World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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Some pearls, please
The Normandy region of France. Lush and green and still unspoiled by modern architecture, not to mention the wild, rocky beaches that make you feel like you were born to be a writer.
It's probably a borderline cliché to say this one, but I don't care - Pompeii. I've seen many ancient, medieval, or otherwise historic sites, and that's the only one I've walked through that felt 'magical' to me. Like a true time machine experience; an entire city of some 20,000 just flash frozen in time for about 1,700 years (it was re-discovered in the 18th century). I remember feeling that way at the time and four years later, I still feel it now. Highly, highly recommend it. If you go, I also suggest you take along a Rick Steves' audio tour, as he does a good job at walking you around the city and fleshing out the highlights, enough for Rome fanatics like me but not enough to be overwhelming to laymen.I will also plug traveling to Greece and renting a car from Athens to tour the ancient sites about the country. Personally, I found Athens disappointing, due to its overwhelming urban sprawl and tremendous graffiti, even on or near the ruins. Where the country really shines for sightseeing, however, is beyond the Athens metro area - where more than a third of the country's entire population lives - all of which is very easily accessible by a fairly new highway system. You have the roads to yourself for the most part, and even some sites you would expect to be jammed are quite empty. Thermopylae - that site famous for the epic last stand of the Spartans against Persia - was literally deserted when I visited, so we had free rein of the site. That was a recurring experience throughout my Greek travels.
Did you visit Marathon? Don't think I can handle Pompeii.
I worked at the Canadian embassy in Lebanon from 1982 to 1984 and I had the chance to visit the site of the ancient city of Byblos, now situated in modern Jbeil, just north of Beirut. On a site covering maybe 8-10 hectares, I was able to visit and go through a Crusaders' castle (nearly intact), Roman ruins (fallen columns and marbles) and Phoenician ruins (old temples, houses, some dating back to Early Bronze Age, 3000 B.C.). I truly felt like traveling in time as I lay inside the ruins of a Bronze Age house.
Natural wonders! South Africa for the animals, the herds, the prides, wonderful. Bosphorus for all the history. Stonehenge, the sea of chalk grass in the wind around those ancient monoliths. The Cotswolds for utter charm. And Bath, the mix of Roman and Celt. Rivers, the Thames and the Seine, again for history surrounding major waterways. The Potomac. I love rivers!But the best natural wonders (including South Africa), are the US - the national parks, the Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Yellowstone, the Giant Redwoods, Carlsbad Caverns, the California Coast from Cambria all the way north to the Redwoods. The parks are where I would go again and South Africa and Stonehenge (at night and see it under a full moon), and Alaska. The outdoors for me!
Some great scenes just happen, you know, flying over a storm and lightning flashing below the clouds. Or landing over a water way in late afternoon.
Religious places. The Basilica in Rome, you really feel the power of the church. The same with Chartres and Notre Dame, and St. Sophia. They are awe-inspiring now, but imagine hundreds of years ago. Architectural achievements.
M.L. wrote: "Natural wonders! South Africa for the animals, the herds, the prides, wonderful. Bosphorus for all the history. Stonehenge, the sea of chalk grass in the wind around those ancient monoliths. The Co..."Great list, M.L. I agree, it's probably best divided into two categories, natural and man-made.
The Basilica is absolutely stunning, regardless of one's religious affiliation. I said at the time it may be one of the most amazing man-made structures I've ever seen in person, and I stand by it. Per Wikipedia: "The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson described St. Peter's as 'an ornament of the earth ... the sublime of the beautiful.'"
Tara wrote: "Did you visit Marathon? Don't think I can handle Pompeii."Sadly, no! I hope to catch that the next time I make it over there. I've heard that like much of the non-ruin famous landmarks in Greece, it's a site without much fanfare or crowds - precisely my preference.
Wow, my bucket list is growing by the second. Nik...I HAVE to see that castle now! And Pompeii. And all the places. I'm crazy about architecture. I would return to Athens in a heartbeat for the street food. For some reason I seem to be in the best meteor shower places at the best times. I never plan it haha but I manage to see a lot of shooting stars. I was in Iceland earlier this year but sadly did not see Northern Lights, which is high on my list of must-sees.I loved visiting the stone circles and cathedrals in England...walking up the bridge to the Angkor Wat temples at sunrise (Cambodia), and gazing over the Great Rift Valley (Kenya)...swimming with rays in the crystal clear waters of the Cayman Islands omg...such incredible experiences. So much yet to see...
Oh I would say Petra in Jordan. The "Rose City" carved into a mountain.
Agreed with Marie about touring the English cathedrals; I wish I'd visited some other stone circles than just Stonehenge. Mehreen - would LOVE to see Petra.
Ostia Antica, just to the west of Rome. It was silted up and covered in mud for centuries, so there are still 3-storey buildings standing and the mosaics are astounding. Compared to the hordes in Rome, hardly anyone goes there! (Travel tip to save money - stay in Lido di Ostia, a seaside town just 30 mins by metro into Rome and hotels are a fraction of Rome prices. Metro fares are very inexpensive.)Marathon's been mentioned here, I stayed at a hotel at Marathon once. I asked where the battle took place and the rep said it was all along the beach! Funny to relax in the sun where a very bloody battle took place... The cremation mound still exists and there is a great tucked-away museum a couple of miles away. Hardly anyone goes to the museum, we cycled there and there were 2 old lady curators chatting away and knitting, they nearly fell off their chairs when we walked in.
Curium/Kourion in Cyprus. It is a unique site from an archaeological viewpoint, it was devastated by an earthquake so it was a snapshot in time of its inhabitants. Generally, Cyprus is fantastic for Classical, Roman and mediaeval remains, especially Crusader forts. I love the mosaics in Pafos.
Callanish, Isle of Lewis - an amazing stone circle. Lewis is a magical island and the beaches rival any in the Caribbean, though it just might be a tad bit colder. My favourite site in England is Avebury, it's a massive prehistoric site and I've visited it many times.
I would love to see Petra too, and Wadi Rum.
E.M. wrote: "Agreed with Marie about touring the English cathedrals; I wish I'd visited some other stone circles than just Stonehenge. Mehreen - would LOVE to see Petra."
Yeah. I know. But be careful.
Some real pearls here from all over the world!Second Pompeii, Basilica, Notre Dame.
And thanks for so many places, yet to visit.
For exotics' fans I'd add Ko Phi Phi in Thailand and lodges in Tsavo, Kenya -:)
M.L. wrote: "Natural wonders! South Africa for the animals, the herds, the prides, wonderful. Bosphorus for all the history. Stonehenge, the sea of chalk grass in the wind around those ancient monoliths. The Co..."Quite a list!
Marie wrote: "Nik...I HAVE to see that castle now! ..."You do, for sure. I've been there twice and would gladly go the third, any time.
I forgot one memorable experience that everyone should try - floating in the Dead Sea. It's the most bizarre sensation to lie back in the water and not sink.
Yep, sort of not-in-the-space weightlessness-:) Not to enter with open cuts though
Nik wrote: "Yep, sort of not-in-the-space weightlessness-:) Not to enter with open cuts though"
Ouch, that would sting like crazy! It's strange too how your skin feels a bit oily afterwards, it gives a lovely soft feel to your skin for a few days.
If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!
Jen wrote: " It's strange too how your skin feels a bit oily afterwards, it gives a lovely soft feel to your skin for a few days...."True, like youth elixir, just for external use-:)
E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"Yep, hedging the risks -:)
E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"Haha nice one!
Okay I do want to try the Dead Sea thing now, Jen!
There are hot springs in Iceland called the Blue Lagoon and I planned to go there on my recent trip...however I was not expecting it to be quite so biting cold outside and the lagoon smells like rotten eggs from a mile away (sulfur). I went ahead and crossed it off the bucket list, even though I did not get in, because there was no way I was going to wear less clothes in that freezing wind, doh! But it was a nice thought :).
Marie wrote: "E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"Haha nice one!
Okay I do want to try the Dead Sea thing now, Jen! ..."
Ooohh, so jealous - Iceland is on my bucket list! :) Freezing cold to warm water doesn't sound great, a sort of sauna in reverse.
Yep, do try the Dead Sea, it's amazing and all those minerals in the water make your skin feel lovely too.
E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"That is a great idea, especially with all the entrepreneurs here!
E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"Good idea! :)
Japan is beautiful. There is a castle in Kyoto that has nightingale floors. They squeak when walked on. They are for security. I doubt if a ninja could sneak in there. Pretty ingenious security system.
Completely agree! The US is the absolute best! :) I live in CA and would not live anywhere else. I mentioned the parks above and they go beyond anything, and I've travelled a bit.
M.L. wrote: "E.M. wrote: "If this whole author thing doesn't work out for us, at least we have a solid tour guide business to fall back on!"Good idea! :)
Japan is beautiful. There is a castle in Kyoto that h..."
Kyoto is my first international travel destination.
Prepare to show us, M.L. after convincing to come visit -:)
M.L. wrote: "Completely agree! The US is the absolute best! :) I live in CA and would not live anywhere else. I mentioned the parks above and they go beyond anything, and I've travelled a bit."Yep. I'm so lucky to have been born and raised in California. Central Coast is the best!
Bibi wrote: "Not sure of the number of US residents in this group, but to me, some of the most breathtaking sights have been in the good ole US of A. Perhaps, being a resident of Nigeria (though well travelled)..."
Yosemite is magnificent! Back in college two friends and I hiked for a week around Hetch Hetchy reservior. I go backcountry for the isolation, communion with nature, and getting away from the constant stimulation of technology.
Tara wrote: "The Normandy region of France. Lush and green and still unspoiled by modern architecture, not to mention the wild, rocky beaches that make you feel like you were born to be a writer."No way! You've been to Normandy? Whereabouts?
Bibi wrote: "Not sure of the number of US residents in this group, but to me, some of the most breathtaking sights have been in the good ole US of A. Perhaps, being a resident of Nigeria (though well travelled)..."Absolutely, the wonderful thing about North America (and I would include Canada as well) is the sheer variety of landscapes. I haven't visited enough of the places there that I would love to see. I thoroughly enjoyed Florida (stunning beaches, Everglades), Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC for its monuments (I even got in the White House!) and central California.
Try the Banf National Park, in the Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta, Canada. Stunning vistas, lots of fauna and, if you are a skier, a great place for Winter sports.
Another fine place, but in a different way, is the Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland (East Coast). A place of savage beauty, sub-arctic style, where someone can take some fantastic pictures. Also in Newfoundland, you can go visit the site of l'Anse-Aux-Meadows, where a Viking settlement from the 11th Century (first visit to America by Europeans) has been rebuilt.
Another fine place, but in a different way, is the Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland (East Coast). A place of savage beauty, sub-arctic style, where someone can take some fantastic pictures. Also in Newfoundland, you can go visit the site of l'Anse-Aux-Meadows, where a Viking settlement from the 11th Century (first visit to America by Europeans) has been rebuilt.
Michel wrote: "Also in Newfoundland, you can go visit the site of l'Anse-Aux-Meadows, where a Viking settlement from the 11th Century (first visit to America by Europeans) has been rebuilt. ..."Interesting! So it's not Chris Columbus for sure, but vikings?
I fell in love with the village of Sintra in Portugal when I went there this year, definitely worth checking out. There's an old moorish Castle and a more modern Palace in very vivid colours and with a slightly oriental Feeling. It was gorgeous and the hike up the mountain was definitely worth it.
Nik wrote: "Michel wrote: "Also in Newfoundland, you can go visit the site of l'Anse-Aux-Meadows, where a Viking settlement from the 11th Century (first visit to America by Europeans) has been rebuilt. ..."Interesting! So it's not Chris Columbus for sure, but vikings? "
Yes, that is now accepted in mainstream archaeology. We could go down the rabbit hole here, early settlers in what is now the United States found a native community who could understand Welsh.
Awesome, Jen :) Yesterday I found an article about dolmens/megaliths in Montana, which is right near me. I have never heard of them before somehow.
Marie wrote: "Awesome, Jen :) Yesterday I found an article about dolmens/megaliths in Montana, which is right near me. I have never heard of them before somehow."Ooh, you've got to go and have a look - if I were nearby I'd come with you!
If you're going to make a visit to Pompeii make sure you stop by Lettere, its only 5 km away... You can see Vesuvius in the photo below. Its where my novel is set and is the ancestral home of my family. The Fattorosi have been in Lettere since the 12th century... My ancestor was Bishop in the Cathedral pictured below in 1428.
Take a tour of the Castle and Cathedral... Marizano or Giusy Todisco will be your guides. Tell them Michael from the United States sent you... lol
Photo gallery - https://resurrectionofthescrolls.com/...
Michael wrote: "If you're going to make a visit to Pompeii make sure you stop by Lettere, its only 5 km away... You can see Vesuvius in the photo below. Its where my novel is set and is the ancestral home of my ..."
I'd love to Michael - it's not definite yet but I'm hoping to get down there in the spring.
With many new travelers on the group, I'm sure we can expand our pearls' collection -:)
We used to live near here. Karijini National park is one of the most beautiful places, but still very remote.http://www.australia.com/content/aust...
One of the four items included in a bucket list, which my late wife insisted we create when I retired in 2001, included visiting all 50 of the United States by car, with a 3-day self-imposed minimum requirement to qualify as a visit. We visited 39 states before my wife died. I have visited 4 more since. Only 7 more to go!
A couple places I've scoped out in Arizona are the Chiracawa (sp?) Mountains in the southeast corner of the state and Canyon De Chelly in the northwest corner, and of course Sedona. (You have to do some hikes or a jeep tour to see some of the more impressive sights in Sedona.) And in Michigan, up by Traverse City, there's a peninsula called Mission Point Peninsula (lots of wineries on it) and at the end there's a lighthouse with great views of the Great Lake and some of the coast. In the same area, Sleeping Bear Dunes is worth seeing. Great views from atop the dunes, which you can access by automobile or by hiking.
Also, the views from Acadia National Park in Maine are pretty breathtaking.
I haven't been to Europe enough to have personal experience of the wondrous natural sights there...
Any new suggestions maybe towards summer vacationing season?
From May to September, try the Northern Hemisphere, although Tahiti and the Cook Islands are very pleasant, the latter being somewhat cheaper.
Nik wrote: "Any new suggestions maybe towards summer vacationing season?"South Africa, Nik. The choice is endless. Here are some of my favourites:
Stellenbosch is still quaint and has maintained its Dutch-style houses.
Devon Valley - this hotel has breathtaking views over the Wine region: https://www.booking.com/hotel/za/the-....
KwaZulu Natal - again, lovely scenery. They do amazing tours guided by descendants of the Zulus of the battles of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift.
Egypt is one of my favourites, when it's safe to go there. It is very different from other destinations - the Valley of the Kings is quite surreal. Also the temples are still almost complete - you don't have to imagine what might have been. Definitely one for the bucket list.
Offhandedly, I would offer Predjamski Grad/Castle in Slovenia, for it's a rare thing to see a man-made building aligned so harmoniously with the natural landscape of a mountain and a cave:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predjam...