Toledo, Spain is a picturesque town located in central Spain and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It use to be the capital of Spain and it’s history reveals a fascinating mix of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures. Read more about my day trip to Toledo, Spain.
Guest post by VisitBolivia.net, the premier guide to Bolivia’s attraction and places.
Copyright All rights reserved by Nacho Fradejas - FotografiAndo
Bolivia is an ancient land inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Tiwanaku as far back as the 1500 B.C. The rich cultural heritage of these groups of people have left indelible marks on the whole country such that these monuments have withstood the wear and tear of time and became an integral part of Bolivia’s tourism. Some of them have already been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Fuerte de Samaipata in 1988, and the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in 2000. Here are some more historical monuments that should be part of every visitor’s must- see list of landmarks in Bolivia:
Heroines of the Coronilla. On San Sebastian Hill in Cochabamba stands a monument to mark the historic resistance of a group of Bolivian women against the Spanish rule in 1812. The resistance was led by a near-blind 60-year old woman named Josefa Manuela Gandarillas, and it was a group of women, children and elderly. Because of this heroic act, the townsfolk decided to build a monument that shows a woman standing on top of a stone pedestal with a group of armed defenders near the base. It was also because of this that in 1927, Bolivia declared May 27 as its official Mother’s Day holiday.
© Daniel Wiedemann - Fotolia.com
Pyramids of Akapana. Located in the town of Tiwanaku in the Bolivian Andes is said to be one of the biggest pre-Columbian constructions in South America (standing at 59 feet) and a monument to the religious and cultural richness of the Tiwanaku people. Although currently undergoing restoration and has been found through new studies that it was never completely finished, the once-mighty structure still depicts its spiritual function in the lives of the families who lived during that era.
By Daan at nl.wikipedia
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, these missionary sites are located in Santa Cruz and were built and founded from late 1600s to 1700s by Jesuit priests. They are considered as architectural highlights in the area, inspired by the idea of a Utopian city.
Everyone says that the Copan Ruins pale in comparison to the Tikal in Guatemala and the Machu Picchu in Peru. Since I have yet to visit either one of them, I didn’t know what to expect. The Copan Ruins was about a 30-45 minute walk from my hotel, The Graditas Maya. You can also grab a cab ride for L10 (L = lempiras) on a three-wheeled motor-taxi, found almost everywhere in Copan.
As soon as I entered the gates to the ruins, there was a large booth to the right. A guide presented himself and told my friend and I that he’d been working there for over 30 years, overseeing parts of the excavation and doing numerous tours for people all over the world from Germany to Japan. Impressed? Me too.
He directed us to the ticket booth and told us to come back for a personal tour whenever we were ready. Instead of waiting for us to return, he followed us to the ticket booth. Red flag #1. He hoovered nearby as he watched us buy our ticket. Red flag #2. Our entrance fee was $15 USD per person. The two tunnels, which allows visitors to see the structures below the ruins was an additional $15 USD. We heard it wasn’t worth it so we decided to only purchase tickets for the entrance to the ruins.
The tour guide said he charges $25 for the two of us. I asked if he could lower it and he said no because he had to buy his own ticket. Red flag #3. I politely declined because that meant he didn’t officially work there. For all I know, he could be making stuff up on the fly. He tried to convince us that it was worth our time and that we could explore on our own after the tour. He whipped out his phone to show us the time but all I saw was a headless half naked girl clad in a bikini. Yes, very professional. Red flag #4.
My friend and I explored the ruins on our own and to be honest, you don’t need a tour guide. A Lonely Planet guide will do just fine. You can go at your own place, see what you want to see, read up on things that stand out to you and take it easy knowing that there isn’t someone herding you along just so he has enough time to pick up the next group of tourists.
Check out photos of Copan Ruins on A Pair of Panties & Boxer’s Facebook page.
Temples. Temples. Temples. What can I say about temples? I don’t know. Let’s just look at pretty pictures of temples instead.
The silhouette of Pura Luhur sitting on a cliff overlooking the sea. Uluwatu, Bali, right after the sunset
The illuminated Temple of Debod at dusk in Parque del Oeste, Madrid. This temple was originally built in Egypt around 2nd century BC, and then in 1968 it was donated to Spain and rebuilt in Madrid.
The ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, Greece. Built around 440 BC.
Dina from Vagabond QuestRyan and Dina are a couple of permanent travelers vagabonding around the world. Ryan is a software guy from Canada, and Dina is a chemist from Java, Indonesia. They met in Japan and then lived in Ontario, Canada. In April 2009, they closed their home and since then have been living on the road with their 2 backpacks. They focus on cheap travel and ways to get more travel enjoyment for less cash. In their blog “Vagabond Quest“, they share their stories and recommendations. Follow them on Twitter @VagabondQuest.
We often see from the other side of the lens and think the photographer was in solitude. Once I shot my sunrise for Angkor Wat I decided to shoot the reality.
AyngelinaAyngelina left her job, apartment, boyfriend and friends to travel solo throughout Central and South America. You can read about her adventures at Bacon is Magic, as she eats her way through Central and South America. You can follow her on Twitter @Ayngelina.
The temples and ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat fascinate travelers as a look into the past, but Angkor Wat is still very much a modern sacred site as well. Pictured is a New Year celebration within the temple complex.
Kevin Revolinski Kevin Revolinski is the author of The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and the Bangkok expert for NileGuide.com. His website and blog are at The Mad Traveler Online.
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Dave DeanDave was born and raised in small town New Zealand providing him with the perfect beginnings for a lifelong travel addiction. After graduating from university with a degree in History and Political Science he packed his meager belongings into a backpack and headed for London. The subsequent years have seen him traveling through thirty-something countries and watching my ‘must see’ list grow larger almost as quickly as I’ve watched my bank balance grow smaller. Check out Dave’s blog, What’s Dave Doing, and follow him on Twitter @driftingkiwi.
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, built in the 2nd Century AD, was converted into a church in the Middle Age and is thus a wonderful example of the layers of History.
The Temple of Venus Genetrix was dedicated to the goddess of motherhood and domesticity by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.
Simon Los RoquesSimon is ‘wild about travel’ and as soon as possible she packs a few things and goes. Born in Italy, growing up in a small village in the Swiss mountains and at 18 back to Italy, in Milan, she remained a nature lover. Simon loves adventure travel and wilderness, and she is wild about scuba diving, hiking and skiing. She started blogging for fun, while she was jobless, but soon got passionate and continues writing her ‘Travel tales by a Travel Addict’.
Visit Simon’s blog at Wild About Travel and follow her on Twitter.
Angkor is a location that lends itself to black and white pictures, I think. The contrasts of the landscape to the ruins seem to show up better in that format. Plus, I think it gives a better image of the age of everything.
Pre Rup, Cambodia
Pre Rup, which is one of the oldest of the temples in the main Angkor Wat area. A nightly traditional is climbing those steps to the top and watching sunset from up there. It's wonderfully peaceful.
Michael HodsonMichael just completed a sixteen month, round-the-world trip without taking a single plane. His blog — One Lap, No Jetlag — is at www.mobilelawyer.blogspot.com and you can Twitter him at @mobilelawyer.
Royal Temple
Matt Preston is an English travel photographer and co-founder of Travel With Mate. He has also created a book entitled “Portraits of Asia.” Matt is currently living in Sydney, Australia before going to Borneo.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven
Prayer Cards tied to a bridge at the Confucian Temple
Burning incense and praying at the Lama Temple
Emily HyndmanEmily Hyndman is a recent college graduate who never leaves home without her camera. A recent trip to Beijing left her with a desire to explore Asia. A big fan of slow travel, Emily hopes to eventually live and work abroad. Until that day comes, she enjoys exploring and living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, starting with her new home in Seattle, WA. You can follow her on Twitter @eehyndman.
Baha'i Temple
Mayadevi Temple - Birthplace of Buddha
Myanmar Monastery
Aye, Jack & EmmaThese pictures were taken during a mother-daughter Buddhist Pilgrimage to India and Nepal in early 2008. Follow this fabulous family of three on their inspiring blog Got Passport: Will Travel. Will Serve and follow them on Twitter @gotpassport as they prepare to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand this summer.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a Buddhist temple complex consisting of over 30 beautiful, old buildings that rest on a hillside full of trees and natural springs.
Prambanan temple complex near Jogjakarta on the island of Java, Indonesia. These Hindu temples date from the 9th century and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This temple is known for its spectacular location as it rests on a cliff about 70 meters above the ocean.
Jenna FranciscoJenna works as a professor in Sacramento, California, but loves to get away whenever she can. She studied and lived abroad and has traveled extensively through Europe. She has a multi-cultural family and spends time every year visiting family either in Brazil or Indonesia, or both. As the mother of a toddler, she is learning new ways to travel and looks forward to sharing her adventures with others. Check out her blog at Adventures of a 21st Century Family.
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El Escorial - Image from www.djibnet.com
To get to San Lorenzo de El Escorial JC and I took the Cercanias, Madrid’s rural trains. The El Escorial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as a monastery, a royal place, a museum and a school. King Philip II, the most pious king on all of Spain, built the El Escorial for his father as a place to rest his tomb. Now, it is where all of Spain’s royal families are laid to rest. The El Escorial is jaw-droppingly massive and a visit is definitely a must.
The Basilica - Image from www.andrewprokos.com
JC and I bought an audio tour and spent the whole day roaming around in the El Escorial. They say you only need about two hours for the entire tour. They were wrong. We were there for 4 hours and that still wasn’t enough. JC and I had to rush a little toward the end to make sure we saw everything we wanted to see before the El Escorial closed at 6PM. Photos were forbidden and out of respect to the dead, I didn’t take any. If you want to see what the El Escorial looks like without having to visit San Lorenzo, watch the movie Elizabeth starring. The movie was shot inside the El Escorial.
The photos below were all grabbed from Google Images.
The Basilica is the central part of the El Escorial consisting of two churches. King Philip II was so pious that he built a secret pathway that connected his bedroom to the Basilica.
The library holds over 40,000 of King Phillip’s personal collection of books. They were stacked neatly and locked safely behind meticulously carved wooden shelves. The floor was made of marble and the frescoes on the ceiling were beautifully painted. I almost broke my neck staring at it.
Children's Tomb Images from www.khoffer.com
This tomb holds all of the royal infants who didn’t make it past puberty. There were many more who died post-puberty but I’d have to say that the tomb chamber for the royal families were most impressive in every way possible. The royal families, at the time of the construction of the tomb, had an enormous amount at their disposal. Everything was gilded in gold. The intricate marble stones were meticulously carved. Every room in the tomb was spacious and decorated with crowns and marble statues. It looked like a fairytale palace with marble guards that came to life.
Pantheon of the Kings - Image from www.corbisimages.com
Adjacent to the tomb chamber of the royal children is the chamber where the Kings of Spain and their wives were laid to rest. This picture does it no justice but it’s the best one I’ve got. Everything in the El Escorial is so airy and grand and majestic. The voluminous amount of things to see completely blew me away. The El Escorial is one of those places where I went with no expectations of and left with an incredible rich impression.
Outside the El Escorial
It’s the perfect place to visit on a cold and rainy day. This enormous castle sitting in the small and quaint town of San Lorenzo makes it seem like it’s straight from a fairytale. The streets are narrow but I love how you can see the landscape hidden between earthly pastel buildings. The day was gloomy but the town was still so charming. I’d definitely come back to visit the El Escorial again. I knew that it was going to be a big palace, but I had no idea how grand it would be. It definitely took me by surprise.
Tired and hungry, JC and I took the last train back to Madrid. This night, like every other night, we’re ready to feast. All that walking burned so much calories. We were always hungry. Always. We took the metro to Alfonso Martinez and accidentally discovered FresCo – an all you can eat buffet! Jackpot! Most of the time when I travel, eating healthy is the last thing on my mind. But since we discovered FresCo, we ate there at least once a day – usually for dinner. I got my daily doses of meat, fruits, veggies, dairy and dessert. Then I happily let comatose override my body and I’d drag my behind back to the hotel.
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This post is part 15 of 17 of my trip to Istanbul. The series intends to give more than just a I-saw-this-and-did-that review. It aims to share the voice inside my head as I explore a world I’ve only read in books.
Gate of Salutation
The more I travel, the more I realize that the less explored sites often take my breath away more so than popular touristy sites that everyone says it’s a “must-do.” Maybe it’s because I have higher expectation for sites that everyone talks about and less expectations for sites that aren’t mentioned in every single guide book and travel blog.
When I come across something totally unexpected, it leaves an impression and makes me wonder why it doesn’t receive the same amount of publicity as other popular sites. Maybe the impressiveness of the sites becomes diminished once it’s a major tourist attraction. To me it’s no longer as authentic as something that’s hidden in a back alley. It becomes another form of western commercialism charging additional fees for this and that and higher fees for more experiences.
However, not all popular tourist destinations fail to live up to it’s hype. For example, everything I’ve ever read about the Forbidden City was nothing but praises of beauty and extravagance. Even with high expectations, it still blew me away. I had the same kind of expectation for the Topkapi Palace but it wasn’t what I had hoped for. Maybe my expectations were too high.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former primary residence for the Ottoman Sultans before they moved to the more westernized Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosporus River. The Topkapi Palace became museum for it’s fine example of Ottoman architecture and it’s collection of porcelains, weapons, armors, calligraphic manuscripts and it’s most prized treasure and jewelry.
JC and I bought our entrance tickets and proceeded through the Imperial Gate. It was covered in marble and written with gilded inscriptions over a high arch. The gate led to the first courtyard followed by the Gate of Salutation, which was also richly inscribed with calligraphy.
Imperial Council
The first building that instantly caught my eye was the Imperial Council. You can’t miss it with it’s naturally illuminating gilded exterior. The porch and floor was made entirely of marble. The white and green wooden ceiling was decorated in gold. The exterior walls and entrance was plastered in gilded gold. No other building in the Topkapi Palace that I had seen matched up to the lavishness of this one.
JC and I wandered in and out of the courtyards just to get a feel of the palace. It was grand in size but it didn’t match up to my expectations. Like any other major tourist attractions, swarms of tour groups and visitors filled up the palace as the day progressed. Lines were getting excessively long and visitors were getting impatient.
The Imperial Treasury was one of the main sites of the palace. The line to enter snaked around and around and it moved at a snail’s pace. When we finally got in the air was humid and musky. Swarms of people crowded around the glass windows to get a glimpse of the glistening jewels. I’m not a big fan of things that sparkle but curiousity made me wonder what everyone was drooling over.
View From Topkapi Palace
The one thing that did make me go ga-ga was the view from the balcony. Of course, the photo doesn’t do it justice but I had an amazing front row seat since every one was too busy being enchanged my jewels. I got to enjoyed another one of Mother Nature’s masterpiece.
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This post is part 2 of 17 of my trip to Istanbul. The series intends to give more than just a I-saw-this-and-did-that review. It aims to share the voice inside my head as I explore a world I’ve only read in books.
View of the Hagia Sophia from Sultanahmet Square
Rick Steves said that Lady Liberty could do jumping jacks inside the Hagia Sophia. That’s how big it is. Even though the church-turned-mosque-turned-museum is currently under construction, it sits majestically at almost 1,500 years old. Its beauty is timeless.
The Hagia Sophia is just as architecturally impressive now as it was back then. In 1453, Constantinople, now Istanbul, was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. Everything was destroyed and burned to the ground. But Sultan Mehmed II was so enamored by the Hagia Sophia that ordered it to be turned it into a mosque.
During the building’s conversion from church to mosque, many of the mosaics were covered because Islam disapproves of representational depictions. The church’s altar, bells, iconic images and sacrificial vessels were replaced with Islamic features like the mihrab, the minbar, and minarets.
After being burnt down twice, the Hagia Sophia was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian and is now entirely fireproof. Inside, there are eight huge circular wooden boards. Each one has the name of Allah, the prophet Muhammad, the first four caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and the two grandchildren of Mohammed, Hassan and Hussain, written on it.
The most interesting, and probably the most unsanitary, thing I came across was the Wish Column, aka the Sweating Column. I watched each tourist stick their thumb into the designated hole and turned their palm 360 degrees to make a wish. It is the only item in the Hagia Sophia that allows visitors to touch. Touching any of the mosaics, on the other hand, will cause a surround sound eruption of “No touch! No touch! No touch!” from security guards in all directions.
Taiwanese tour group
The Hagia Sophia is grand in size but it’s no exception to the masses and tour groups that flood the building. They all seem to be armed with cameras and ready to shoot. As usual, with any tourist attraction, the weekend is war. Every other day is fair game. Just don’t go on Mondays. It’s closed.
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Photo by Jabari Bell
The Forbidden City is one of Beijing’s crown jewels – along with The Great Wall, The Summer Palace and The Temple of Heaven. The ancient capital is a vibrant city rich in history. There are plenty of gems scattered everywhere. If I had the time, I would have explored every single one of them. But I didn’t. I only had 5 days so I had to make the best of it.
It was hard to cram everything into 5 days. It was even harder deciding what to cram in. The Forbidden City was a must. Why? Because it just is. It would be a shame to fly half way around the world and not step foot into those gated walls. History is preserved for the present to see. But whether or not it will be there tomorrow is another story. I somewhat regret not taking a trip out to Kashgar to visit the Old City. The Chinese government has decided to destroy 85% of the town. It’s reason? To protect an ancient city, China moves to raze it. But I digress.
Back to The Forbidden City. Rain or shine swarms of locals and tourists spend countless hours losing themselves inside these gated walls. A large portion of it has been retouched in preparation for the Olympics. Now that the event is over, I would imagine it to be pristine. Words are vague when it comes to describing The Forbidden City. I’m not going to attempt in fear of boring you to death. You’ll just have to wait for photos every Friday. I’m sure you’d prefer that anyway.
But if you are visiting Beijing and are looking for a more authentic stay, I highly recommend The Far East International Youth Hostel. I wrote a review of it at Layyourheadhere.com, a new site where travel accommodation are selected for travelers by travelers. Here’s an excerpt:
Hutongs in Beijing are slowly becoming a thing of the past. But there are nooks and crannies that shed light to the old school way of life. If you’re looking for insights on the lives of the locals, you will find it in the daily interactions of the people living in hutongs.
The Far East International Youth Hostel is the perfect place to integrate into the local customs and lifestyle. Their accommodations are geared towards budget travelers. To score additional discounts, you can…
Click here to read the full review.
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The Summer Palace - Photo by Jabari Bell
In Shanghai, I was caught in a typhoon. It wasn’t just pouring uncontrollably. It was pouring sideways and up my behind. Umbrellas and raincoats were rendered useless. Students were advised to stay in their rooms. Windows were to be shut tight. Bottled water and cup noodles weren’t the only things flying off the shelf. Trees, bikes, garbage cans and random objects ran down the streets like they had feet. I thought, “Wow, I get to be in a typhoon!” But I wasn’t so excited when my room started to sway. I was on the 16th floor. Luckily, I survived. (It really wasn’t that bad.)
In Beijing, while we were on our way to The Summer Palace, our cab driver told us that it was the coldest day in the past ten years. Don’t I just have the greatest timing for impeccable weather? Well, at least it makes for great memories. It was a day of furious intensity. The cold cut through my bones like butter. I might as well have went naked. When the wind blew, it threw my arms and head back. And my lungs? It was like someone shoved a fire extinguisher down my throat. Inhaling the icy wind made it hard to breathe. I wasn’t climbing a mountain or trekking up The Great Wall but I was gasping for air just by walking against the wind. I hope heaven isn’t really this cold.
As JC, Jabari and I walked through the complex, we realized we were being such big babies. Locals were fishing in the frozen water with their bare hands. A grandpa was jogging in shorts and a T-shirt like it was a spring morning in Central Park. We hung our heads in shame. Seeing that shut us up for a little. Then the wind picked up and we went back to being babies.
It was a little ironic that we went to the Summer Palace on the coldest winter day in Beijing. The emperors of China preferred to spend their summer days in the airy, lush gardens of the Summer Palace instead of being cooped up in the walls of the Forbidden City. The architecture of The Summer Palace is s a harmonious balance between the nature of its surrounding, like the mountains and lakes, with a marble boat, bridges, pavilions and palaces.
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In 493 the people of Henan Province began sculpting them with only a chisel and a religious soul.
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