Tagged With "Great Wall of China"
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Re: November 24, 2016: Enger Tower, Duluth, Minnesota
Did you count the steps up ? Looks like an Olympian task !
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Re: November 24, 2016: Enger Tower, Duluth, Minnesota
Hi Garry I never thought of counting the number of steps to the top of Enger Tower for I was too preoccupied with the beautiful scenery; However, thanks to your question I did some internet investigating and discovered that apparently there are 105 steps you must walk to get to the top of Enger Tower (therefore 210 steps in total to get up and down the tower). You really don't need to be an Olympian to get to the top of Enger Tower. Although the number of steps sounds like a lot, and the...
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Re: November 24, 2016: Enger Tower, Duluth, Minnesota
Thanks Ottoman. Thanks for the reassurance. I did have a fear of a thousand tourists behind me - pushing to ascend the stairway - and all at the gallop. The intervals are all well spaced and welcomed. That's why older people carry a camera !
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Re: Heidelberg Castle: Where Gumbo Was (#135)
Ah, now I see what you meant. No, nothing esoteric. It's actually part of the roofline of one of the buildings; the black area with the rectangles is just the shadow of part of the windowless wall adjoining it. Here's what it looks like without the shadow...
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Re: Limone, Lake Garda, Italy
"Only to be found in the Mediterranean..." Not really. Meyer lemons are native to China and have been grown in the US since 1908. I can find them just about anytime in my ordinary local supermarket in California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer_lemon
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Re: Nothing sacred: Swiss chalets aren't Swiss!
It's like finding your Jeep Renegade was constructed in Italy at the Fiat factory. Or worse still in Guangzhou, China.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
My profile pic used to be me holding up the Old Roman wall in Chester . Without me there,is it still standing? Lol I especially enjoyed seeing the Racetrack there.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
After visiting 8 of the 19 Pubs on the Chester Walls - I thought it was the wall holding you up Rob !
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Re: Alfred the Great's bones found!
This seems to be a good year for royal discoveries; the remains of Richard III were found under a parking lot in Leicester last year. Now if only someone could locate Jimmy Hoffa...and Judge Crater!
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Re: Alfred the Great's bones found!
I don't think we'll find Hoffa until they start tearing down some of these old ball stadiums... Somewhere deep in the concrete I think!
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #10
Originally Posted by TatToo: Did Mrs. Gumbo not get to the tapas bar ? No, because we had already eaten. But, against the wall of the Cathedral she found a truly gaudy fruit cart that made her a wonderful fruit salad to order, which we ate in the Jardin Borda...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
This is pretty tough. Looks like an old bridge with strong Chinese influence. I've never been there but would favor something in Southern China or maybe Southeast Asia. Anyone besides PortMoresby ever seen this before?
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
Originally Posted by Travel Luver: This is pretty tough. Looks like an old bridge with strong Chinese influence. I've never been there but would favor something in Southern China or maybe Southeast Asia. I agree with Travel Luver. It reminds me of traditional architecture in Thailand. I wonder whether the wooden structure is the same age as the stone supports or a replacement.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
"A settlement of people" is interesting. How about trading settlements? There were many European closed settlements. The Dutch in Japan, the British in China (Hong Kong, Shanghai), the Portuguese in Malacca and Macau...there were probably (in fact I'm pretty sure) Arab trading colonies as well... I think we're talking about a bridge into one of these trading settlements.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
O.K. So it's not in Japan or probably Malaysia or Indonesia. I think it unlikely that Port Moresby has been to Myanmar (though he certainly appears to be a very intrepid traveller). The more reading I do leads me to believe that it's most likely Port Moresby is referring to European trading within Macau, Canton, Hong Kong or perhaps Taiwan...so given that we think the bridge is...well, very old I would be leaning toward the Portuguese or the Dutch as one of the nations involved and China...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
I'm amazed at seeing this. At first I was thinking, well, communal dwelling, sort of like pueblos, and then I realized that this is much bigger, since you said there are hundreds of these. Do you know if they are in other areas of China, too? Are people still building like that now?
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Re: Gifts to bring back from Portugal or Barcellona
I know that hand painted ceramic tiles are popular there in Portugal and Spain. But they can get heavy. Maybe wrap them in your clothes, but they'd be nice gifts I think. Put them up on a wall, use them for hot pots or a hot drinks.
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Re: The "Noah's Ark" airport
DrFumblefinger- I couldn't pull up that link.Does a person need to be a Wall St Journal Subscriber? Frankfurt's airport is also pretty nice for people.
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Re: It wasn't scary enough, so now...no floor!
This is becoming more common with some older coasters, and most fans enjoy it. I'm not crazy about it, but at least it's different.
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Re: In Egypt: The Egyptian Museum
An item from the UK's Guardian comments on the timelessness & "place-less-ness" of Nefertiti's image. If she'd stayed in Egypt after her discovery at Amarna, she'd likely have a place near her image above with her family, in the photo titled " Scene of worship of the Aten ..." as that's a far more interesting historical context, rather than the following reign of Tutankhamun, in which to put her. I hope the book does her real life justice.
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Re: Uber To Earmark 1 Billion Dollars for India Over Next 9 Months
I find myself a bit uncomfortable around Uber and its well-oiled connections in the press, which often seems to regard it as the best thing since sliced bread (and what's so good about that, by the way?). All over Europe, Uber has been in trouble for evading rules, taxes and court rulings; in New York, it operates without paying the taxes other operators must, and with insufficient insurance in some cases—and they have a nasty habit of raising its rates whenever demand is high (double or...
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Re: Good news, bad news on UNESCO's world heritage
I enjoy traveling to UNESCO sites because most of them are very interesting destinations. I even know of some travelers whose goal it is to see "every" UNESCO listing. Good luck to them! I really think UNESCO is doing it's job by identifying important places and encouraging their conservation. I shudder at the thought of a global UNESCO police swooping in to "defend" these sites. It's up to the countries that govern them to do so. Some do a great job; others don't. Some citizens care, others...
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Re: South Dakota State Capital, Pierre – The Land of Infinite Variety
Actually, it was a Jeopardy question last week. But I did know about SD because I drove across it's southern expanse, getting to see Jewel Caverns, Geronimo, Rushmore, Wall Drugs, The Badlands and The Corn Palace. We didn't get to Pierre because it wasn't on the interstate.
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Re: How to not miss a connecting flight
Another thing I've noticed is I'm sometimes forced to go through Customs while transiting, even when the airlines tell me that won't be the case. On my last trip, I transited China twice and both times had to go through customs. I almost missed a connection because of that.
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline
The carry-on limits are posted on the site. Still we were a little worried but there were no problems. We each took a carry-on and a personal bag on for free. A note that my same carry-on was too big for Air China so Norwegian had decent limits.
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Re: Mall of the Emirates
Unbelievable technology to maintain a ski resort in the desert. I believe the world's largest indoor ski resort just opened last summer which is the Wanda Indoor Ski and Winter Sports Resort in Harbin China.
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Re: China now #1 in outbound tourists
I presume when they say "while on the road", they refer to the expenditure during travel. Accommodation, food, etc. might be included in the package - booked and pre-paid in China.
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Re: March 15, 2018: Conway Castle, Wales.
Here we can see an original fireplace. The square holes in the wall where the floor joists would have supported the wooden floor.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#257)
The final wrap up clues and my favorites. Vehicles of different sorts and wall murals to boot. Monday is reveal day, so get those mystery photo answers in pronto.
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Re: Gallery: Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota
If memory serves me correctly, the tour was about 90 minutes. Yes, it was quite cool down there but since I had made the trip in late August, it was quite refreshing to be there. At one point, the guide turned out the lights so the guests could see what true darkness really looks like. I have been in the dark before but not like this, it even seemed to mess with your equilibrium and I felt like I wasn't going to stay upright. Yes DrF, that is a "bacon strip" formation. Water running down a...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#71)
When I first saw this I thought China or SE Asia. But the kegs are a good spot. There's grafitti too. Eastern Europe?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#67)
First thought - China or SE Asia. Not sure about the vegetation though. Doesn't seem it can be too rustic - as the railing on the bridge has some repetitive shapes. Most intriguing.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#67)
I'm with Lynn. My first thoughts were of China, too.
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Re: Travel Bucket List Goals Biggest Motivator for Baby Boomer Travel
Never had a "Bucket List" I'm always intrigued when some one makes a find - that's not on everyone's list. I've recently heard that cruising the Baltic Sea is amazing. There's places to avoid and then there's "Must see's" in China. My travel list is constantly changing.
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Re: Endangered tourist destinations around the World
Excellent article, Felicty. Yes, whilst all these places are a must on most peoples' travel list, we do need to be aware of the environmental impact we as tourists make.
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Re: Endangered tourist destinations around the World
Without the tourist would many of these places survive? Without the billions of euros spent on Venice to keep the water out would it still be walkable ? Would the Taj Mahal still be showing the scars of conflict if people didn't visit and contribute to its hunger for refurbishment ? Or maybe leave it to fall into ruin like the pyramids. Which do we remove? The tourists or the high heels ?
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Re: Endangered tourist destinations around the World
I agree that these destinations are famous and must-sees for every tourist, but all of us have an obligation to not destory these beautiful corners of the World. Like for Venice, as mentioned in the article that so many Cruises pass through here (stops) each year, so they must have dig-up the area and hence the water level keeps rising?! If we don't take care, our future generations wouldn't be able to see these historic places.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#45)
I think this is on Wall St, NYC. They began putting the finishing touches on the building and were almost done, fall of 1929, and by the time they got to the one on the right, they'd run out of money. Years later, when they could have finished it, they called it a great example of art deco and left it that way.
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Re: Old San Juan: Beautiful...and not all old
Plaza de Armas is NOT the premier pigeon feeding spot in San Juan. The honor goes to the near by Plaza de las Palomas (Plaza of the Doves). This park has a wall with literal Pigeon holes and is the home to hundreds of the birds. There are machine to buy food and if you stand real still they will land on your hands and arms to eat.
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Re: Has Anyone Traveled With a Folding Bicycle?
I've never traveled with a bicycle myself, but on my last trip to Asia I met an Englishman who travels often on business to China. We met in Yangshuo, in Guangxi, and he was traveling with a folding bicycle. He seemed a very practical sort, a designer of medical instruments and when I saw him off as he left to go to the airport, he seemed quite comfortable with his bag and another with the bicycle, going into the back of the taxi. I know nothing about it except what I observed, a happy...
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Re: U.S. on track to record for overseas visitors
It's really amazing because the US dollar has done so well in 2014 compared to most currencies . I'm not surprised at all that Japanese tourists to the US decreased after the hit the Yen been taking, but i guess thats been more than made up in increased travel from travelers from Brazil,Mexico and China
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Re: U.S. on track to record for overseas visitors
The post indicates the biggest growth comes from China and Brazil. Folks in those countries are used to their governments treating them poorly. The TSA/Immigration probably seems like business as usual to them. Just my humble opinion.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#43)
I see luggage, I see what looks like a big trash can, center through the trees. First thought is it's an airport atrium. Maybe a hotel but it seems to me a passage on the way out as the left end appears to be open. And if it is open that would imply an airport in a warm place. There's also an interesting buff colored wall with moorish-looking details on the very far side. Hmm. Andalucia? All shots in the dark, I really have no idea.
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Re: Graffitimundo: Art from the streets of Buenos Aires
Graffiti is always a good way to start a hot conversation, because the line between art and vandalism is so hotly contested, as is some people's comfort level with work that is clearly art, but which confronts their vision both of art and society. That confrontation can be sharp, because street art often comes from people who don't have the resources to take part in the "conventional, comfortable" art world. Ironically, people are now paying huge sums for work by the late Keith Haring, who...
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Re: Graffitimundo: Art from the streets of Buenos Aires
Those are all interesting comments, PHeymont. And I do love the attached photo! I am not a fan of graffiti, although I love great street art of the type shown in this blog. But I do recognize the importance of the former as a type of political speech. For example, in Prague the "John Lennon" wall (see photos below) was an important symbol of the resistance to Soviet Communism. After the great singer/songwriter was assassinated, graffiti sprang up on one wall in the city mentioning him and...
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Re: Impression about Perth, Australia
" considering they're all descended from convicts " Very cruel DrF ! With the discovery of gold just outside Bathurst in 1851, the nature of Australian migration changed completely. People arrived in far greater numbers and from more varied backgrounds than ever before. Between 1851 and 1861 over 600,000 came and while the majority were from Britain and Ireland, 60,000 came from Continental Europe, 42,000 from China, 10,000 from the United States and just over 5,000 from New Zealand and the...
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Re: Rose Hall Great House, Jamaica
Thanks Paul. A good story and some interesting photos to accompany it. In my visits to the various Caribbean Islands I have seen voodoo is still in practice. "my son had a stomach ache and the Doctor came to visit. He rubbed his legs with grass and the pain went away. He said the words too. He told me it was caused by not chewing his food enough before swollowing it" Going horse riding at first light I've seen burials on the beach. All ceremony gone home before the tourists arrive to sun...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#85)
Looking more closely, and noting what seems to be a solid wall/window at the back...is this the outdoor extension of a building whose form we're not actually seeing in the picture?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#84)
Looks like part of an old wall to a city or an old fort of some kind. Kids in school uniforms? Anyone recognize the colors?