All bets are off: Inside the haunting remains of Romania's crumbling ghost casino

Was once a favoured holiday destination among Europe's royalty and elite

The building was first commissioned by King Carol I around 1900

Maintaining the iconic art deco structure proved prohibitively expensive

By Katie Amey for MailOnline

Published: 05:40 EST, 5 July 2015 | Updated: 08:06 EST, 5 July 2015

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Once considered to be the country's very own Monte Carlo, abandoned remains are now all that's left of Romania's majestic Casino Constanta.

Perched on a cliffside overlooking the Black Sea, the impressive structure's art deco shapes and details are still in tact despite having shuttered decades ago.

Maintaining the massive structure was simply too expensive, so after passing hands several times over the years, it finally closed in 1990. 

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Romania's Casino Constanta was once considered to be the country's very own Monte Carlo

Despite being abandoned in 1990, the structure's art deco details, like its shell windows, are still in tact

French photographer Romain Veillon was inspired by its derelict beauty after stumbling upon Casino Con stanta while visiting the Eastern European country.

First commissioned by King Carol I, the casino was originally built between 1904 and 1910 by a Romanian architect called Petre Antonescu.

He initially hoped to pay homage to the country's artistic traditions, but scrapped those plans to instead erect an Art Nouveau palace for the Belle Epoque.

All details were considered, right down to the unique shell-shaped windows and 18th century Baroque accents.

Conceived of as an Art Nouveau palace, the casino has many impressive hanging chandeliers

Several grand ballrooms, complete with intricate wall designs and stunning ceiling accents, can be found

A sweeping staircase would greet the wealthy as they entered the casino during its glory days

The structure was first commissioned by King Carol I in 1990 and was built between 1904 and 1910

Massive windows offer stunning views from the building's coveted cliffside position overlooking the Black Sea

After its opening in 1910, the building came to be a symbol of the important seaside town

The casino eventually came to be a symbol of the seaside city and a similar building was built in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Located in what was once Romania's most important port, the casino proved to be a major attraction for Europe's royalty and elite and became a preferred destination of those who used to frequent the French Riviera.

However, difficult circumstances in the country over the 20th century saw the casino pass hands several times - and eventually fall into disrepair. 

Many of Europe's royal families and other elites frequented Casino Constanta instead of the French Riviera

The building was so beloved, in fact, that a twin structure was eventually erected in Monaco 

The majestic building saw many reincarnations and passed hands many times before closing in 1990

French photographer Romain Veillon was inspired after stumbling upon the casino while on holiday

The building, which also served as a hospital and restau rant, ultimately proved too expensive to maintain

Since then, there have been occasional efforts at restoration, but the building has remained closed

Although the casino is owned by the Constanta Municipality, authorities do little to keep the public out

Many tourists visit the Romanian city for a glimpse inside the impressive structure despite it being closed

According to reports, the European Union pledged €10million in 2013 for renovation efforts

Renovation work is reportedly expected to begin on the structure in the fall of 2015

Inside, pieces of broken wood and other pieces of rubbish litter the floors and block doorways 

It was briefly used as a hospital during World War II and during the communist regime was repurposed as a restaurant.

The building was formally and finally closed in 1990.

Since then, there have been several attempts at restoration but has remained abandoned, though authorities haven't made much effort to keep the public out.

Currently owned by the Constanta Municipality, according to Messy Nessy Chic, the European Union reportedly granted €10million in 2013 to a proposed restoration plan, with renovations expected to begin in the fall of 2015. 

Source: All bets are off: Inside the haunting remains of Romania's crumbling ghost casino

WhatsApp offers lifeline for Syrian refugees on journey across Europe

They are pouring into Europe by the thousands — Syrians fleeing a war-torn country to seek refugee status.

With limited legal routes to safety, many are making their way across the continent via foot, car or truck, country by country, along makeshift routes aided by smugglers and a broken asylum system.

Along the way, many migrants and refugees have begun to communicate using private messaging on WhatsApp. They share advice, providing a way for those making the risky journey to securely communicate with one another in private groups. They exchange messages about their experiences at border crossings, who to contact to smuggle them and what paths are safest.

As the migrant crisis in Europe reaches heights not seen since the post-World War II era, driven in large part by millions of displaced Syrians, refugees are more than ever setting out to find routes into northern Europe. Syrians are not alone in their journey, though, as other migrants from across Africa and the Middle East flood into Europe, seeking jobs and a better life.

Many hope to reach the economically stable countries in northern Europe, and use WhatsApp's messaging system as a virtual road map to help them navigate their journey. They stick to groups of their countrymen, connecting through friends of friends. Unlike some other ways of communicating, WhatsApp is free, and only requires that the user have access to the internet.

Migrants on the way from Greece to Macedonia walk alongside a railroad track in May, 2015.

A 28-year-old Syrian refugee, who goes by the pseudonym "Ideas" while awaiting asylum, knows the perils of this journey all too well. He is currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands, after spending weeks navigating the dangerous route from Turkey to Greece, before walking through the Balkans. He has also spent time in a Hungarian prison.

Ideas said the route was his only way to secure safety, and decried the U.S. and Europe for limiting the number of Syrian refugees able to gain legal entry.

"European states, the United States — they push us to do it," he told Mashable. "We have no choice — just this, and if there was any legal way, we would not choose this way."

Ideas grew up in Syria, completed his Bachelor's degree in English literature at Damascus University in 2010 and taught English, before signing up for obligatory service in the Syrian army.

But when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime began a deadly crackdown in 2011 on protesters who demanded that the government step down, Ideas said he was instructed to fire on them. Soon after, he deserted the army with a group of other soldiers, while serving in Deir Ezzor. Many of the deserters were executed, but Ideas and another soldier escaped. He knew he needed to leave Syria, and fled first to Turkey, before paying smugglers to travel in a crammed boat to the nearby Greek island of Lesbos.

In Greece in particular, where a financial crisis is gripping the nation, humanitarian groups have expressed concerns about overcrowded conditions at the few detention facilities for those who migrate illegally. Most refugees who arrive are looking for an immediate way out, including Ideas, who arrived in May.

Before setting out on his journey, Ideas bought a cheap and inconspicuous smartphone. Such devices have become a necessary staple for those trekking across Europe, as well as a virtual lifeline to communicate with relatives at home and others on the road.

Ideas shared this photo, posted to a Syrian WhatsApp group, showing hundreds making their way through Macedonia earlier this month.

Image: Facebook/Ideas Travels

Ideas said an inexpensive phone was easier to conceal, and less likely to be stolen or make him a target of thieves. Then, he set about joining a few large WhatsApp groups that he knew of through friends of friends, all Syrian, who were also making the journey.

Ideas walked through the Balkans into northern Europe over the course of around six weeks, following a route that has become popular with many asylum-seekers. Because of the dangers, many travel in small groups, and sleep poorly most nights, with limited access to food and water. The following footage, shared in a Syrian WhatsApp group, shows people walking through Serbia in June:

Most are trying to make their way around a 1990 European Union-wide agreement, called the Dublin Convention, which says asylum claims must be handled in the migrants' first point of entry into Europe; this was an attempt to stop people from traveling into the most desirable countries. Many refugees struggle to make it to their intended destination undetected, and face harsh conditions on the road.

Ideas himself headed to the Netherlands, where he is now in the process of applying for asylum. He still communicates with others on the road, and hears stories from those walking across Europe. Ideas said refugees who are traveling send their messages from anywhere they can access Wi-Fi, sometimes stopping in cafes or supermarkets to send messages home or to others on the road.

Activist and journalist Sam Nemeth has been working to tell Ideas' story on a Facebook page, which sheds light on the perilous journey for Ideas and other migrants.

This photo was sent to Ideas by another member of the WhatsApp group from a makeshift refugee center in Germany.

Nemeth and Ideas met in spring, shortly after Ideas landed in Lesbos on a dinghy packed with other migrants and refugees, according to Nemeth.

"Without a mobile phone, you are lost on the road," said Nemeth, who has been using WhatsApp to track the movements of those seeking refugee status. But telling Ideas' story was especially important to him.

"We really became friends ... after a day we started messaging with WhatsApp," he said. "Straight from the boat, from prison, it was so intense and emotional, I decided after a couple of days to put [the photos and messages] online, and see how people would react, and try to get some sort of community going around this."

Nemeth added that he believes it's important to put a human face on the migrant crisis in Europe, so telling the story of one refugee was key.

"It's dehumanized. I really want to show that it is just people like me and you in a situation like this," said Nemeth, who is the son of a Hungarian refugee.

Ideas said he hopes to get a master's degree in journalism after he applies for asylum in Europe, partly to tell the story of Syria's forgotten refugees.

"I want Europeans to understand our crisis," he said. "A lot of people know nothing about us, know nothing about refugees. I want to deliver a message to people about our crisis, about our suffering."

For Ideas, the choice to trek across Europe was life or death.

"Nobody wants to risk his life; every man has a brain, and everybody knows it's so dangerous," he said. "But there is no choice."

Ideas recently recounted the entire story of his trek from Syria to Europe, which you can listen to, here. Follow his journey on Facebook in the "Ideas Travels: A WhatsApp Odyssey in the Balkans" group on Facebook.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Source: WhatsApp offers lifeline for Syrian refugees on journey across Europe

Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput to honeymoon in Europe

Engagement in 2014, but coming to know each other in 2015.

By Dileep Thekkethil

BENGALURU: The soon to be newly-weds Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput will honeymoon in Europe, but the exact destination is yet to be revealed.

In the meanwhile, the couple have already bought a sea facing bungalow in Mumbai and are likely to move there immediately after the Mumbai reception is over in the second week of July.

Related Story: Shahid Kapoor invites Kareena Kappor, Saif Ali Khan to his wedding with Mira Rajput

According to Bollywoodlife.com, Shahid and Mira got engaged sometime back in 2014 but they didn't get quality time to spend together because of the Bollywood hunk's busy shooting schedules. It seems like both are yet to break the ice and are now on a mission to do so at least a few days before the marriage.

The Punjabi style wedding ceremonies will start on July 5th, Sunday with Haldi and this will be followed by the traditional Mehendi on July 6 which will culminate with the wedding on July 7th.

Like mentioned in the marriage invitation card, all the ceremonies are expected to happen inside the luxurious Oberoi Hotel in Gurgaon. While the hotel authorities have kept the wedding preparations a secret, IBN live reported that the couple made visit to the hotel to check the preparations and finalize a few things.

Related Story: Shahid Kapoor will marry Mira Rajput on July 7 in Gurgaon, reception in Mumbai

As part of their getting to know each other session, Mira and Shahid had visited the Oberoi for lunch on June 15. The couple is said to have ordered Hungarian salad with other dishes. Both must have been blown away by the food, because on the same day they booked the Hotel Oberoi for their wedding.

According to a source familiar to the family, all the rooms have been booked and the wedding ceremony will be open only for close family members.

Mira Rajput is a third year English (Honors) student of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi. Some of her friends describe her as a private person who has very few friends. She is also said to be a very focused and intelligent girl who has no problems whatsoever in airing her opinions. She had previously interned with the United Nations and looking at her interest in studies Mira might continue her studies even after marriage.

Source: Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput to honeymoon in Europe

'Bognor Regis is in mainland Europe and Newquay in the USA': Survey reveals British children are all at sea when it comes to knowing where the country's coastal resorts are

59% of those polled believed Scarborough to be in the Mediterranean

And 55% failed to pinpoint Brighton, with 1 in 5 thinking it was in Cornwall

60% of young Britons admitted that they did not know where St Ives was

By Katie Amey for MailOnline

Published: 13:40 EST, 2 July 2015 | Updated: 18:12 EST, 2 July 2015

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As families prepare to hit the beach - and make the most of this heatwave - parents may quickly realise that their children don't know much about Britain's coastal geography.

In fact, a recent survey has found that British children think Bognor Regis is in Europe, Newquay is in the USA and St Ives is in the Caribbean.

If that's not enough, children reported Scarborough to be in the Mediterranean and Skegness in the Scottish Highlands, while over half of those asked could not pinpoint Brighton.

A recent poll of British children found that 60% wrongly believed Cornwall's St Ives to be in the Caribbean

Some children quizzed in the survey thought Newquay (its Towan beach is pictured) was in the USA

The study, which was conducted by Travelodge, quizzed 2,000 British children between the ages o f eight and 15 years old.

Key findings revealed that despite Britons taking a regular jaunt to the seaside, many kids are oblivious to the actual location of such coastal destinations.

Sixty per cent of young Britons admitted that they did not know where St Ives was located with 20 per cent believing it to be in the Caribbean.

Fifty nine per cent struggled to identify Scarborough in North Yorkshire with a fifth of those polled thinking it was in the Mediterranean.

Similarly, they struggled to identify Scarborough, with one fifth thinking that it was in the Mediterranean

Over half admitted that they didn't know were one of Britain's oldest seaside resort towns, Skegness, was located. Ten per cent even thought it was in Snowdonia.

And when it came to identifying Brighton, one of the top ten city beach break destinations in the world, 55 per cent of those polled failed.

Twenty per cent believed it was in Cornwall.

Further findings revealed th at 40 per cent of children asked did not know that Bognor Regis was in West Sussex - with a quarter thinking it was in Europe.

Blackpool also confused young survey-takers with 26 per cent not knowing it was located in the North West of England. 

Despite Brighton's popularity as a seaside destination, 55% of those surveyed could not pinpoint it on a map

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: 'This research highlights that children are struggling to grasp the basic geography of Britain. 

'In today's modern world, the ease of Sat Nav to get from home to a holiday destination has eliminated the geography element of the trip. 

'In the past, parents would have highlighted the journey on a map and kept their children entertained in the car talking about the geography of their trip.

'En glish seaside resorts have a special place in our hearts, as they are where childhood memories are made. 

'Therefore it's important for young travellers to learn the geography of their country, as it will stay with them forever.'

Travelodge's research has shown that the traditional seaside holiday is back in vogue this year as over half of families are flocking to the coast this summer.

Source: 'Bognor Regis is in mainland Europe and Newquay in the USA': Survey reveals British children are all at sea when it comes to knowing where the country's coastal resorts are

Australia and Italy are most popular dream destinations

Other vacations deemed once-in-a-lifetime include the Greek isles, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the castles of Ireland, the French countryside, Provence and the overwater bungalows of Tahiti.

Australia is the most popular bucket list destination and the fastest-growing place of interest for wealthy travelers flush with cash, according to the results of a new survey.

After asking 5,800 travelers from 60 countries to name their dream destination this year, Australia emerged the most popular destination, followed by Italy and New Zealand.

The survey, carried out by luxury travel network Virtuoso, also aimed to reveal travel trends around the world by asking respondents to identify their idea of a "the trip of a lifetime."

Topping that category is the European river or canal cruise, a trend that continues to be popular among travelers seeking to experience Europe differently.

A step up from the traditional cruise, meanwhile, is the world cruise with itineraries that take guests to iconic destinations around the world.

Oceania Cruises, for instance, offer a six-month around-the-world tour that starts in Miami and sails to Myanmar, Vietnam, Spain, Sydney and Namibia.

Other vacations deemed once-in-a-lifetime include the Greek isles, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the castles of Ireland, the French countryside, Provence and the overwater bungalows of Tahiti.

Australia also emerged the most popular destination for luxury travelers.

Here are the top 10 dream destinations according to Virtuoso's survey:

1. Australia2. Italy3. New Zealand4. France5. Greece6. Ireland7. Caribbean8. Fiji9. England10. Antarctica

The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

Source: Australia and Italy are most popular dream destinations

Greece Crisis Ripples Across European Companies as Markets Swing

Greece's financial turmoil rippled across corporate Europe as a market rout sabotaged planned bond sales and stock offerings and threw companies into crisis-response mode to deal with unsettled customers.

German real-estate investor ADO Properties shelved its planned initial public offering, citing volatile markets, while Adler Real Estate halted plans to sell a convertible bond to shareholders. Travel companies TUI AG and Thomas Cook Plc fielded calls from travelers about access to cash after Greece introduced capital controls to prevent bank collapses.

The crisis is "paralyzing decision-making in Europe," threatening jobs and slowing economic growth, said Ulrich Spiesshofer, the chief executive officer of Swiss engineering company ABB Ltd. Many ABB clients are rattled by the situation as the Greek crisis adds to a slowdown in China and uncertainty about the economy in the U.S. and U.K., the CEO said.

While Greece represents only a small market for most major European companies and executives have been able to prepare for a direct fallout for years, the crisis has called into question the economic stability of the entire region sharing the single currency. Greece's financial collapse could spread instability to much more consequential economies like those of Italy, Spain, or even France.

Baby Formula

"The real risk is that the crisis in Greece triggers broader contagion to the euro zone and global financial markets," said Neil Shearing, an economist at Capital Economics in London.

Some European companies are actually preparing for increased Greek demand. Dutch dairy-products producer Royal FrieslandCampina NV said it's increasing its supplies in the country as nervous Greeks stock up on basics like powdered milk and baby formula.

European tourists are meanwhile reconsidering their journeys to one of the continent's most popular summertime destinations.

"Increasingly people are asking the call center whether than can still go," said Hanita van der Meer, a spokeswoman for tour operator Thomas Cook. "There has been some decline in bookings, but not in the extremes" – although the company is advising travelers to bring more cash from home.

Annoyance

Some of the effects were more mundane and a logistical nuisance than a hard corporate decision. In Berlin, Siemens AG scrapped a long-planned speech by its chief technology officer, saying the audience would be more preoccupied with the latest in Greece than with innovation from the German engineering giant.

Greece introduced capital controls on Monday that limited cash withdrawals and the transfer of money abroad. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a July 5 referendum on what he has called a vote on austerity, effectively deciding his country's future in the single currency.

About $1.5 trillion was erased from the value of global equities Monday, the most in two years, after Tsipras called the shock vote. With some experts putting the odds of a Greek exit from the euro zone as high as 85 percent, Europe faces a week or more of high drama that could threaten the integrity of the world's largest currency bloc.

"This situation can't carry on much longer because someone has to recognize that like this there can be no winners," said Boris Boehm, a fund manager at Aramea Asset Management in Hamburg. "It's two cars driving toward each other at full speed and no-one's willing to change direction."

Executives representing industries from beverages to advertising said they have spent the last years whittling down their activities in Greece as the country's economic crisis deepened. Ivan Menezes, the CEO of beverage company Diageo Plc, said its Greece business is today only a quarter of the size in net sales that it was in 2008.

"Greece is 0.1 percent of our revenues and falling as a percentage," said Martin Sorrell, the CEO of advertising group WPP Plc. "We've had enough time to plan!"

Source: Greece Crisis Ripples Across European Companies as Markets Swing

European tourists cancelling Tunisia vacations after massacre

Tunis (AFP) - Thousands of European tourists are cancelling planned vacations to Tunisia in the wake of last week's massacre at a beach resort by a gunman whose attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Tour operators said Monday that many clients were scrapping plans entirely or asking to go to other, safer destinations. Some of the travel companies had taken the initiative themselves to suspend travel to Tunisia.

The trend began on Saturday, the day after 38 people -- most of them British tourists -- were killed at the Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel resort by the Tunisian gunman, who was then shot dead by police.

The cancellations have grown since as perception spread of Tunisia as a risky holiday spot targeted by anti-Western jihadists. In March, the North African country suffered an attack at a museum in its capital that killed 21 tourists.

TUI, the German group that is the biggest leisure and tourism company in the world, said Monday it had re ceived 500 requests for "changed reservations" since the weekend. It declined to say how many Tunisia reservations it had been handling.

Germany's number two tourism company Der Touristik said the latest attack had caused around half of its customers who were meant to have left on the weekend to stay at home.

View gallery Tourists take part in a gathering in solidarity with Tunisia's tourism industry on the island of …

A spokeswoman said the company had taken "several thousand reservations" for Tunisia for the peak vacation months of July and August, and that as of Monday there were 400 cancellations or changes for other destinations.

Demand had slowly bounced back after the March attack in Tunis, "but has now again been reduced to nothing," she said.

In France, the head of the SNAV national association of travel agents, Jean-Pierre Mas, told AFP that, of around 10,000 vacation packages reserved for Tunisia for July, 80 percent were cancelled or modified.

Rene-Marc Chikli, of the French tour operator association SETO, said between a quarter and half of the 50,000 reservations had been changed.

He said "the worst effect" was on the last-minute bookings that would normally have filled spare capacity.

View gallery Flower bouquets are seen at the site of a shooting attack on the beach in front of the Riu Imperial  …

"All the last-minute market is sunk," he said.

In Belgium, "more than 15,000" customers were affected by the decision by the travel company Neckermann -- a subsidiary of Thomas Cook -- to cancel Tunisia packages until the end of August in line with a foreign ministry warning.

Jetair, another Belgian company, has also suspended Tunisia trips until the end of July, representing "thousands" of cancellations, a spokeswoman said.

In Britain, which was reeling from the number of citizens killed last week, no figures were available Monday on the number of cancelled vacation trips.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said however there had been a "clear impact" on Britons who had been planning vacations in Tunisia.

Tunisia

Source: European tourists cancelling Tunisia vacations after massacre