by Nada Cory | Jun 25, 2020 | Travel Croatia
Postojna Cave is a long “karst” cave system near Postojna, southwestern Slovenia. Karst topography is formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves, carved by the Pivka River. It has taken millions of years to create this natural wonder, replete with beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, and formations called draperies that resemble folded curtains. This cavernous system is 15 miles long (24.12 kilometers) long and consists of four interconnected caves through the identical underground river; joining two of the main cave systems will make this the longest in Slovenia, and one of the lengthiest in all of Europe.
The caves are also home to the endemic olm, the largest troglodytic amphibian in the world. Our expedition through the caves includes a visit to the aquarium where olms can be observed. On January 30, 2016, a female olm at one cave location began to lay over 50 eggs, a rare event that led to global news about Postojna Cave, and its existence.
The cave was first described in the 17th century by the pioneer of karst phenomena, Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, although graffiti inside dating back to 1213, indicates a much older history. In 1818, when the cave was being prepared for a visit by Francis I, the first Emperor of the Austria-Hungary, a new area of the cave was discovered accidentally by local Luka Čeč (who became the first official guide). In 1819, Archduke Ferdinand visited the caves; this is when the caves became officially known as a sightseer destination. Electric lighting was added in 1884, preceding even Ljubljana, the capital of Carniola, and further enhanced the cave’s splendor. In the 1850s, the Austrian-Czech geographer Adolf Schmidl published the first comprehensive scientific overview of the Postojna caves and the Pivka Basin, which became a standard reference point in the study of speleologie.
Spelunkers, get your cameras ready for an unforgettable experience!
by Nada Cory | Jun 22, 2020 | Travel Croatia
Trakošćan Castle is located in Varaždin county, northern Croatia, and dates back to the 13th century. Built as an observation fortress for monitoring the road from Ptuj to Bednja Valley, legend states it was named after the knights of Drachenstein, who were in control of the region in the early Middle Ages.
Although it is not known who its owners were in the first years of its existence. It has changed hands many times over. As the end of the 14th century approached, it was owned by the Counts of Celje, who was in charge of the entire area. This prestigious family soon became extinct, and Trakošćan shared the fate, as did the other burgs and estates that were endlessly divided, until it became neglected, falling into dilapidation.
It was only towards the middle of the 19th century that the family had a renewed interest in its estate, and in the Romanticist spirit of return to nature and family traditions, the castle was transformed into a residential manor-house with a beautiful surrounding park. The generations that followed occupied the castle from time to time all the way until 1944, when they were forced to emigrate to Austria. Soon after that, the castle became nationalized and has acquired its present appearance; a Neo-gothic style, which continues to receive ongoing upkeep and renewal.
Since 1953, the museum within boasts collections on permanent display, and today is owned by the Republic of Croatia. The castle itself reveals the various architectural phases of building, while the fortification’s observation tower overlooks stunning views.
I look forward to sharing this special stop on our pre-tour adventure!
by Nada Cory | Jun 12, 2020 | Event, Gourmet Cuisine, Product Facts
Global Wellness Day is an entirely not-for-profit day, a social project dedicated to living well. The purpose of Global Wellness Day is to ask the question, even if for just one day, “How can I live a healthier and better life?”, to direct the thoughts of both individuals and society towards “living well” and to raise awareness.
The main intentions of the day are:
- To recognize the value of our lives
- To pause and think, even if for just one day of the year
- To be free from the stress of everyday life and negative impact health habits
- To make peace with ourselves
- To raise awareness about living well and increase motivation, not just for today, but for the remaining 364 days of the year
First celebrated in 2012, Global Wellness Day was established in Turkey as the “first” day dedicated to living well, and has now been accepted worldwide. Reflecting its success, in 2019 Global Wellness Day has been celebrated simultaneously in more than 150 countries at 8000 different locations.
Global Wellness Day will be celebrated on Saturday, June 13th, 2020. In addition to the Chef Program that the Joseph P Cory Foundation is presenting, Nadona International will be having a fun virtual workshop on July 16, 2020. To help you maintain your wellness, through July, if you become a new Nadona customer and purchase one Ultimate Germ Shield Gel, you will receive a second one on us, to share with a friend! (final total will be seen at checkout)
by Nada Cory | Aug 25, 2019 | Product Facts
Are the ingredients in your child’s antibacterial products putting them at risk?
Many schools recommend sending students to class with ample supplies of well-known “antibacterials” to minimize the spreading of germs. The list includes familiar brands that are the cheapest around, the type we receive as “giveaways” from various trade shows and samples, or in the “immediate gratification grab and go bins” near cash registers.
Check the ingredients thoroughly, for synthetic alcohol derivatives that may cause allergic reactions and complications.
According to the several leading national authorities, symptoms from over utilization, and misuse (ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption of large quantities) include flushing, headache, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, anesthesia, and coma. So much so, that it is even suggested to wear protective gloves when applying, and in a well-ventilated area to minimize these risks.
Don’t be scared, be smart! Nadona International LLC has created a new era of protection with their Ultimate Germ Shield line. 100% organic, vegan, dairy, gluten and cruelty-free. NO Alcohol or chemicals, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral. Our proprietary Ingredients are eco-friendly, specially formulated, and have been utilized naturally for centuries. Meet some of our “team”: Sage, frankincense, basil seed, cinnamon, wormwood, camphor, aloe vera juice, oil or lavender, eucalyptus and more.
As with all products, they should be kept out of children’s reach, capped, and applied with adult supervision. Be safe, be prepared!
In good health,
Nada Cory
by Nada Cory | Aug 1, 2019 | Product Facts
Schools are a hotbed of germs because there are so many people jammed into a relatively small space.
Germs include a whole host of things, such as viruses and bacteria, floating around in the air waiting to be breathed in. This typically happens when someone coughs or sneezes, leaving the germs to live for long periods of time on various surfaces, just beholding their next victim.
Consider these five areas where you will likely find a ton of germs in school. Drinking fountains, lunchrooms, classroom books, gym equipment, and bus seats.
While handwashing is your best defense, sinks are not always available, in that case,opt for sanitizers. You can use sanitizersthat come in a variety of delivery systems; gels, sprays and roll-ons. Sending our students to school with their own sanitizers is a great alternative, just make sure you instruct children on how to use them properly.
Key times to battle germs, which is also a terrific idea to enforce at home, are: after using the bathroom, before and after eating, when using shared materials (books, gym equipment, computers, tablets, etc.), and after coughing or sneezing into our own hands.
At Nadona International, we offer three formulations for our Ultimate Germ Shield line of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal products. All are made from proprietary blends of globally sourced essential oils. WE DO NOT USE ALCOHOL, and all are 100% organic, vegan, gluten and cruelty-free.
Keeping in mind that we all strive to achieve optimal health, eating a healthy diet and getting lots of rest is a critical way to boost your own immune system for a germ-free year at school.
Bring home great experiences, make lots of friends, and leave the germs behind!
Wishing all our parents and their families, a happy and healthy school year!
