Yeah you see as I generally end up in Zimbabwe every year or so I tend not to have a rule like that....Be open minded and see what the country has to offer never mind the government. Im (probably) off to Mali and Libya in the new year so...
I still haven't gone to see the spot of the Mountain Meadow Massacre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre The Mountain Meadows massacre occurred on Friday, September 11, 1857 in Mountain Meadows, Utah, several miles south of Enterprise in Washington County along the Spanish Trail to Santa Fe. Mormon militia and Paiutes killed an entire wagon train of Arkansas farming families known as the Baker/Fancher party, traveling from Arkansas to California together with a group from Missouri that called themselves the "Missouri Wildcats". Around 120 unarmed men, women and older children were killed; 17 of the younger children (none older than six) were spared and all but one (who was raised in a Mormon family) were eventually returned to relatives in Arkansas.
I agree. I've been to a number of places with autocratic governments (China, Vietnam, Boston) and it makes me appreciate home all the more.
Last year I saw The Alhambra in Grenada This year I'll be visiting the Brandenburg Gate. The only thing left on my list is no to see is a series of historically significant Japanese castles (Odawara, etc.)
Definately at or near the top of my list. Came across it in a National Geographic story back in 1982, and have been entranced by it ever since. Another place I want to go to (return to, actually, for a better visit) is Offa's Dyke. Perhaps not as visually impressive as Angkor Wat, but it feels just as much a palpable piece of history underfoot. Also at the top of my list are the plains at Þingvellir, outside Reykjavik, where in 930 the world's first parliament convened (the AlÞing), which was really a gathering of all the leading men in the country, and an important part of early western legal traditions.
Isfahan, Istanbul and Florence. I am only a few hundred miles from Isfahan, waiting for Ramadan to finish so I can comfortably visit this jewel of a city. Except for Istanbul, there simply isn't city in the region that can compare in the wealth of historical sites to the city the Safavid monarch, Shah Abass, adorned with so many impressive monuments.
Here are some more pics of Isfahan, which boast some of the finest mosques, bridges, boulevards, bazars, ancient schools, and traditional coffee shops anywhere in the Middle East. I don't want to slow down this page, so I will just post the links to each photo. http://www.mauiholm.org/images/zagros/maidan.jpg Isfahan's main square, the 2nd largest in the world http://www.irib.ir/Ouriran/isfahan/images/bazar/big/11.jpg Isfahan's bazar, probably the finest in the Middle East http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/20778/0/IIR0497.jpg Isfahan's main boulevard, Chahar Bagh (4 Gardens), laid out in the 17th century http://www.bestirantravel.com/images/sights/isfahan/coffeehouse-isfahan.jpg Traditional coffee house in Isfahan Isfahan on its own boast more ancient bridges than found in almost any country! http://www.shadmehrtour.com/Gallery/Isfahan/isfahan_1.JPG Khajou Bridge (17th century) http://www2.arch.uiuc.edu/aamin/isfahan/images/ssp2.jpg Seyo-Sepol (16th century) http://www2.arch.uiuc.edu/aamin/isfahan/images/stuff/PoleShahrestoon.jpg 12th century Pole Shahrestoon Below: Photos of the Abassi hotel, a reconverted old caravan resting place/motel. http://home.wtal.de/rezas1001/abhotel.jpg http://www.southtravels.com/middleeast/iran/abbasihotel/gifs/hotelview.jpg http://www.syros.aegean.gr/users/nhad/Isfahan/IMG_1667abbasi.JPG http://www.asiatravel.com/iran/isfahan/abbasi/gifs/overview.jpg http://www.silkroadhotels.com/destinations/Iran/hotels-iran/rest-hotel-abbasi-iran.jpg http://www.mojesafar.com/images/hotel3.jpg http://www.itrc.ac.ir/ist2003/images/abasi6.gif If you want more pics from Isfahan, you might look through this site. http://www2.arch.uiuc.edu/aamin/isfahan/Mosques.html
I've seen quite a number of historical places that are far away (Jerusalem, great wall of China, Efese) yet I've never been to the place where William of Orange was shot in Delft (there's still a bullet hole in the wall there). Strange isn't it how we go to greater lengths to find places of historical importance in destinations far away and we ignore those around the corner.
The pyramids of China, there are about a hundred of them and one is supposted to be twice as high (almost 300 metres ) as the big pyramids of Egypt. The Chinese government closed it down, nobodys is allowed to get even close. There are hardly any pictures.
ive been wanting to go to japan for quite sometime now,one place i'll definately have to see when i finally get there is the tomb/shrine of the most famous samurai ever Miyamoto Musashi,author of the book of five rings.
Tell me about it. I grew up in New York and I have NEVER been to the Statute of Liberty or Ellis Island.
Yep, been to NY twice. Both before 9/11, so saw the Twin Towers as well. It's funny how we, as residents of our respected cities, don't get too worked up about typical tourist's attractions.
Not really. The only times I'd do touristy stuff when I lived in the bay area was.........when friends/relatives from out of town visited. Otherwise, why bother? Same for the statue of liberty, which I've also never been to, like Anthony. I have no real interest in it - I can see the thing on its island. I also have a feeling the average European doesn't exactly do what I do when I'm in Europe.
Probably not! I reckon it's just that you're pressed for time when you're travelling and you want to see as much as you can. Whereas at home, you just think oh I'll go and see that one day (and then you never do). The top tourist destination in Holland for the Dutch themselves is most probably the coast/beaches, but I don't think many tourists (apart from the omni-present Germans) are even aware that we have beach resorts.
Whereas the first time I was in Amsterdam the first place we went to was the red light district. Well, not really - the first day I went to the Rijksmuseum and then walked around the canals. But then, we went to the red light district. Weird place, really.
I have been to Amstersdam onlyonce and spent most of it in the Rijksmuseum. But to show you how clueless I am, when we got back to the hotel, we were chatting with the desk clerk who asked where we went. I expalined the museum and a few other places. She asked what I thought about the red light district. I said I was not in the red light district. Turns out I walked through it several times that day. I frankly did not realize it. I guess I was concerntrating too much on the architecture. Either that or I really am completely clueless.
Well, it wouldn't have red lights during the day. I actually thought the Rijksmuseum was a giant letdown. Miles and miles of dreary 18th century Dutch landscapes. Ugh. It has only 4 Rembrands. The Met's collection is far superior.
The Met is great, although i have never been to Amsterdam, so i can't judge b/w the 2. The museums that are on top of my list are: 1. Ermitage 2. Prado 3. Uffizi The big ones that I've been to so far are Louvre, D'Orsay, the British museum, the National Gallery, and the Met.