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Showing posts with the label tourism

The Medieval Carcassonne fortified town

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Medieval Carcassonne is a fortified town rather than a castle - and perhaps the most impressive fortified medieval town to be found. Which is ironic, because in the middle of the 19th century it was in such bad repair that it became scheduled for demolition, to be saved by the efforts of the local mayor, who called in the new 'historic monuments' department to take a look. The main entrance of the fortified city The city was saved, the well known architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc took the renovation project in hand, and the rest, as they say, is history. Panoramic view of the castle inside the fortified city Due to its position on historical routes across France the location has been occupied for more than 5,000 years, and was an important centre from 2,500 years ago onwards. It was first fortified by the Romans, and given the name Carcaso. After the Romans were driven out Carcassonne fell in the hands of various of the invading tribes, and became more fortif

Bayterek Tower - The golden egg on top of the tree of life -, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan

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The golden sphere on top of the Bayterek Tower (also observation desk) BAYTEREK is a monument located in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is an observation tower and a popular attraction for all tourists (locals and foreigners). The Kazakh word "bayterek" translates literally to mean "toll poplar" as in the tree. The construction started in October 1996 and was completed in August 2002, 14 years later.  The building is 105 meters tall with a gold -mirrored of 22 meters diameter sphere. The design meant to embody a folktale a mythical tree of life and a magic bird of happiness. The bird (called Samruk) had laid its egg in the sacred tree of life. An observation deck is located a the top of the tower where you can also place your hand in a print of President NAZARBAEV's palm, the first president following the independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991. The Hand print of President NAZABAEV's palm

Clock Tower - the Port Captain's Office, Cape Town, South Africa

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The Clock Tower of Cape town in Yellow The three-storeyed Clock Tower (originally red) with its pointed Gothic windows is a landmark in Cape tow. It was the first port Captain's office, o nce completed in 1882. The clock was imported from Edinburgh. It was painted in yellow for the Cape Town Design Capital in 2014. A tidal gauge mechanism was located in the ground floor and was indicating the exact height of the tide at any given time for the benefit of the ships entering or leaving the docks. The Port Captain had an overview of harbor activities at the top floor as it was lined with mirrors. The restoration took two years (from 1997 to 98) and was a focal point in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront's urban renewal. Over the years the building has begun to lean slightly about 50mm. A set of brass pins has been inserted in the brickwork to ensure that any movement can be spotted.

Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Downtown Dubai at sunset with the water canal and the iconic Burj Khalifa Downtown Dubai - "The center of Now" - is mixed-used mega-development in the city with the famous and the iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa, The Address Hotel, Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera and Dubai Fountain. You can also found Souq Al Bahar, Emaar Boulevard etc... You will find there commercial, residential, hotels, entertainment, leisure and shopping  It covers an area of 2 square kilometers (0.77 sq miles) at an estimated cost of US$20 billion.

The Magical and picturesque Wadi Bani Khalid, Sultanate of Oman

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Scenic view of Wadi Bani Khalid and his main pool It is the best-known and most famous wadi of the Sharqiyah region and in Oman. It is part of the Hajar Mountains. Located at 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Muscat, it is really accessible as you have to walk only 5 minutes from the car park. You need to take more time and hire up the gorge to appreciate the area and to swim in-between the steep cliffs. The flow of water is constant throughout the year. You will find several white crystal clear blue pools where you can swim. The river continues to the main village given to the locals people water for their gardens. You will find palm trees, bananas trees etc... The garden with Banana Trees and palm groves