Ireland is named 'best country'

Ireland is the best place to live in the world, according to a "quality of life" assessment by Economist magazine.

The country's combination of increasing wealth and traditional values gives it the conditions most likely to make its people happy, the survey found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4020523.stm

In pictures: Oktoberfest opens

"O'zapft is! - 14 days of Oktoberfest fun

With the traditional words "O'zapft is!" - "the barrel has been tapped" - the munich major Christian Ude declared the Oktoberfest 2007 open.

From September 22 to Oktober 10 the world's largest beer festival will attract about six million people who are expected to consume innumerable litres ("Maßkrüge" in Bavarian) of the famous Oktoberfest beer.

Visit our galleries for impressions from the "Wiesn" to experience the fun and Bbavarian "Gemutlichkeit" at home.

http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/

View the BBC's pictures of the Oktoberfest on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7008385.stm

Pictures from Oxford

Milena and the dinosaur footprints

A lovely dessert

Botanic garden

Two photographers

Milena and a Christ Church Bull Dog


Here are some pictures from Oxford. This summer my sister Moni and her family visited us. We showed them around Christ Church College, the town and we went to the botanic garden. Oxford's Botanic Garden is the oldest in Europe. It is not very big but it is a gem. Especially Milena had a very good time and "improved" her English with her charm.