Dick Clark's former home

Sitting on top of a very steep hill, the specially designed home is on the market for $3.5million but its appearance from the outside is not the biggest selling point it has to offer.

The unusual architectural retreat has huge glass windows in every room which give amazing views of the nearby Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, Boney Mountains and Serrano Valley .

Although the property only has one bedroom, it boasts two bathrooms and looks like a cavern throughout the whole house.

The cave like structure and high ceilings add to the Flintstones feel as does the log burning fire place and its wine cellar.

Set in a 23-acre estate the luxury and extrovert home is an architectural marvel and is classed as one of Malibu s landmark buildings.

The listing agent describes it as: art as architecture at its finest.
They said it is: Truly exceptional and one-of-a-kind from within and without.
The architecture of this home seamlessly marries form and function.

The interior space is extremely voluminous and features an expanse of glass to capture the views from every room of this home.

Bubble Hotel Lets You Sleep Under The Sky In A Plastic Ball

I present to you the most amazing hotel ever… and it’s made out of plastic. It’s the Attrap’Rêves Bubble Hotel, and it will leave anyone who stays in it with a lasting impression of nature and the heavens above.
It will let you watch the stars drift by in a relaxing manner, and let you grace upon the views of the world and everything it has to offer through the ever so transparent plastic shell. As you might have figured out already, it’s a hotel made to look pretty much like a plastic igloo. It’s one of those creative hotels that will put a special touch on those vacation photographs that you love to show your family and friends. And quite honestly, it will outshine anyone’s attempt to brag about their boat ride down some crummy channel or their attempt to climb the local hill. To the one who said that plastic is bad for the world, think again… It will give you a whole new look at life! Just don’t litter the world with it.

Via: [Technabob]

The Most Incredible Cliff Buildings

image credit

Buildings that we often encounter on the cliffs are castles, fortresses, lighthouses, or monasteries. These buildings were built in inaccessible places for protection from enemies, for a good view of the water surface, beautiful views of the environment or other reasons. Exactly, these beautiful views, natural environment and often amazing architecture of buildings, attract many tourists in these areas.

1. Guaita Fortress, San Marino

photo source

Guaita fortress, located on Guaita peak and overlooking the city of San Marino, is an iconic image of this micro country embraced by Italy. The fortress was constructed in the 11th century and served as a prison for some time. Guaita is one of the Three Towers of San Marino, located on the three peaks of Monte Titano. The towers are depicted on the San Marino's national flag and its coat of arms. [link, map]

2. Church of Katskhi Pillar, Georgia

photo source

This is Katskhi Pillar. It abruptly rises 40 meters (130 ft) from the hills of Central Georgia and looks similar to a giant’s club. In the 4th century, Georgia adapted Christianity as its state religion, and Katskhi Pillar became the site of a small church first built in the 7th century. One Georgian monk has been living in it for nearly 20 years now. It is also interesting that women are not allowed to climb to the top. [link, map]

3. Bled Castle, Slovenia

photo source

Bled castle is a medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled in Slovenia, overlooking Lake Bled. According to written sources, it is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia. This castle is situated on top of a steep cliff that rises 130 meters (425 ft) above the glacial Lake Bled and it is a symbol of Bled and Slovenia. [link, map]

4. Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Greece

photo source

The Holy Trinity Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in central Greece. The monastery is one of six functioning monasteries in Meteora. It is the oldest among those present at Meteora, having been built in 1476. This monastery sits on a tall rock 400 m (1,300 ft) in height. 

photo source

In the old days, access to this monastery was via a net and rope ladder. Today, entrance to the monastery is gained by climbing 140 steps cut into the pinnacle rock. It was richly decorated and had precious manuscripts; however, these treasures were looted during World War II. [link, map]

5. Swallow's Nest, Ukraine

photo source

The Swallow's Nest is a decorative castle near Yalta on the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine. It was built between 1911 and 1912 in Gaspra, on top of 40-metre (130 ft) high Aurora Cliff, to a Neo-Gothic design by the Russian architect Leonid Sherwood. The castle overlooks the Cape of Ai-Todor of the Black Sea and is located near the remnants of the Roman castrum of Charax. Swallow's Nest is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Crimea, becoming the symbol of Crimea's southern coastline. [link, map]

6. O'Brien's Tower, Ireland

photo source

O'Brien's Tower marks the highest point of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. The tower was built on the cliffs in 1835 by local landlord Sir Cornellius O'Brien as an observation tower for the hundreds of Victorian tourists that frequented the cliffs at the time.

photo source

The Cliffs of Moher rise 120 metres (390 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 metres (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower. The cliffs receive almost one million visitors a year. [link1, link2, map]

7. Capo Caccia Lighthouse, Italy

photo source

The lighthouse of Capo Caccia is located in a stunning location high atop spectacular cliffs (110 m or 360 ft height) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, 25 kilometers (15 mi) from the community of Alghero on the north-west coast of the island of Sardinia, in Italy. The history of the lighthouse dates back to 1864, and over the years its lantern has been lit with a variety of fuels, including acetylene and oil, until 1961 when it was electrified. The lighthouse also serves as a landing light for the nearby Alghero airport. [link, map]

8. Montfort Castle, Israel

photo source

Montfort is a ruined crusader castle in the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel, about 22 miles (35 km) northeast of the city of Haifa and 10 miles (16 km) south of the border with Lebanon. The fortress is built on a narrow and steep cliff above the southern bank of Nahal Kziv (stream in northern Israel). The site is now a national park inside the Nahal Kziv nature reserve, and it constitutes an important spot of tourism and attracts many tourists both from inside and outside Israel. [link, map]

9. Varlaam Monastery, Greece

photo source

The Varlaam Monastery in Meteora is one of four active male monasteries in the Meteora monastery complex in Greece. It is the second largest monastery in the monastic community. This monastery is situated on a rocky promontory that is 373 meters (1,200 ft) high.

photo source

In 1350, an ascetic monk named Varlaam climbed this great rock and settled at the top. He built three churches, a cell for himself and a water tank. No one chose to follow his lead, so after his death the site was abandoned. The buildings fell into ruin for almost 200 years until 1517, when two rich priest-monks, Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades from Ioanina, ascended the rock and founded a monastery. [link1, link2, map]

10. Lichtenstein Castle, Germany

photo source

Lichtenstein is a fantastic castle precariously perched high on the side of a cliff near Honau in the Swabian Alps, Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany. It was built between 1840 and 1842 by Count Wilhelm of Württemberg. Wilhelm was inspired by a novel popular at the time called Lichtenstein, a romantic portrayal of the region's chivalric warriors in the Middle Ages. The castle is famous for its large collection of historic weapons, armor and treasures. And although it is situated on quite a pristine place - nowadays the castle is a popular spot for weddings. [link, map]

11. Split Rock Lighthouse, USA

photo source

Split Rock Lighthouse is a lighthouse located southwest of Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is built on a 130-foot (40 m) sheer cliff, eroded by wave action. This very spectacular lighthouse was completed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1910. Because of its picturesque form and location, it has been the subject of many photographs and postcards. [link, map]

Amazing Treehouse Castle For Grownups

Are you tired of being confined to the silent rules and regulations of being a grownup? You don’t have to be, it’s just a mental block that limits you. Actually, you don’t have to be an overgrown kid just to have fun. I know a lot of people love to label people in all kinds of ways, and I personally think it’s kind of lame when it is in a negative sense. We have one life, and in order to live it to the fullest, we need to have fun and do what our dreams tell us to do. And most of all, we need to live! We don’t live by limiting ourselves, we live when our mind and heart are connected. So with that said, this is certainly going to blow the top of your mental block.

Have a look at this amazing treehouse castle, and tell me I don’t know what I am talking about. How could extravagant living become any more geeky? It’s the ultimate castle, and if you ever need to compare it with a real castle, don’t bother. They simply can’t be compared. Real castles are for barons, kings and people with wallets the size of a jumbo jet. This castle is a whole different thing. If you save up a little, not much at all, you can actually afford it.

These castles range from $78,800 – $94,600 without customization. It’s not too shabby for such an awesome treehouse castle, right? Imagine inviting your friends and loved ones to your home for the first time. The first impression they will have would be priceless! Their expressions would be worth being framed in your living room for the remainder of your life, truly! So next time you sit down in front of the television, try to tell yourself that everything is possible and then become dedicated. Every dream is built with dedication. The sooner you act on that, the sooner you will see those dreams of yours come true. This treehouse castle is someone’s badass dream come true!

El Caminito del Rey – The World’s Most Dangerous Walkway

El Caminito del Rey or The King’s Little Path, often regarded as the most dangerous walkway in the world, is located along the walls of El Chorro, a gorge in southern Spain near the village of Álora. Construction of the walkway was started in 1901 when it became apparent that workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls needed a mean to cross between the falls, to provide for transport of materials, and for the inspection and maintenance of the channel. The walkway was completed in 1905, but the inauguration did not take place until 1921 when Spanish King Alfonso XIII crossed it and the walkway’s been called The King’s Pathway since.

The walkway is one meter (3 feet and 3 inches) in width, and rises over 100 meters (350 feet) above the river below. Constructed of concrete resting on steel rails supported by stanchions at around 45 degrees into the rock face, it is currently in a highly deteriorated state and there are numerous sections where part or all of the concrete top has collapsed. The result is large open air gaps that are bridged only by narrow steel beams or other support fixtures. Very few of the original handrails exist but a safety-wire runs the length of the path. This has however turned El Caminito del Rey into an extreme vacations attraction and crossing the whole is an adventure sport for tourists. The walkway is over 3 kilometers long.
After several fatal accidents, the local government closed the path in 2000. But there are still daring hikers who manage to get around the barriers and make their way across the gorge.

Work is now due to start on an 8.3 million euros project to make the pathway safe again and attract more tourists to the area. It will take three years to re-construct and will see the pathway completely rebuilt with hand rails, protective barriers, lighting and a visitors centre.

World’s Longest Tree Top Walk in Bavaria

Opened two years ago in Neuschonau, Bavaria, in Germany, the tree-top walk is the longest of it’s kind at 1300 meters that takes you to an impressive height of 25 meters above the tree tops. The walkway ends at an oval shaped dome, 44 meters high. The 360-degree spiral staircase around the dome offers breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. In clear weather you can even see the north ridge of the Alps. The tree-top walk is a part of the largest protected forest area in central Europe – Bavarian Forest National Park, which is also the first national park in Germany.

The tree-top walk, Baumwipfelpfad in German, begins with a short elevator ride or stair climb to the ticket booth, a mere 8 meter above the parking lot. As hikers begin the leisurely walk down a 1300-meter long wood path, the ground begins to gently fall away -- or so it appears -- as the path inclines almost imperceptibly, making it easily accessible for parents with strollers. It is obvious the creators of the Baumwipfelpfad wanted to make visitors feel a part of the natural environment. The path advances freely through the forest, leaving the mature pines forever undisturbed.

Several adventure stations are placed along the walkway including a narrow wooden plank enticing hardy trekkers to balance on the beam. These obstacles are fully-enclosed with a safety net and offers a rewarding view of the earth 50 feet below. The observation dome is shaped like a giant egg. Once at the top, a spectacular view awaits the visitors.

Beautiful Fortified City of Naarden, The Netherlands

Naarden is a municipality and a town in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, shaped in the form of a star. This small town is a textbook example of a popular style of fortification that evolved in Europe during the 16th century. Naarden’s star fortification is complete with fortified walls and a moat which are in as good as state as five centuries ago. In fact, Naarden is one of the best preserved fortified towns in Europe today.

Back in the 13th century, Naarden was a small fortified town overlooking a stretch of dry ground between the sea and the marshes of the river Vecht. This stretch of land was the only route from the east to Amsterdam and its surrounding lands, making Naarden a strategic fortress. But defense works on Naarden were old and poorly maintained.

In the 17th century when the French King Louis XIV with the help of his allies England, Cologne and Munster, invaded the Netherlands, Naarden was taken over easily. At this time the Netherlands were an important economic and political power in western Europe. They captured Utrecht and made it a base to invade the rest of the country from. However, the rest of the invasion was a disaster; the Dutch flooded the land between the rivers and the sea making it impossible for the French to move forward. In 1673 Naarden was back in Dutch hands. After this recapture the fortifications were updated to modern standards. Most of the fortifications that exist today date from this period. During the 19th century the fortifications were updated, resulting in the construction of many new bomb shelters and other army-related buildings like barracks. At the end of the 19th century the increased fire power and range of the artillery made the defenses at Naarden useless. Instead, emphasis was given on bomb shelters most of which still exist.

After the First World War the need for Naarden as a fortress was over. The army left and it was turned into a monument and preserved just in time to prevent it from being demolished. One of the bastions holds a museum about the fortress, which gives a lot of information about the town's history. The museum also gives access to all the tunnels and casemates, making it a must in exploring the fortress. Tours are provided by boat around the lake.

Today, Naarden is one of the remaining bastions in the Netherlands and is the only fortification in Europe that has unique double walls and moats.