Located in the central part of the United Kingdom, Warwickshire is a land-locked shire with an abundance of historical interest – making educational trips to the area well worthwhile. Not only is the town of Stratford Upon Avon the birthplace of, arguably, one of the greatest English language writers of all time, William Shakespeare, but just a few miles outside of Stratford lies another bit of history in the form of Warwick Castle. Educational trips to the area will situate you in the ideal locale to visit the historical buildings, but while in the area do not neglect the modern history that is available as well. If you are interested in the history of transport, then a visit to the nearby Coventry Transport Museum is an absolute must.

Warwick Castle

The large and imposing medieval structure of Warwick Castle sits on the River Avon and strikes a stunning image in the countryside just a short distance away from Stratford Upon Avon. Educational trips to the castle will take students into the grounds to discover its history. It was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror and belonged to the Earl of Warwick; it was taken by the Henry of Anjou in 1153 and later by Henry II. Originally built as a wooden motte-and-bailey castle, in the 12th century it was rebuilt in stone. During the Hundred Years War, part of the façade was re-fortified and is now one of the best examples of military architecture from that era. The castle itself is surrounded by a dry moat on the northern side and there is no real protection from the river side. With two entrances, however, the castle and grounds were made easier to guard and protect. Over the castle’s 950-year history, it has been owned by 36 different people, and at various points the crown itself. The grounds were first mentioned in 1534 and 17th century landscaping added to the look of the grounds, which were designed by the aptly named Lancelot Brown. Currently the castle is owned by the Tussauds Group and provides a host of historically relevant attractions and tours through the inside and grounds.

Coventry Transport Museum

Conveniently located in Coventry, due to its once being the centre of the United Kingdom’s car industry, the Coventry Transport Museum (CTM) is a museum dedicated solely to the history of transport and boasts the world’s largest collection of road transport. With over 300 cycle makers, 120 motorcycle makers and 130 car, commercial vehicle and other transport makers, educational trips to the CTM are a must for those with an interest in transport. The way the exhibits are arranged will take students through the past and into the present realm of motor transport, with some very exciting and famous exhibits. The museum is home to many Jaguars, Triumphs, Humber, Standards, and a few tanks, buses and even tractors. One of the most popular and well-known exhibits are the Thrust2 and ThrustSSC, which are the British cars that broke the land speed records in 1983 and 1997, respectively.

If you are looking for a city that is a shadow of the past, then you should visit the capital city of Vietnam during your Vietnam tour. Hanoi is bustling with activity and displays modernity, but within the heart of the city is the Old Quarter that represents the glory of the past. The Old Quarter is comprised of thirty-six antique streets and guilds that seduce a huge number of tourists that want to fascinate themselves with archaic architecture and check the history of the city. The classic setting of the city is also the main reason why travel companies include Hanoi in their Vietnam tour packages.

Hanoi’s Old Quarters – The Past

The origins of the Old Quarter can be traced back to year 1010 when it was founded by King Ly Thai To and decided to make Thang Long (Hanoi) as the capital of the country and it became one of the most active and crowded city of Vietnam in the 15th century. As of now the streets as well as the undying charm of 15th century architecture that can be seen in the Old Quarter is more than a thousand years old and became the top Vietnam tour attraction of the country.

It is obvious that this part of the city is named the “36th Old Streets or simply “Old Quarter” due to its old age. In the past, the magnificence of the “Old Quarter” has encouraged skilled artisans to immigrate in the city and sell their goods. This explains why most of the streets are named after the crafts they have sold such as Pho Hang Ma (paper product), Pho Hang Bac (silver), etc.

Although the “Old Quarter” is also referred as “Old 36th streets”, the actual streets are more than thirty-six. The issue about how this part of Hanoi got its nickname remains a mystery. Some researchers conclude that the number 36 represents the guild location rather than streets. There is also a theory that number symbolizes an abstract concept. For Asian people number 9 is a symbol of the word “plenty” and multiplying it by four is equal to 36 which mean many streets.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter – The Present

Strolling around the intertwined streets of the Old Quarters during your best Vietnam tour will surely amuse you. Some of the streets narrow down to smaller alleys then lead you again to wider pathways. It may sound funny, but the tax systems of the city are the reason why the area is crowded with unusual tube houses or tunnel houses. The tax rates of the city is based on the width of the frontage of the house and that’s why the local residents build houses with smaller front width but try to gain space by making their houses longer. Before, the citizens of Vietnam are prohibited to build more than two storey houses in respect of the king when the country is under the feudal law. However, today there are already 7-8 storeys buildings standing erect at the Old Quarter but most of the houses are still limited to one or two storeys.

You can begin your Vietnam tour in the Old Quarter by choosing the historical Ngoc Son Temple as a starting point. After you have crossed the extraordinary red Huc Bridge, you can take a rest and have a quick glance of the Martyr’s that is erected to honor the Vietnamese people who have died fighting for the independence of their country. After that, you can continue walking and make your way to the north. Once you reached Pho Hang Dau, you can either entertain yourself by watching an interesting show at the Water Puppet Theatre or continue walking and be surrounded by shoe shops that are selling a variety of meticulously designed footwear that you can purchase as souvenirs. There are still lots of historical landmarks and spectacular buildings that can fill your eyes with amazement so if you really want to see all of them you need to plan your route carefully when you decide to make the old quarters as your Vietnam tour destination.

Valuable and versatile – salt has been important to manufacturing for centuries. Exploitation of wild salt springs pre-dates Roman occupation of the UK, though the emphasis shifted over the last two millennia to mining. While halite is excavated from the ground, as grit salt to de-ice roads in winter and for a host of other uses, the significance and historical impact of the most ancient of these mines is being preserved.

Used for tanning leather, manufacturing, food preservation, medication and even as currency that replaced metal coins, salt remains as useful now as it has ever been.
A single massive bed of salt stretches from Eire to the UK to mainland Europe, providing grit salt for roads as well as rock salt (halite) for manufacturing – such as tanning – and the food industry – for example, in preservation.

These salt deposits, which have been mined for hundreds of years in some cases, were laid down in the Triassic period, around 220 million years ago. This, and the locations of present day inland rock salt mines, reveals that all these areas were once under water.

While this salt bed is one continuous expanse, spreading thousands of miles, the colour and even consistency of the grit salt within it is quite variable. For example, desert sand will tint the normally clear grit salt pink or brown, while other geological influences will turn it blue or even green.

In Winsford, Cheshire, the ancient salt seam was laid down with alternating layers of Keuper Marl rock and the rock salt has a pink tint to it. Keuper Marl – now officially known as the Mercia Mudstone Group – are strata of dolostone, shales or claystones and evaporates.

Winsford Rock Salt Mine has four layers of salt in all, although only two are being mined as they are considered the most economically viable and productive. These 25-metre thick layers, 220 metres below the Earth’s surface, have been subjected to pressure from the movement of tectonic plates over the millions of years since they were laid, and are twisted and broken by faults and folds.

Across Europe, the now non-operational Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland is one of the oldest surviving grit salt mine in the world. Established before 1290, though its actual origins are lost in time, Wieliczka excavated 26 surface shafts and 180 smaller shafts, extending from the upper-most salt bed only 57 metres below the surface, to 327 metres underground.

Wieliczka is now a protected historical monument with around 2,350 chambers and more than 240 km of galleries carved into the grit salt deposits. Among them is the Holy Cross Chapel, which dates back to a potentially catastrophic event in the mid-19th century that threatened the lives of miners.

The mine is a tourist attraction, unlike the mine at Winsford, which is still working and produces around one million tonnes of rock salt and grit salt a year.

Fact # 1: According to a dental implants dentist, a shocking 80% of all Americans struggle with gum disease. How is this possible? The condition often doesn’t present with any pain, which is generally (and unfortunately) what prompts a patient to seek medical treatment. As a result, dentists only tend to see patients when their oral health has deteriorated so badly that they’ve started losing teeth and require teeth implants.

If your gums are inflamed, swollen or bleed when you brush, you could have periodontal (gum) disease, says the dental implants specialist. If your teeth are discolored, if there are visible accumulations of tartar on the crowns and if you suffer from chronic bad breath, do not waste any time. Book yourself an appointment with your dentist. Preventative treatment is always cheaper!

Fact # 2: Many people keep their toothbrush in an enclosed plastic container thinking that it will prevent the bristles from picking up bacteria from the surrounding surfaces. Well, says the teeth implants dentist, the opposite is actually true! Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments, which is exactly what you’ll find in those closed plastic containers. Your toothbrush needs to air-out between brushes, advises the dental implants specialist. If you really worry about germs on your toothbrush, change it every three or four months. Also, keep it at least six feet from a flushing toilet; or in a cupboard or medicine cabinet.

Fact # 3: A baby’s mouth is naturally devoid of many of the kinds of bacteria that cause tooth decay, says the teeth implants dentist. So how does it get there? From their mothers and others, of course! Kissing your baby on the mouth or even blowing on their food to cool it can result in the transmission of harmful oral bacteria. This is ultimately unavoidable, so make sure you gently brush your baby’s gums and emerging teeth daily; and teach your children about good oral health and hygiene as they grow up. Preventing cavities, gum disease and the eventual need for teeth implants is about awareness and education, which parents are solely responsible for.

Fact # 4: Too much of a good thing can be bad for you, especially when it comes to fluoride, warns the dental implants specialist. Children that are over-exposed to fluoride (treatments or toothpastes) could suffer from fluoride toxicity. Rather rely on those three to six month appointments with the dental hygienist for fluoride treatments. Fluoride toothpastes generally contain a safe amount of this element so you don’t have to worry about over-exposure there, advises the dental implants specialist.

Fact # 5: Three glasses of juice or soda a day accounts for 60% of all cavities, tooth decay and tooth loss, says the dental implants specialist. Rewire your body to regard sweet and acidic liquids as treats to be enjoyed on occasion. If you’re thirsty, drink water!

Fact # 6: If you’ve recently suffered from a viral infection of some kind, then change your toothbrush or you run the risk of re-infecting yourself, warns the dental implants specialist.

Fact # 7: Did you know that the very first toothbrush was manufactured in China towards the end of the 15th century? It seems as though people have long been aware of the quality of their breath and the appearance of their teeth, says the dental implants dentist.