THE HAGUE — Dutch hotels are the most expensive in the eurozone and 27th in the world ranking, according to the hotel price index published on Tuesday by booking site Hotels.com.

The average price of a hotel room in the Netherlands is 108 euros (about 142 U.S. dollars), with Amsterdam, where prices rose by 7 percent in 2011, well above the average at 124 euros.

However, prices in The Hague and Utrecht dropped. In The Hague the decrease was 2 percent to 103 euros and in Utrecht 9 percent to 96 euros.

The world’s most expensive hotels are in Oman where prices rose 24 percent to 247 euros. The cheapest rooms at 44 euros a night are in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. (1 euro = 1.31 U.S. dollars)(Xinhua)

LONDON (AP) — Protesters who have camped outside St. Paul’s Cathedral in central London for six days have forced the venerable cathedral to close to visitors for the first time since World War II, church officials said Friday.

The Dean of St. Paul’s, Rev. Graeme Knowles, said the decision to shut the doors of the iconic London church to visitors and tourists following the afternoon service was made with “a heavy heart” because of health and safety concerns.

He urged the protesters — numbering roughly 500, according to organizers, allied with the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations — to leave now that they have made their point.

“I’m asking the protesters to recognize the huge issues facing us at this time, and asking them to leave the vicinity of the building so that the cathedral can reopen as soon as possible,” he told reporters.

Knowles stressed that he recognizes the group’s right to protest but wants them to recognize that the church also has “a right to open for our visitors.”

There was no set date for the reopening of the cathedral, which was designed by Christopher Wren and has hosted numerous royal ceremonies. The cathedral is where Prince Charles married his first wife, the late Princess Diana, in a ceremony televised worldwide in 1981.

The protesters, who have set up about 100 tents around the church, arrived last Saturday as part of a series of protests in many cities across the world in solidarity with the “Occupy Wall Street” activists in New York. The group decamped to the cathedral’s grounds after police blocked them from entering the London Stock Exchange building near it.

Protesters said they had done all they could to address the cathedral’s concerns, and showed no intention to leave.

“It’s about deciding when it’s no longer effective to be here,” said Ian Chamberlain, 27, a self-employed researcher. “Many of us are determined to stay here as long as possible.”

Protester Diane Richards, 36, said the cathedral closure was unnecessary because the impromptu camp has been safe and well organized.

“I’m really disappointed, because there has been no violence here,” she said of the decision, which church officials had hinted at in recent days.

Knowles said potential health and fire problems — notably smoking in tented areas and the presence of flammable liquids and stoves set up by protesters — were at the heart of the issue because the church has an obligation to keep visitors safe.

Earlier this week, the church said the “increased scale and nature” of the temporary camp could make it more difficult for the cathedral to stay open for worshippers and tourists.

The protesters have drawn a mixed response from Londoners, especially the many well-heeled bankers who work in the nearby financial district known as the City.

The movement has received many donated food items and blankets from the public and some City workers were seen deep in discussion with the activists, but others were more skeptical of their cause.

“I have a sneaking suspicion they don’t know what their message is,” lawyer Tom Day said after reading some of the protesters’ messages posted at the tent city.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — An ambitious museum devoted to the 1,000-year history of Poland’s Jews will open on the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, officials said Monday.

Some 500,000 visitors are expected each year to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews to view multimedia exhibits on the life and culture of Jews in Poland, their fate in the Holocaust and the present day, as Jewish culture is being gradually revived.

“The Jews were a part of the Polish landscape, now they are gone,” said historian Marian Turski. “We want to fill in this vacuum.”

“This (museum) is about people who were here, who created their works here, who contributed to the progress of the civilization,” said Turski, who is head of the Jewish Historical Institute, which is cooperating on the project.

The building is an austere concrete-and-glass structure, divided by a jagged chasm that symbolizes Moses’ Biblical parting of the Red Sea that allowed the Jews to flee slavery in Egypt.

It will open to visitors on April 19, 2013, the 70th anniversary of the doomed uprising by Warsaw’s Jews against the Nazis, said Agnieszka Ruzinska, the museum’s head.

Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski announced a subsidy of 10 million zlotys ($3 million) to help finish the building on time. The funds are to come from state and Warsaw coffers.

President Barack Obama visited the neighboring Monument to Warsaw Ghetto Heroes and was briefed on the progress of the museum in May.

Poland’s Jewish community numbered 3.5 million before World War II, but most were murdered during the Holocaust under German Nazi occupation. Today, the community has some 20,000 members and is growing.

Why not travel in a massive country with a lot of adventure offerings and travel sightings with low prices? The answer: Argentina. It is known to be the sixth largest country in the whole world so traveling there would entail a longer amount of time and a lot of adrenaline rush. Serious travelers wish to visit Argentina because of its sights and shopping. The climate is not necessarily too hot all throughout the year and some parts also has winter season. One can go there on their summer season from January to February to enjoy its beaches and wearing tank tops. Or on the country’s winter season to enjoy skiing top hill and spare your selves from humidity.

More or less, Argentina’s attractions comprises of Buenos Aires (the capital city), National Parks, Beaches, and other sightings. Buenos Aires is a lovely quaint town with bistros and cafes and grand architecture. The famous National Parks are the Glaciers National Park, Patagonia and Iguazu National Park. For its beaches, Argentina boasts of Mar del Plata. Other famous sightings are San Carlos de Bariloche, San Juan and La Rioja, Jujuy, and a whole lot more. And while in Argentina, experience to be a part of their culture by doing or learning the Tango. This is a very famous dance in Argentina. Another activity that can be done in the place is seeking wildlife, hiking, biking, rock climbing, skiing, fishing, and shopping. Shopping in the country is popular especially your in for some leather finds such as bags, shoes, etc. Also, the food in Argentina is good. Their cuisine is mostly meat especially cow’s meat. Food and money is never a problem once traveling in Argentina since they have actually reasonable prices.

Fly off to Argentina and do the tango, baby!

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Of beautiful lineages and breathtaking sights, Barcelona, Spain surely stands out as one of the most livable city in the world. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain next to the biggest city – Madrid. It is also one of the most populous city of the country making it in the line of megacities like Paris, London, and Milan. Barcelona is really huge in its stature which is why it is also its metropolitan area is regarded as one of the biggest in the European Union. Given Barcelona’s size and population, its economical growth and stability is also high branding Barcelona as one of the most livable cities in the world. And in that light, the city is deemed to be one of the most visited sites in Spain. Of course, one cannot miss the beautiful people, good food, and wonderful sightings that this dynamic city has to offer.

Sights to visit and see in Barcelona

1.       Barri Gotic – this is the very heart of old Barcelona; in this area is where medieval buildings and architecture are situated. A good number of them are considered as World Heritage Sites. An important one is the work-in-progress church called La Sagrada Familia. It is aimed to be finished by the year 2026.

2.       The National Museum of Art of Catalonia – this museum contains the largest collection in Barcelona with its beautiful Romanesque arts.

3.       Montjuic – a national park and the biggest in Barcelona

4.       Park Guell – a well-known park designed by Antoni Gaudi

5.       Beaches – according to National Geographic, this city has the best beaches in the world

Hop on that plane now and take yourself to a one-of-a-kind experience in Barcelona, Spain! Adios!

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