A Few Famous Bridges

The world is full of beautiful sights, marvelous cities and breath-taking natural beauty. Some of the most impressive manmade structures seen throughout the world are the architectural marvels that get us from one side of a river or body of water to the other.

One such bridge that featured regularly in the lives of Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci was the Ponte Vecchio which spans the Arno River that flows through Florence Italy. Miraculously it survived the ravages of World War 2. When it was first built it served as a commerce hub, with actual built-in butcher shops. Now jewelry shops flourish in the same locations. Ponte Vecchio also has the renown honor of being the location where the concept of bankruptcy was first introduced. What a busy bridge!

 

Photograph og Ponte Vecchio at night. Florence...

Image via Wikipedia

The Millau Bridge in southern France is the world’s tallest bridge that permits vehicles to cross. In fact this French bridge is actually taller than the Eiffel Tower.  It spans the river Tam, suspended on enormous cables. Tourists flock to see this engineering marvel that extends over 8000 feet in length with a single span longer than 1,000 feet. Its maximum clearance is almost 900 feet.  Enjoy the ride and spectacular views, but don’t get dizzy.

Of course the Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most popular bridge in the world. The Golden Gate Strait that flows between Marin County and San Francisco gave birth to this unique bridge’s name. It is still one of the longest suspension bridges in the world and is colored in the eye-catching orange color to help keep it visible in the heavy fog that often covers the bay. It too is one of the them most famous tourist attractions in the world.

Filed Under: Tourist Attractions, Travel Tagged With: , ,

A Bit of Grauman?s Chinese Theater Background

The doors to undoubtedly the most famous movie theater in the world opened on May 18, 1927. Grauman’s Chinese Theater screened the Cecil B. DeMille film “The King of Kings.”  Since that time the 2,000-seat-capacity theater has screened literally thousands of films.

55 Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Image by The City Project via Flickr

The theater is equally famous for the collection of autographs, handprints and footprints left in the cement in the theater’s courtyard, referred to as the “Forecourt of the Stars.”  There you’ll find footprints of such well known stars as Douglas Fairbanks (also a founding partner of the theater) and the fingerprints of Jennifer Aniston. You’ll also find the gun prints of Roy Rogers along Trigger’s hoof print.  And while most stars have generally left a footprint or handprint you will also find the cigar prints of Groucho Marx and George Burns.  In the case of other stars known for certain “impressions” they left on the industry you will also find Betty Grable’s legs, John Wayne’s fist and the noses of both Bob Hope and Jimmy Durrante.  And not be left to Muggles alone, the wand prints of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have also magically appeared in the cement of this famous courtyard.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater also hosted the Academy Awards – from 1944 to 1946. It was made a historical and cultural landmark in 1968. For a brief period of time the theater was owned by Ted Mann of “Mann Theatres” notoriety and was renamed the “Mann Chinese Theater”; but by 2001ownership shifted to Paramount and Warner Brothers, who though they acquired the Mann brand name as well turned the name of theater back to Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

 

Filed Under: Tourist Attractions, Vacation Hot Spots & Destinations Tagged With: , ,

Keep Your Kids Busy During The Vacation To Enjoy Some Quality Time With Your Spouse

Vector image of two human figures with hands i...

Image via Wikipedia

How can including the amusement park in your travel itinerary help you enhance communication with your spouse? Well, life may settle down into a routine when you have a family. You may find it difficult to retain the older romance in your marriage. A date may be spoiled by a sudden tantrum by your child or a sudden illness. In such a scenario, finding something that will keep the kids occupied will help you bring the spark back into your marriage.

This is why you should plan a trip to the amusement park. Of course, this does not mean you can simply dump your child at the park and go wherever you want to. However, your kids are going to be perfectly happy enjoying the rides and would leave you to enjoy some solitude despite being present in a heavily crowded amusement park.

If you go on a trip with your family members, you can have your relatives take care of your child during the trip and can go out on a romantic lunch or dinner date yourself. Try doing this without planning anything for your child and you may end up being called back to the hotel because of your child’s tantrum.

You should try this even if you feel there is nothing wrong with your marriage. Trying to spend some time with the person you fell in love with and got married to is always a good thing for your mental peace. A few hours together may be all you need to get rid of all the pent up stress and frustration in your life.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Tourist Attractions, Travel Safety, Vacation Hot Spots & Destinations Tagged With: , ,

About Australia – Urban to Outback

Australia's Flag - One Mile Jetty 

Image by Rob Inh00d via Flickr

One of the phrases used to describe Australia is “laid back.” However, Australia is much more. It is a unique country, as rich in history, people and growth as it is in geography diversity.

The continent that is now Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1606.  British explorer James Cook claimed the Australian continent in 1829 and it was first settled as a penal colony. Australia became independent in 1901 and has the distinction of being the only government in the world to govern the smallest (and flatest) continent in the world, and the outlying islands, the sixth largest country in the world – rougly the size of the continental United States.

Australia is made up of six states and two territories. Three-fourths of the Australian continent is semi-arid, making it difficult to grow crops. The country has the lowest precipitation rate of any inhabited continent and one third of the country is composed of ten deserts. As a result, 70 percent of Australia’s 20 million population lives along the eastern seaboard and in the southeast corner. Along the country’s coastline there are 10,000 beaches.  In 2010 Australia was 89 percent urbanized and yet has the lowest population density in the world – six people per square mile.

Australia is also a magnet for immigrants as well as tourists. Since 1945, six million people have come to Australia to live; today, 20 percent of the population is foreign born and represents over 200 different countries. The people have a positive, rugged individualism and sense of adventure that says anything is possible – this is Australia.

Filed Under: Tourist Attractions Tagged With: , ,

Researching Your Options for Money While on Vacation

Everyone needs cash when they are on vacation. However, when planning for a national or international vacation many people do not consider what type of money they will bring. There are so many different ways you can pay for things while on vacation. The problem is that each way comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Every vacationer should consider the benefits and drawbacks of each way to pay for things.

Here is a look at several different ways that vacationers use to pay for items while on vacation. Each item will be assessed for safety, accessibility and budget friendliness.

Cash. While every vacationer will need some type of cash in order to pay for items such as tipping at restaurants or paying for cab rides, having large sums of cash might not be beneficial to vacationers. Cash can be easily accessible and even help stick to a budget. The problem comes in when you factor in safety. Should your cash be stolen there is no way to replace the cash and you are out those funds.

Travelers Checks. Travelers checks offer security but can often be cumbersome to use. Should the travelers checks be stolen they will usually be replaced and you are not out those funds. The problem with travelers checks is they can be difficult to use and many locations will not accept travelers checks. This prevents people from being able to access their money easily.

Credit Cards. Credit cards are the safest, most accessible and budget-friendly option available for travelers. Credit cards are easy to use when making purchases and are safe because should they be stolen the account can easily be closed and the company will help you get the funds you need. Many vacationers use a prepaid credit card because it allows them to stay on budget and have a bit of security for their vacation funds.

Filed Under: Tourist Attractions, Vacation Hot Spots & Destinations Tagged With: , ,
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