Random old Bing wallpapers

The Bordeaux wine region, in southwestern France, is renowned for its illustrious viticultural history. Characterised by a maritime climate with Mediterranean influences, the region offers a diverse range of reds and whites, including the renowned Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. In this region, the sprawling vineyards of the Médoc produce some truly exceptional wines. September marks the start of grape harvesting, with famous appellations like Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Saint-Estèphe preserving ancient winemaking traditions.

The area's history is mirrored in its architecture, with grand chateaus dotting the landscape, exemplifying past opulence. Château Margaux and Château Lafite Rothschild showcase the region's aristocratic history.

These ancestral grounds also host the unique Marathon du Médoc. Established in 1985, it occurs annually in September, winding through vineyards. Known as the 'longest marathon in the world', it merges running with wine tasting amid splendid châteaux and vineyards. Participants often wear themed costumes each year.

What’s better than to take a holy dip in Sarovar (lake) at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and offer prayers here on the occasion of Vaisakhi (also pronounced as Baisakhi). It is one of the important festivals as it was on this day in 1699, the foundation of the order of the Khalsa was laid by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, at the Golden Temple or Anandpur Sahib. It is also an ancient festival of Hindus, marking the Solar New Year and also celebrating the spring harvest.

For the Sikh community, the celebration starts with visiting the nearby Gurdwara and attending a special prayer meet. Most people try to visit the Golden Temple on this day. The Granth Sahib is read at the Gurudwara. After the meet and religious songs, prasad is distributed. The Gurudwara also arranges a community lunch called Langar, which is prepared by volunteers. Incidentally, Vaisakhi - in its own local flavour - is observed in Bengal, Assam (Rongali Bihu), and Bihar too.

The poppy is a flower that is common in all parts of the world, although there must be some climatic conditions for it to grow and thrive. The poppy is native to the temperate zones.

This flower and its essence were used as a medicinal plant in ancient times. In the Mysteries of Eleusis of ancient Greece, on the other hand, the poppy is said to have symbolized sleep, oblivion and the earth. Legend has it that Morpheus, the god of dreams, touched the eyelids of sleepers with a bouquet of poppies and gave them the illusory images of dreams.

Today, the seeds of this flower are used not only in pharmacy, but also in the kitchen. It is used in kitchens all over the world, and the uses of this seed are many. For both savory and sweet dishes. Most people will probably think of poppy seed cake or rolls when they think of poppy seeds. We would like a piece of cake, what about you? Do you prefer a crispy roll with poppy seeds or poppy seed cake with a good cup of coffee?

If you drive along the Stweart-Cassiar Highway in British Columbia in fall, you're in for a colourful treat. This scenic road in the north-west of the province connects Kitimat with the Yukon border. It winds its way through some stunningly rugged locations, taking drivers past lakes, through forests and around mountains. But it's in fall that it truly comes to life, with the aspen trees along the route shedding their summer green colouring.

Aspens, like the ones seen in today's image, thrive in the region's cooler climate. When the seasons start to change, their leaves turn a brilliant yellow, contrasting beautifully with the evergreen forests and snowcapped mountains along the highway. Aspens grow in large colonies, all connected by a single root system. This means that aspen groves are actually one massive organism.