Posts Tagged ‘Greece’

The Most Photographed Places in the World

July 27, 2008 - 11:16 pm No Comments

Those artistic elitists might tend to steer away their camera lens from objects or places that are deemed as “the most photographed.”  They even have names for it–which have been somewhat transformed into derogatory terms—such as picturesque, and postcard-ish.  While these common subjects for photography would be sneered at within elite circles, some of us who are simply looking for beautiful places will definitely find these destinations inspiring.  After all, they wouldn’t have been called “the most photographed” if they weren’t exactly sights to behold.

While the problem of having an insufficient travel budget may arise, rest assured that there are countless way to travel these places practically for free.  Anyone who enjoys a good and memorable vacation should have the right to go to these wonderful places.

Table Mountain:
In 75 years over 16 million people have climbed, toured, and gawked at the famous table mountain located at Cape Town, South Africa.  Especially during sunsets, the almost perfect plateau captivates tourists the world over.  The mountain is also surrounded by other tourist destinations, such as beaches and fine hotels, making it accessible to just about anyone.

Parthenon:
Having survived centuries upon centuries, the famous Parthenon in Greece—originally erected I honor of the Goddess Athena—the majestic structure is one of the first things which usually comes into mind whenever travelling to Greece is mentioned.  Just traversing the same steps that Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle must have passed through is enough to bring goosebumps down one’s back.

The Golden Gate Bridge:
The massive bridge located in San Francisco may be a bit of a salmon red—far from golden, we can tell you that—but it certainly offers a golden photo opportunity.  And the best part is, there are lot more places worth looking into whenever you get the chance to visit the city.

Abbey Road:
For those of you who still have no clue why this isn’t one of the most photographed places in the world, you have either been locked away in a dungeon for the last half century, or you have just grown accustomed to listening to music—thus, you probably only have emo bands in your playlist.  Even without John, Paul, George, and Ringo, Abbey Road—located at St. Johns Wood, London—is considered as the most photographed street in the world.

Niagara Falls:
Experiencing the awesome power of nature first hand should be on everyone’s bucket list.  Straddling the international border between the U.S. and Canada, this massive water fall reminds us humans that we are mortals truly vulnerable from obscurity and insignificance.

Best Sunsets Besides the Ones From the Beach

July 14, 2008 - 10:36 pm No Comments

When you hear about the best sunset, a picture-perfect beach comes to mind. Yes, fine white sand, clear sparkling seawater and swaying palm trees are bound to give a great sunset. But aside from beaches, there are a lot of other places that looks glorious when glazed with a golden sunset.

The Grand Canyon in Colorado, Arizona is amazing in daylight but incredibly dramatic as the sun goes down. The light from the setting sun makes the rocky canyon even redder than usual. Also, the lines on the rocks are even more accentuated. This is a must-see. Click here to fly to Phoenix, AZ for free!

Alaska has places set particularly for sunset viewing. The mountains and rivers assure a breathtaking sunset. What makes sunsets so remarkable in Alaska is that the waters can be so still that it makes very clear reflections. You’re eyes will be fooled into seeing double as the reflections are so clear down to the small details.

If you’re looking for a romantic sunset, Paris will not fail you. The silhouette of the glorious Eiffel Tower stands out as the sky starts to get dark. The tower also starts to light up as soon as it gets too dark. The beauty and grandeur of the tower at sundown is breathtakingly romantic. Paris may be romantic and elegant, but it does not have to be expensive. Fly free to Paris!

The pyramids of Giza in Egypt also make remarkable silhouettes at sunset. The pyramids create incredibly perfect outlines.

Greece has a distinct indescribable glow to it. Greece has everything. The beaches and mountains are exemplary. Architecture is also remarkable in Santorini. That distinctive blue domes on white walls are gorgeous. All of these make up the world’s best sunset in Santorini Greece. Being on a mountain, with a view of many clean white structures, the sunset really makes you feel like you’re walking on clouds.

These are great views that you cannot miss. Don’t stop with pictures; see these sites for yourself! Click here to get $500 Airline Gift Certificates!

The Ancient, Medieval and the New Honor the World’s Wonders

July 10, 2008 - 11:56 pm 1 Comment

Greeks centuries ago have started the tradition of listing seven of the world’s wonders. Yes, this list that has been numerously altered is older than Jesus Christ. The first list of wonders is more known as the Wonders of the Ancient World. This is an appropriate title because almost all of the sites in the list come from places that you probably have only heard from myths and ancient history. Plus, only one site from the list survived calamities and still stands today. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Mausolos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria all exist only in drawings or text descriptions. The six are already in ruins. The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is the only wonder that got passed the ancient times.

During the Middle Ages, people have gone far in the field of architecture and were able to put up yet another seven marvelous structures. The next list include England’s Stonehenge, Rome’s Colosseum, the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China, The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, Turkey’s Hagia Sophia and Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa. Many lists came to follow this one, but most of them include these sites as well. Splendor and distinctiveness in architecture placed these seven in the Wonders of the Medieval World.

Most recently, another group who conveniently call themselves The New 7 Wonders Organization came up with a new list. International voting through the internet, text messaging and phone calls the world took part in naming the new 7 Wonders. The list includes familiar places; sites that have already been included in previous lists. Unsurprisingly, the Great Wall, Colosseum and Taj Mahal made the list. South America has a lot to be proud of as three of the New 7 Wonders come from Peru, Mexico and Brazil. The Machu Picchu of Peru, with a combination of long mountain ranges and amazing architectural ruins, should undeniably be on the list. Mexico’s Chichen Itza also is another remnant of a great South American civilization. Brazil’s monument of Christ the Redeemer also makes the list. This tall statue of Christ with arms wide spread stands on a mountain. Petra in Jordan concludes the list of New 7 Wonders. As with the others, it has exemplary architecture and history.

There are many other lists. There is the Natural Wonders of the World, Wonders of the Industrial World etc. It is inevitable to come up with new lists because it is impossible to sum all of the world’s wonders in a list of seven sites. There are so many structures, places and sceneries that we are yet to unearth and discover. There are other wonders that we will never see again. We never know when an earthquake will bring a building to rubbles. It is always good to acknowledge these structures and appreciate them for their grandeur and beauty while it still stands.

Traveling the world does not have to be expensive! Click here to get $500 Airline Gift Card!