historical travel
Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park
In 1419, during the early Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of an inner city wall to protect the imperial city of Beijing, including the Forbidden City. Originally spanning 40 kilometers in length, much of the old city wall has been destroyed over the years to make room for subways, highways and new buildings. Fortunately, parts of the old city wall remain, and beginning on November 25, 2001, the Chinese government began removing all of the shanty houses and other residences and buildings that were built up using the city wall as part of their structures, which may have actually saved this long section of the wall by hiding it in a maze of hutongs (alleyways) for many years. In 2002, the Beijing Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park officially opened, displaying the remaining parts of the ancient city wall in a pleasant park that runs in a straight line along the approximately 1.5 kilometer section of the wall that still remains. A reliable Beijing tour company can take you there, with this park making a fascinating compare/contrast site when combined with a Great Wall tour of the ancient Ming Dynasty Wall near Beijing in the same day. It is also very easy to access the park via the Chongwen subway station on the 2nd (loop) line of the Beijing Subway system.
flowers and partial reconstruction add to the ambiance
Parts of the city wall in the park have been reconstructed from the original bricks of the wall that had been “borrowed” by some of the residence owners when they built their own houses along the wall. The grounds of the park have been beautifully landscaped with trees and flowers, making the park especially nice in the spring, summer and fall.
section of old railroad tracks uncovered
Top Things to Do in Athens
The Acropolis, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is one of the most significant and most visited monuments in the world. It was the original fortified ancient “high city” of Athens built on the Acropolis hill, a prominent rock plateau high above the city, with commanding views and an amazing array of ancient architecture dating back to the Classical period of Ancient Greece. The main buildings of the Acropolis are the Erectheion Temple, the Temple of Athena Nike and the famous Temple of Parthenon, dedicated to the Goddess Athena, protector of the ancient city of Athens. The external pillars of the Parthenon are slightly curved to give an optical illusion as being straight when viewed from every angle. Other sites to view are the Kerameikos, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Roman Agora, Ancient Agora, and the nearby Odeum of Herodes and Theatre of Dionysus. There is a museum behind the Parthenon preserving many of the artifacts from the site.
Ancient Agora is the green parkland next to the Acropolis Hill with a very beautiful view of the Parthenon. An Agora was an open place of assembly in ancient Greek times where free-born male citizens would gather for military duty or to hear statements of the ruling king or council. Later in Greek history, the agora served as a marketplace where merchants kept stalls or shops to sell their goods. There is the Temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved ancient Greek temple, the Attalos Stoa and the museum of the ancient Agora.
Odeum of Herodes is a Roman theatre addition to the Acropolis, built in the city around 167 AD and located on the side of the Acropolis hill easily viewed from the front of the Parthenon. Today, concerts are held here and is where the popular musician Yanni recorded his album ‘Yanni Live at the Acropolis’.
The Craddle Of Civilization
This is clearly one of the most impressive early civilizations of antiquity. There is something truly fascinating about Egypt and the land of the Pharaohs.
The Nile, the Egyptians and their institutions had an amazing bond. This was one of the unique features of the ancient Egyptian civilizations. The soil around the Nile brought a copious deposit of rich silt every year from the Ethiopian tableland, making it productive and fertile.
The level of the Nile rose every year in July and continued to do so until the end of August, when the flood was at its highest. Near the end of October, this flood would recede and leave behind a deposit of silt and also streams and lagoons that became natural reservoirs for fish. The Nile returned to its lowest level in April, which is when vegetation started to decrease, seasonal pools dried out and the game would head north. The cycle would begin again in July and repeat itself annually.
Egyptians were the first people to believe in life after death. This is to do with the rise and fall of the river. When the flood waters rose and fell, this meant the land would “die” every year and be “reborn” when the crops grew. Rebirth was seen as natural. The sun also “died” when it set and was “reborn” every day in the eastern sky. Egyptians reasoned that the human life cycle must be similar to the other natural phenomena.
Enjoying Luxury River Nile Cruises
Cruising along the Nile should be done in a very good quality cruise liner as often trips can be advertised as ‘cruises’ but are often second class river excursions with unsanitary and unpleasant conditions on board. To ensure this does not happen to you and spoil what should be a wonderful occasion it is best to keep this advice in mind.
If you are considering your first Nile cruise, remember that choosing the luxury class option may be the best way to enjoy a level of comfort like nothing you have ever experienced. As soon as you begin one of these luxury Nile cruises, you will find yourself in amazing surroundings and gaze upon some of the world’s most fantastic sights.
Between the splendor of Luxor and the wonders of Aswan, amazing sights await travelers. In particular, those experiencing the inspiring sights of Edfu and and Kom Ombo will be so inspired that this trip is sure to become the first of many luxury Nile cruises.
Ancient Hawaiian Canoes
In Polynesia, each section of islands developed their own type of canoe. For the Hawaiian islands, canoes consisted of a deep, V-sided hulls that enabled them to pierce through the waves and navigate the waters even during windy weather. Under the waterline, the ancient Hawaiian canoes sported flowing curvature that not only minimized drag in the water but provided the canoes with a strong, sound base. The Hawaiians were aware that straight lines and basic curves resulted in structural weakness and increased the water’s resistance against the canoe; therefore they avoided both of these elements in their engineering.
Early types of canoe sail were made of fine matting. The matting was cut into strips and sewn into a large triangular shape. The resulting triangular cloth was secured to two spars to produce a sail. In most areas, such as the Cook islands, New Zealand, and Marquesas, the sail shape was an equilateral triangle-one in which all three sides are the same length. Eventually this type of sail was exchanged for a square-shaped one.
Travel to Egypt and Meet Other Singles
The first stop on your Egyptian tour, is the city of Cairo. This is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world and boasts numerous tourist sites. The most popular of these, are the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. These are the last remaining remnants of the seven wonders of the ancient world and stands as a testament to man’s ingenuity and determination. Join your potential life partner for a guided tour of these historical buildings. Another popular site in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum where you will be able to view the world’s most complete collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Over the next three days you and the rest of your group of singles will spend travelling on a train between Cairo and Aswan. Experience the romance of old world travel in luxury trains where you can mingle with each other and perhaps strike up a relationship with someone who catches your eye. Once you have arrived in Aswan, you will be able to explore the Ancient buildings commissioned by Ramses II before embarking on what is probably the most romantic part of the journey. This has to be the cruise down the Nile to Edfu and Luxor. Here you can sit on the deck with your new budding relationship and experience the breathtaking views on offer. On arrival in Luxor, you will be able to explore the ancient city of Thebes, which includes the Temple of Luxor.
Green Tourism in Rome With Rome Segway Tours
The Colosseum held an almost unimaginable 50,000 spectators in its prime. It is the most famed of the key architectural sights to marvel at in Rome, along with the forum and the Circus Maximus. The Pantheon is similarly one of the essential attractions to explore. Created in 125 AD as a temple to the Roman gods, it is intensely striking.
The Vatican Museum is the more than likely first choice for many a visitor, most distinguished, without a doubt, for its world reputed Sistine Chapel. Another choice that will not disappoint is the Capitoline Museums – the longest-established public galleries on earth. The Capitoline contain, along with many other leading world masters, Bernini and Tintoretti’s extraordinary works.