Pucker up! York Minster's West Window prepares for International Kissing Day

York is preparing for an influx of loved up couples over the weekend, ahead of International Kissing Day on Saturday.
York Minster’s ‘Heart of Yorkshire’ window, within the cathedral’s Great West Window is fast becoming the destination for love-struck couples who believe the local legend that kissing their partner beneath it means they will stay together forever.
Tourism chiefs in York have been using social media to invite couples to pucker up beneath the window at noon tomorrow to win the heart of their loved one.

Everlasting love? The distinctive heart shape tracery atop The Great West Window of York Minster is fast becoming a destination in its own right for love-struck couples

York Minster has been a popular venue for weddings, betrothals and prayers for love and good fortune for over 1,000 years. Northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedral is visited by half a million visitors every year

Thousands of visitors flock to Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland, each year to kiss the Blarney stone, which legend says will mean they’ll never be lost for words.
York's tourism office says the city's Heart of Yorkshire window is having a similar effect on loved-up visitors, an increasing number of whom are now choosing to propose beneath it.
Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York said: “The legend surrounding the beautiful Heart of Yorkshire window seems to have captured everyone’s imagination.
"While The Blarney Stone in Ireland gives the gift of eloquence, our Heart of Yorkshire window gives the gift of eternal love, and we hope love will blossom for those who kiss beneath the window this weekend."

 

For more than 1,000 years York Minster has been a popular venue for weddings, betrothals and prayers for love and good fortune.  
It is northern Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral, visited by half a million visitors every year.
As part of its celebrations on Saturday visitors are being asked to share their stories of proposals of marriage in York via www.facebook.com/visityork
Elsewhere in the UK, another tourist attraction has linked itself with International Kissing Day.

A word in your shell-like: Folly Farm residents prepare for a spot of kissing practice

Pucker up: Tim Morphew, head keeper at Folly Farm Zoo near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, gets a kiss from Genghis the Camel

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Adriatic adventure: Seeing Italy and, across the water, her new best friend Croatia

It was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who famously coined the phrase 'Iron Curtain' in 1946 and, in doing so, entrenched post-war divisions between the democratic west and the communist east. But, 67 years later, those tensions have been washed away. 

And now with Croatia being lapped up by the European Union (the country became the 28th member on 1st July) there has never been a better time to take advantage of rosy relations around the Adriatic Sea.

Magical: Rocca Calascio is a 10th-century fort that offers unparalleled views of the Italian countryside

Italy, in particular, has taken on a 'big brother' role by encouraging Croatia to develop its tourism and smoothing down the few edges still evident from its Soviet past. Indeed, the EU-backed IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme's motto is: "Let's grow up together."

And while there are already many established vacation hotspots, by acceding to the EU the country can expect a healthy boost from holidaymakers. 

The island of Hvar has already gained notoriety as a summer playground for A-listers - including Prince Harry, Tom Cruise and Beyonce (who named her first baby, daughter Blue Ivy, after an indigenous flower). Aside from affordably hobnobbing with celebrities in glitzy beach clubs, there is rich culture to uncover, including Croatia's first-ever town, Stari Grad, and the oldest communal theatre in Europe, found in Hvar Town.

Playground for the stars: Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z holidaying in Croatia in 2011

But when it comes to culture few can beat the Italians and it's little wonder that it was the Venetians, from the 12th century, who lay the foundations for modern Hvar. 

The island, which houses 11,000 people - with 4,000 in the capital, Hvar Town - is the ideal place to conclude a holiday after visiting the Italian regions of Abruzzo and Le Marche, found by an 11-hour overnight ferry across the Adriatic Sea.

 

The east coast of Italy - bar Venice - is seldom in the top five of British tourists' must-do lists. But add Croatia into the mix and you have an amazing two-centre break on your hands. 

A cheap flight from London to the biggest city in Arbuzzo, Pescara - a coastal city heavily bombed in World War Two - threw me close to the exhilarating and verdant Apennines. The area is known as the "green heart of Italy" and I marvelled at the lush landscape and snow-capped peaks in the Gran Sasso massif, one of three national parks in the area, in which wolves and bears can be found.

Aiming high: Corno Grande is the tallest peak in the Apennine Mountains and can be hiked in five hours

I located my inner shepherd around Rocca Calascio, a magical 10th-century fort which, at 1,460 metres, is the highest in the range and offers unparalleled views, as evidenced by films such as Michelle Pfeiffer's 1985 flick Ladyhawke.

Boasting over 500 castles, Abruzzo is a fascinating outdoor museum. Near to the tallest peak, Corno Grande - which can be hiked by non-experts in five hours from Teramo - lies the second-largest fortress in Europe (behind Salzburg's Hohensalzburg) at Civitella del Tronto. It was the location for the last stand for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1860, weeks before the Kingdom of Italy was formed.

Again, the vistas are wonderful from the top: from here I could spy the Adriatic Sea in the distance while the Apennines loomed in the opposite direction. 

I then ambled down to Zunica (www.hotelzunica.it/en), a 133-year-old hotel-restaurant that can be reached via the 'smallest road in Italy'. It's best to squeeze through en route rather than after lunch, as I discovered after sampling the unusual but highly-recommended pear and goat’s cheese risotto, and a rich pecorino cheese soup with croutons and black truffle.

Princely pad: The regal Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi is a wonderful place to stay

Further north is the region of Le Marche, with hill towns to rival those of Tuscany and Umbria. It's, pleasingly, significantly cheaper and there are certainly no £14 ice creams here, as in Rome. Known as 'Little Tibet', it is the place that writer Guido Piovene described in 1957 as "the most typical Italian landscape...with its range of landscapes it is a distillation of the world".

The regal Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi hotel (www.seghettipanichi.it) close to the historical town of Ascoli Piceno is a wonderful place to stay and, strolling around the exceptional gardens, I relaxed and played prince for a while.

This fine guest house is perched on top of a hill and, while you can stay in the luxurious rooms in the grand main building, there are reasonably priced apartments a hyacinth's throw away by the swimming pool - ideal for families.

Nearby medieval town Offida may have only 5,000 inhabitants but it too offers a wealth of ancient culture, not least the deceptively large Santa Maria della Rocca church, which dates back to 1330. 

The Piazza del Popolo ('People's square') in Ascoli and (right) catch of the day at Gariful in Hvar Town

And from Ancona ('elbow' in Italian), further north, I sailed to Croatia. Taking a cabin overnight saved me travelling time and added adventure to the trip before I docked at Split around 8am, providing the whole day to investigate this handsome city.

A 45-minute boat-ride away is the island of Hvar, and from Stari Grad - where the ancient Greeks founded the colony of Pharos in 384 BC, making it one of the oldest towns in Europe - it's a mere 20 minutes' drive to Hvar Town, the party capital of the island.

Rather than just rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, especially during the peak season (May to September), the intrepid traveller will find more satisfaction by seeking out the summer house of Renaissance poet Hannibal Lucic, or perhaps the theatre. 

While in desperate need of refurbishment (Cruise did not put his hands in his pockets when taken there in September), it is charming and serves as an important cultural reference point, as does the lavender festival in June.

Party island: Tourists can hop over to Hvar Town on an overnight ferry from Italy

And then there is the tingly tranquillity of Paklinski, an archipelago of 16 tiny islands, located a 15-minute trip from the harbour. On one – Sveti Klement – I discovered Palmizana (www.palmizana.hr), a paradisal resort run by bohemian grandmother Dagmar Meneghello, who, as a contemporary art obsessive, serves up vibrant rooms and excellent seafood. 

That eatery competes for top billing with the stupendous Gariful (http://hvar-gariful.hr), found on the waterfront at Hvar Town, very close to the boutique Riva Hotel, where I stayed.

Were he still alive, Churchill, one suspects, would have luxuriated in the lobster, syrupy Bastijana Tomic 'Prosek Hectorovich' dessert wine (www.bastijana.hr) and many other delights the EU's latest member has to offer. 

Now, with the Iron Curtain well and truly banished, you too should make the most of the partnership between Italy and Croatia, and revel in a two-country break that offers an affordable fusion of culture, coast and classy calm.

5 Steps To Finally Remove Cellulite For Good

One of our contributing experts recently put together a kick-butt article that is the “Do This – and DON’T Do That” rule-book when it comes to getting rid of unsightly cellulite dimples, shadows and ripples. It’s a quick read with some eye-opening tips and a helpful video that you’ll want to see while it’s still up.

———————————————————————————

-contributed by – Joey Atlas, Womens’ Body Enhancement Specialist — M.S., Exercise Physiology”

“Ask any woman on the street what the definition of “cellulite” is and you’ll get a confused variety of answers. From “toxic fat pockets caught in the skin” to “bands of fiber pulling down on the skin”and many odd things in between…”

Cellulite Gone – Bikini On

The truth is: most people really don’t know what “cellulite” actually is, or, what causes this odd appearance of the lower body trouble zones…”

This is no surprise as there actually is no such thing as ‘cellulite’… So how do we get rid of something which doesn’t exist?”

Here’s the answer:

“The word, “cellulite”, was cleverly made-up several decades ago, in a European beauty-spa, to DESCRIBE the bumpy, shadowy and dimpled appearance of skin in the lower body trouble zones of the female body. (butt, hips, thighs, legs)”

The beauty spas then started cashing-in and profiting big-time by marketing “beauty” services and products to get rid of “cellulite”. And if you’re like most women who’ve been challenged by this issue, then you probably already know all of those passive and superficial beauty treatments do not get rid of the dented shadows and mushy dimples on your buns, legs and thighs.”

In order to make your lower-body smooth, tight and attractive, there are 5 steps to follow.

Here they are:

5 CRITICAL KEYS TO KILL YOUR CELLULITE

1: You cannot get rid of the dimples and shadows (cellulite) by rubbing an odd gel, weird lotion or goopy cream on your trouble zones and problem spots.

So, stop using them – as some can actually make your cellulite worse.

Despite the fact that there are dozens of supposed ‘cellulite reduction creams’ on the market, there is no possible way for any one of them, no matter how expensive, to get rid of your cellulite. Cellulite is not a skin problem. Its an underlying structural issue, that can only be corrected by reversing the cause of atrophied muscle fibers directly beneath your “cellulite” trouble spots.”

Since the squishy dimples and shadows are a superficial symptom of a problem below the surface; it’s impossible for the creams, lotions or gels to have any physiological impact on the cause of the issue…”

2: Risky and expensive ‘medi-spa treatments’ can only reduce your bank account – not your cellulite problems. And there are many consumer reports about women being seriously scarred or injured as well.

Stay away from these as the FDA reports show women who’ve been scarred or injured for life.

Painful, dangerous and uncomfortable services ranging from endermologie to body-wrapping have been proven to be totally ineffective when it comes to treating cellulite. However, advertising and marketing loopholes allow these services to be cleverly marketed to desperate women who are at wits end with the unattractive dimples and shadows on the lower-body problem areas.”

3: The unattractive dimples, shadows and saggy ripples known as cellulite are not ‘genetic’ and you are NOT stuck with them forever if you have them.

Falsely believing this will prevent you from getting rid of your cellulite. So, don’t entertain this nonsense for 1 second.

These two ridiculous myths are often passed around by ‘neighborhood know-it-alls’ – and many women actually believe these 2 myths – especially if they haven’t found the right way to get rid of the cellulite. Whats even more alarming are the number of doctors who also believe in and foster these 2 demoralizing falsehoods.

Yes – it is common to see a mother and daughter, both with the lower-body “orange peel” look, BUT this doesn’t mean cellulite is genetic – it simply means both women have not found a way to lift, tone and firm the muscle layers under the dimpled, saggy skin.”

4: You can get rid of cellulite, regardless of your age – or when you began to notice it.”

Since cellulite is a structural issue (muscle) – it can be fixed with simple and unique body movements which target the cellulite areas.”

These types of moves can be followed by any woman, regardless of her age or fitness level. And it doesn’t matter if the cellulite started in the early teen years – or after pregnancy – or after menopause – it’s still a structural issue that results from soft, un-toned muscles underneath the saggy, dimpled, shadowy skin.”

5: The only proven way to permanently get rid of the dimples and shadows of cellulite is through a series of simple, yet specifically targeted lower-body movements”

These unique movements focus on lifting, shaping and toning the muscle layers so they gently push outward against the skin – to bring back the smooth, tight and sexy appearance, while burning off any excess flab, if there is any.”

This is how regular women reverse the cause of cellulite dimples and shadows… AND, if there happens to be any excess fat in those zones – it will be burned off as fuel by the muscles. This bonus of losing any unhealthy excess body-fat is nice because it reveals a great body and it works wonders for your health profile.”

BUT you won’t learn about these unique slow-tempo movements in the gym or your local health club.”

These body movements are NOT done with typical weights and machine type exercises.” “Most regular fitness instructors don’t even know about this type of targeted cellulite-killing method. (click to watch video)”

These muscle-stimulating movements can be done right at home, in total privacy.”

– The female lower-body has over 90 muscles…“

Picture those 90 muscles BENEATH your skin’s surface in your legs, butt, hips and thigh zones. That’s where the magic happens in regards to true removal of mushy dimples and saggy shadows in the trouble spots and problem areas…

Despite what most women have been led to believe, there is a critical difference between a ‘general workout program’ – and a laser-focused, cellulite removal method. The sweetest benefit of this is; you don’t need access to a health club or fitness center.” …”Just click PLAY on this video by Joey Atlas, (M.S., Ex.Phys.) and get it started now:” (it opens in a bigger screen so you don’t miss a thing)

These are simple, unique moves you can start doing today, right in the privacy of your own home. And if you start this type of targeted muscle stimulation method today – you will start feeling results within 2 weeks and seeing results within 3 to 4 weeks.”

To see the 90 muscles in your lower-body and

how you can reverse the cause of the bumps,

shadows and dimples in your trouble zones and

problem spots, just click play above.

EXTRA TIP – # 6: The Dimples, Ripples and Shadows of Cellulite Get Worse if They Are Not Taken Care of Properly. And the worse it gets, the harder it is to reverse.

So, watch the video above to avoid further frustration, disgust and anger. It’s your body so just do the right thing for it.“