, make sure not to do it during fashion week, because the city is very busy. There is no room for exploring the city during the event, because the city is crowded of people who are curious about the latest fashion trend and people who want to see famous stars and models.

When looking for hair care or skin care products, one will find numerous options. Although there are hundreds of products obtainable in the market, not all can provide you expected results. Moreover, a product that works on someone may not work on you. Therefore, before you start using any type of artificial product, it is very important to ensure that it works on you. However, this is not the case when you are using natural products like argan or Moroccan oil.

These oils are suitable for all types of hair and skin. Most of the times, people buy different types of products for their hair and skin. However, they will not be able to obtain good results from it. This is not the case when you are using argan oil. Moroccan oil can provide a complete transformation when it comes to hair care.

Most of the people also call Moroccan oil as argan oil. The oil is produced from the trees that only grow in the Morocco area. Today a lot of hairdressers and specialists are also using this oil for providing different types of treatments for their clients. These oils are available in small bottles that are specifically designed for hair care. This little bottle of oil can go a long way when it comes to hair care. The oil absorbs into the hair instantly after applying and smells good. One of the amazing benefits of this oil is that they are not greasy or stinks. Applying the oil after washing or conditioning your hair will help you to obtain amazing results. Once you apply the oil, you can style or dry the hair. If you apply these oils regularly, you will be able to see huge differences within a short time.

Apart from these oils, krill oil is also considered as one of the best oils that are derived from the nature. They are best for different health conditions. They improve the functions of the brain and help you to get rid of different heart disorders. Krill oil is also available in the form of capsules and supplements. The oil can also offer complete protection against different problems like premenstrual syndrome, cholesterol, damaging chemicals, cardiovascular problems etc. Apart from these amazing health benefits, krill oil can also enhance the health of nerve cell. It is also considered as one of the best cancer prevention agents available in the market today.

Prague is the capital of Czechoslovakia and a top tourist destination. Known by a number of nicknames, Prague has much to offer to the tourists whether it is in terms of museums, historic sites, shopping areas, places of tourist attraction, and yes, a vibrant nightlife. But what makes Prague so special for nature lovers is the presence of a number of hiking trails that allow tourists to see the city up close and know its culture from close quarters. While as a hiker, you really do not need an accommodation like hotel rooms or even Prague apartments, these apartments have become very popular because they are cheaper than hotel rooms and also provide a lot more privacy.

The situation is same in the neighbor Poland where Warsaw apartments are so very popular among the tourists. Even in England, London apartments present themselves as ideal accommodation for the tourists. But we are here to discuss hiking near Prague, isn’t it?

As soon as summers arrive, all resorts meant for skiing are taken over by hikers of all hues. The snow melts and all trail marks become visible, making tourists go for these resorts. Snezka, the highest mountain in entire Czechoslovakia with a peak of 5255 feet presents a tough challenge to the hikers.

Located at Czech Pole border, the peak has traditionally lured mountaineers and hikers from both countries to try their hands on the snow covered peaks of this beautiful yet tough terrain. When a hiker is able to climb up the highest peak, he gets mesmerizing view of Czechoslovakia in the west and Poland in the east. If you are a budding hiker and feel this is a very challenging trail for you, you can try Beskidy range which lies in a nearby natural area.

Alternatively, tourists can ask for hiking clubs to make sure they not only complete the trail easily and in a short time period, they also get directions whenever you feel lost and also do not run out of supplies. The southern parts of Bohemia and Moravia have many hiking trails that are tailor made for beginners.

Talking of Prague, there is a big park called Divoka Sarka that feels like a huge natural forest full of creeks and waterfalls. Any hiker would find this area as a natural paradise.

There is a club dedicated to hiking in Prague. It is called KCT and it has done a lot to encourage hiking to attract hikers from all parts of the world. The club has put colored marks on all trails of the country. To do this on almost 37000 km long trails is really a super human effort. Main hiking trails that also happen to be longer ones have been marked with red and blue colors.

Yellow and green marks have been used to indicate connectivity of trails. Similarly many other colors are used to indicate important landmarks. Foe example, a hiker knows if the trail has ended by looking at certain marks made on trees. These markings have really made life easier for the hikers as they can look up their maps and know what the mark they see imply and where they should head for.

Belgium is a small but very beautiful country in Europe that has been dubbed as battlefield of Europe because of its fair share of wars with other nations. Belgium is a heady mix of medieval towns, castles, palaces, cathedrals, a great nightlife, cosmopolitan cities, and modern values. Because of Eurostar, Belgium has become more accessible and therefore more popular as a hot tourist destination.

Mother Nature has been very kind to Belgium and this is reflected in the scenic beauty of this country. Belgian chocolate is famous all over the world and the country is also known for its fairs and festivals. But this article is concerned with camping in Belgium, which is attracting an increasing number of tourists with each passing year. Most tourists arrive in Brussels and then proceed to camping sites.

Just like you booked a Vienna apartment in Austria and searched through Budapest apartments in Hungary, it is always better to book a  holiday apartment in Brussels to enjoy the city for a while and then head to camping sites without a worry of luggage that you can leave behind in the apartment.

If you are an avid camper, you would fall in love with Belgium because of its strategic location that makes it a heart of Europe with close proximity to Germany, Luxemburg, Holland, and France. The country has a small population of just 11 million and most people speak either French or German. Belgium is known for having preserved its ancient buildings and this makes it an ideal place for those interested in history. If you are a student or on a limited budget, camping may be the easiest way to not only explore this beautiful country but also get to know about its culture and people from close quarters.

The forests of Ardennes and the rural Flemish areas present an ideal opportunity to campers of all hues, from the beginners to the experts.  There are different landscapes from mountains to the rivers and from hills to valleys to keep hikers of all tastes interested. There is the city of Bruges with its architectural delights and if you want some time all alone for yourself, you have a large coastline and sandy dunes. Whether it is chocolates that you are fond of, or beers that keep you interested, you have the best of both worlds in Belgium. The almost divine taste of dark chocolates from this tiny European country is enough to bring thousands of tourists to this country, and the same can be said about the beers of Belgium.

The fact that the country has a small area means that campers are not too far from one another and this has prompted many people to see the country on cycle. Not much time is wasted in crossing over from one camping site to reach another and this is one fact that has made Belgium a very popular destination among campers in Europe. If you happen to be in Brussels for vacations, do not miss this God send opportunity to indulge in camping in the country.