Author: Rashid Farook
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is one of three structures in the Pisa’s Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), which includes the cathedral and Pisa Baptistry. The tower has a height of 55.86 metres (183 feet…
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Neuschwanstein Castle – A Walking Tour
Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century historicist palace on a rugged hill on the foothills of the Alps in the very south of Bavaria, Germany, close to border with Austria. The castle served as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s “Cinderella Castle” in Magic Kingdom Theme park, Florida, USA. After ascending to the throne in 1864, King Ludwig II of Bavaria felt…
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Facing the Eiger in Grindelwald, Switzerland
The Eiger is a 3,967-metre (13,015 ft) mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m (13,642 ft), constituting one of the most emblematic sights of the Swiss Alps. This mountain range and surrounding valleys are commonly known as the Jungfrau region. The Eiger Express tricable…
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Marienplatz, center of Munich, Germany
Marienplatz (English: Mary’s Square, i.e. St. Mary, Our Lady’s Square) is a central square in the city centre of Munich, Germany. It has been the city’s main square since 1158. Marienplatz is easily accessible from the central train station (Munich Hbf) via bus or car. It is not recommended to drive around the city center due to heavy foot traffic and…
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Davos, Switzerland – First Look
Davos is an Alpine resort town in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Davos is located on the river Landwasser, in the Rhaetian Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Ranges. Lake Davos, nestled by the Alpine Mountains, is a popular location for hiking and water sports. Gaining prominence in the 19th century as a mountain health resort, Davos is perhaps best known today for hosting the World Economic Forum, an…
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A Boat Cruise from Riomaggiore in dreamy Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre (meaning “Five Lands”) is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It lies in the west of La Spezia Province, and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vernazza is one of I Borghi più…
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Roman artifacts in Pompeii Archaeological Park, Italy
Pompeii was an ancient city in the Roman era near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. Pompeii, along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area was buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Today Pompeii is a mid-size city with the ancient town preserved as an archaeological park. Largely…
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Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA
Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County, California. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use. It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios sets and is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Most of the park…
