Tagged With "Akershus Castle and Fortress"
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo, #104
The control panel says its a Boeing B17 Flying Fortress. The call sign says its N3509G. But there are plenty of examples around the world .. Best get to work on the clues !!
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Re: Quebec — A Walled European Fortress In America
Thanks for the note, Chatterbot2. Yes, Quebec is relatively under-touristed, especially when compared to Europe. If you want to visit a 400 year old European stype fortress, don't want to fly across the Atlantic, want to go to place where French is the dominant language, want great food and friendly folks, then Quebec City should be at the top of your travel list.
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Re: A Week in Lucca
I love the looks of Lucca in your pictures...and I'm fascinated to hear the history of the amphitheatre. When I first saw in Arles that the Roman colosseum there had become a fortress and a village in the years after the fall of Rome, I thought it was interesting and singular. Since then, I've heard of more, and realized the logic of it. As "Roman order" broke down after the 5th century, moving into an existing defensible space must have occurred in many places; what is unique about Arles,...
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The Medieval Fortress and Town of Chinon
There are few places in France of greater historic importance than Chinon. You wouldn’t know that by what you see when you drive thru it today as it seems a small sleepy rural town. You’ll see little evidence of...
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Quebec — A Walled European Fortress In America
Quebec, like New York, is both a city and a state (or rather, a province). It’s an island of French heritage and culture within our Anglo-North American continent. We combined this visit with stops in Montreal and...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 3, 2013: Chateau Usse, Loire Valley, France
One of my favorite places in Europe is France's Loire Valley. That's partially because of its pastoral beauty -- rolling hills, farmland, vineyards, forest, dairy herds -- but largely because the people are much more relaxed and...
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A Visit to Ireland: Part 2) the Rock of Cashel
There are few places in Ireland with a richer history than the Rock of Cashel . Situated at the edge of the town of Cashel, the rock is a huge outcropping on top of which rests a complex of old buildings situated some 60m (200ft)...
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Palm Springs Air Museum, California (Where Gumbo was #104)
Gumbo was visiting the Palm Springs Air Museum in the California desert, and specifically had the privilege of sitting in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber (like the one in the above photo). Congratulations to the many who...
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San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
El Morro, the giant fortification that's guarded San Juan Harbor for nearly 500 years, is the sight we saw before we saw it. Its image is everywhere when you do online research for a trip to Puerto Rico; its "garitas"—small domed...
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A Brief Visit to Avignon
The center of Avignon with the Rhône and l'Île Piot in the distance. The purpose of my stop in Avignon was a pause in a pleasant small city, between arriving in France and the week I planned to spend in Uzes. I recalled...
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Capella Palatina, Palermo, Sicily (Where Gumbo Was, #102)
I've visited dozens of wonderful churches in my life, some vaste and grand like St. Paul's in Rome or Westminister Abbey in London, others smaller and with a more intimate feel. As a rule, I'm partially to smaller chapels and...
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Alhambra's night-owl visitors to have a hoot
Night (human) visitors to Granada's famous palace and gardens will soon be joined by owls.
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The Bikaner Mail
Bob Cranwell shares the story of a most memorable train journey -- an experience uniquely Indian.
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Cefalu Cathedral, Sicily
Part of Sicily's Arab-Norman heritage, Cefalu's Cathedral is a showcase of art and a primer of the island's checkered history.
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Journey through Karnataka: Aihole, Pattadakal, and Badami
Professor Abe's journey to Karnataka continues with stops at several more great and historic sites, including an interesting cave temple.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey: Zagreb to Veliko Tărnovo
Wilbur's train journeys around Eastern Europe continue, this week with stops in Zagreb, Split, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Sofia, and Veliko Tărnovo
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Sept. 24, 2017: Lake Asal, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Grand Escapades provides today's Pic of the Day of Lake Asal, a salt lake in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey #5: Istanbul to Tbilisi
Wilbur takes us on another memorable train journey, this one starting in Istanbul, then on to Ankara, Erzurum, Batumi (bu bus), Yerevan and ending in Tbilisi
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Haut-Koenigsbourg, atop Alsace's Vosges Mountains
Haut Koenigsbourg is an improbable bastion atop the Vosges mountains, with views of the Rhine, Alsatian villages and Germany’s Black Forest.
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Churches of Park Slope, Brooklyn
PHeymont explores the varied and mostly 19th-century churches in one of Brooklyn's premier neighborhoods, and explores the area's history.
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Trabzon, Turkey: Ancient History, Modern Life
Lester shares a visit to the ancient city of Trabzon, exploring its history and sights.
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December 3, 2019: Palamidi Fortress, Greece
Marilyn visits a Venetian fort high above Nafplion, Greece.
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Ollantaytambo Ruins, Peru
Sylvia visits the magnificant terraces and Inca ruins located at the town of Ollantaytambo.
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Peripatetic Bhutan
LestertheInvester shares memories and many fine photos of his recent trip to Bhutan.
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Would you believe: Beach tours to N. Korea!
There's always a new "undiscovered" place for vacations to be found (just the other day we had a piece about a former Albanian navy fortress that wants visitors) but this one is probably off the page for quite a few: Beach tours of North Korea, with...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 23, 2015: Around Vancouver Harbor
One of my favorite cities in which to go for a long walk is Vancouver, BC. It lends itself to walking because its setting is incredibly beautiful, its architecture interesting, and there's a lot of fascinating street art you can enjoy. I...
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March 20, 2018: Passau, Germany
Marilyn visits a small riverside city with a long history and shares the view.
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Lunenberg, Nova Scotia (Where Gumbo Was #244)
Gumbo was visiting the coastal town of Lunenberg in Nova Scotia. Lunenberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the best preserved example of a British-planned community in Canada. It is a great spot to spend a day.
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Visiting an ancient monastery in Egypt
Join Marilyn Jones on a visit to a 1500-year-old monastery that keeps alive the traditions of Coptic Christianity.
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Bergen: Norway's Not-So-Second City
Approaching Bergen by Air Bergen is a city of paradoxes. It's Norway's second-largest city, but it feels in many ways like a small town. It's the second-oldest city, but only in a few places does it seem older than 150 years or so. It's...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day: May 11, 2014: Brasov, Romania
Today we did a tiny walk through Muresenilor Street . On the top of the hill lays a must-see tourist point from Brasov: The Citadel, Brasov Fortress foto: Maria Balascau
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept. 20, 2013: Luxembourg, Old City and Ramparts
One of Europe's smallest countries, it's easy not to visit Luxembourg, neatly tucked in between the cultural and economic giants of Europe -- France and Germany -- and just west of its political capital in Belgium. But its a beautiful...
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Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, October 10, 2014: Postcards from Greece - the alleyways of Naxos fort
Strolling through the labyrinth of alleyways in the heart of the old Venetian fortress above the harbour of Naxos in the Greek Cyclades islands, every turn of a corner reveals yet another fascinating building with all the signs of its past history......
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Gallery: Signs of Quebec
Quebec is one of the oldest cities in North America, founded in 1608, now a city of 500,000. It was built on a rocky promontory (Cap-Diamant) which provided excellent defensive views including of the St. Lawrence River...
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Georgia on my Mind
Wilbur's Travels takes us to the beautiful (if not often visited) land of Georgia... And that's not the U.S. state -- it's on that Eurasian land mass!
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Images from Crete
Ian Cook shares some of his final favorite images from Crete, an island he greatly enjoyed visiting and photographing!
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December 2, 2016: Frangokastello Castle, Crete
Ian Cook shares photos and the colorful history of this castle, situated in a relatively remote part of Crete.
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Regensburg, Germany, offers Medieval Holiday Magic
Marilyln Jones shares a holiday visit to the medieval city of Regensburg, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a great holiday market
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Unspoiled Natural Beauty in Croatian National Parks
Alisa Mura shares her favorite National Parks to be found in her homeland of Croatia. For a small country, these parks offer amazing beauty and diversity of sights and experiences.
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Castillo de San José, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
The Castillo de San José (Castle of San José) is an historic fortress and art museum in Arrecife on the Canary Island of Lanzarote.
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Family Fun in Kent County, Delaware
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger shares some of the travel gems for you to enjoy when visiting Delaware's Kent County.
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Dozza, Italy: City of Art and History
Jonathan L takes us on a tour of Dozza, Italy. Home to a biennial art festival and a medieval castle
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Essaouira, Morocco: A seaside treasure
On her tour of Morocco, Marilyn Jones arrives at the Atlantic coast city of Essaouira with its UNESCO-Heritage medina.
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Danish town gets new Viking fortress
A town in Denmark that already has a Viking festival will soon have a new ancient Viking fortress
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Feb. 23, 2019: Inside Verona's Castelvecchio
Retired from its centuries-long military career, Verona's fortifications are still formidable.
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Cienfuegos, Cuba: A Wonderful Colonial City
Jonathan L takes us on a tour of Cienfuegos, Cuba
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 5, 2014: Flowers in Oslo
Flowers brighten the traffic islands at a number of Oslo's busy downtown intersections. We stood next to this one, near the National Theatre, for quite a while, waiting for our tram. This area is in the center of Oslo, a short walk from cultural...
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Granada, Spain: A Walk Through the Historic Albaicin
Few of Europe’s medieval neighborhoods can have as varied a history as Granada’s hill-climbing Albaicin. Many others share the narrow streets, twisting lanes, hidden courtyards and sudden vistas, but this one is unique, and a UNESCO World...
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Visiting the Alhambra
Where do you begin writing about the Alhambra? It's one of the most famous places in the world, yes. It has a history that is both shorter than one might expect, and more complex. A residence, a fortress, a monument, a museum...no easy description....