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Monday, November 23, 2020

Some of My Favorite "Dams"

I've decided today to discuss another one of the great bucket list ideas that I've received from my friend and reader, Jenn. She mentioned Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I love Amsterdam, and it would easily take a prime place on my bucket list as well. But, I think that I want to include some other locations in The Netherlands as well, since it is such a compact and fascinating location.

Amsterdam is easily one of the more beautiful cities in the world. Most tourists head straight to the historic canal district which is the place that I too would probably visit and spend an abundance of time in. But, in being a socially forward thinking city, Amsterdam has received not only a famous reputation, but also an infamous one.

It is true that Amsterdam was one of the first places to legalize Marijuana, and they do have a perfectly legal and well monitored red light district. I know plenty of people who have gone to this amazing country just for that. It's interesting, but don't let an amazing bucket list location go to waste. Make sure you spend time exploring some of the other amazing things in Amsterdam.


Not only is the historic district along the famous canals a wealth of culture, but there are amazing things to see and do all over the city. To get around both Amsterdam and The Netherlands it is best to either get a train pass, or rent a bike. You can combine the two options based on day to day activities as well. I don't think I would recommend driving simply because the country is so convenient in the other ways.
Amsterdam is home to some fascinating history. It's the location of the Anne Frank house. Both Amsterdam and throughout The Netherlands there is some of the best art in the world. Only Italy and France can rival The Netherlands when it comes to painters. The Dutch Masters were some of the best painters in history. This amazing, tiny little country was also the birthplace of Van Gogh. You can take classes in the methods used by the Dutch Masters as well. Art is one of the foci of The Netherlands.

One of the other things that The Netherlands is extremely famous for is engineering. A short bike ride from Amsterdam will take you to the open air museum housing the ancient windmills. The Netherlands has always harnessed wind.


The Netherlands has taken wind farming to the next level. The country sits at a precarious crossing of the North Sea and the North Atlantic. The modern wind farms that now sit off the shores of The Netherlands are some of the largest and most efficient in the world.
Trying to control the water has also been a big part of the country's history. There have been dykes in Holland all the way back to Hans Christian Andersen. They have modernized these levees continually over the years. They are now home to some of the largest water control projects in the world. If they weren't, Amsterdam and other cities would be underwater.

The Dutch have been known around the globe for many things over the years. Wind and water control are only a couple. They were so renowned for their ship building that Peter the Great chose to go there to learn how to build ships so Russia could have a navy. They are still making state of the art ships today.
So, remember to get out of Amsterdam while you're there. Don't miss out on what is only a bike ride away. The tulip fields are best in spring, which is a great time to visit the area. Stay right on a canal boat overnight, ride your bike to the tulip fields during the day. Check out an art museum. There are so many things to do.


Now, the reason I said some of my favorite "Dams" was because, if you go to Amsterdam, do not miss out on taking a little extra time for your trip and visit Rotterdam right up the road. Rotterdam is still one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. Like Baku in Azerbaijan and Abbu Dhabi; it is famous for it's modern architecture. There is something to look at everywhere if you like architecture. They have some of the best schools in the field right in Rotterdam. It's a stark contrast to the laid back artistic Amsterdam and gives you the other side of the coin in what is a very busy little country.


Amsterdam is calm, with good food and during covid-19 restaurant bubbles along the canals where people can enjoy their meal in virus safety. It's the place where you go to hang out, take a bike ride, visit a museum, and traverse the canals in long boats. Yes, walk the red light district and maybe even smoke a joint in a hash bar. I'm just saying, don't stop there.
Rotterdam is fast paced, ahead of its time in many ways, and a modern marvel to look at. It's one of the busiest ports in the world and without it, we wouldn't be able to buy our widgets from Walmart nearly as easily as we do.
So, I agree. Amsterdam should go on everyone's bucket list. But, with the Netherlands being a tiny country; make time to see more. Take time to see the wonders of architecture from wind farms, to levees, to everything in Rotterdam. It's all worth it. It's all a wonder. Check it out and enjoy!
 

 

Thursday, November 12, 2020

And Our First Candidate on the Bucket List is...

I asked for my friends and readers to give me a bucket list that I could research topics from. We all know what I like to do and see with my time, and I realize that there is much more out there than I know about through my own sources. So, I asked, and my friend Jennifer gave me a list. I love the list that she gave me, and I think that I will start out my blogging on my own site career with her topics. They are spectacular.

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Jenn's list includes this amazing place. Nestled in the highlands of Sri Lanka is the country's first multi religious site. The is the Ambuluwawa Tower. Ambuluwawa is a biodiversity complex and multi religious sanctuary. This tower, residing about 5 Km from the town of Gampola has aspects of a Buddhist Stupa, a Muslim Mosque and a Christian Church. The tower is approximately 48 meters high and has a stairway that guests can climb all the way to the top. Of course, it's not a climb for everybody, so be aware of your capabilities and your phobias. The tower has a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and on a clear day, you can see for miles.


For such a small country, Sri Lanka has some fairly high mountains. The base of the tower is at 3560 meters above sea level. Pretty impressive for what most of us always thought was just an island in the Indian Ocean. As with India, the island that sits just south of the subcontinent is full of surprises. Once a part of the all important shipping lanes that went from China to Europe during the times of sailing ships, this country has become all but forgotten. Since "The King and I" was popular, we haven't heard a whole lot about this island nation.


Today, Sri Lanka is a modern and still all important port. They have every aspect of life covered. They have a metropolis, where most of the business takes place and most of the people live, but they also have a rich and diverse countryside. They even still have elephants, and you can visit a sanctuary and take care of them for the day if you wish. There is so much more to Sri Lanka than we can fathom. Our lives here in America are very different from life at the end of the Subcontinent of India.

Most of Sri Lanka is Buddhist, but there are about 25% of the country that practices other religions like Muslim and Christian. There are even some Hindu. The country itself is a Democratic Socialist Republic. But, what most people don't know about countries like Sri Lanka is that the city part of the country is surrounded by dramatic scenery with jungle and mountains. The train that runs through the country is very popular with tourists and seen as one of the most scenic train rides in the world.

Sri Lanka is an exotic, progressive and beautiful country. Visiting is a no brainer. Just remember a few things before you go. First, they mostly don't speak English. Be prepared when you go that they mostly speak Sinhalese and Tamil. They have modern conveniences like internet and cell phones, but the coverage is not as thorough as what we're used to in the United States. This is a foreign country. It is a cultural experience. If that's what you're looking for, then you've found your spot. Transportation around the country is easy to use. The cost of your stay won't be any more than staying in India.

So, Jenn, this was an amazing choice. I'm glad you told me about it. It's a place that due to its nominal weather, you can visit year round. It's eclectic, it's multi cultural, and it's beautiful. So, take a jaunt to the small island nation of Sri Lanka off the coast of India and climb the tower and see all the facilities at Ambuluwawa and enjoy!




 

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Let's Make a Bucket List!

I always have a bucket list. It drives my husband crazy. I've been many places around the world, from Iceland, to most of mainland Europe, to Russia, with Canada; many provinces, Mexico, and most of the United States. New York City is one of my favorite hangouts and hiking is one of my passions. So, whether it's Switzerland's Alps, Berlin's Wall, or the cheap pharmacies of Los Algodones, Mexico; I enjoy an adventure.
So, what I would like my readers to do is to contact me with your bucket list items. I have mine, and I will regularly discuss them here. But, I would like to look into some of your bucket list items, so don't be shy. Where would you like to go?

Lately, I've been hearing a lot about South America. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor took it upon themselves to make a third installment of the Long Way series and ride electric motorcycles from Ushuaia, Argentina to Los Angeles, California. They call it Long Way Up, and it's airing on Apple TV. Every time I see something amazing on TV, it tends to go right on my bucket list. This time, Ushuaia was already there. So, let's discuss the end of the world. That's where Ushuaia is.

The bottom of Argentina is home to many interesting places. Patagonia for instance. Some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Some of the clearest waters. The only expanding glaciers. Amazing wildlife. People come to Patagonia to get away from it all. And there's plenty of wide open spaces for that. There are lots of eco friendly establishments that are in the middle of absolutely nowhere and are completely self reliant. That's very attractive these days. It's great for city dwellers. I mean, if you live in a city of millions of people, you probably want to get away. Just saying.

The end of the world is a unique place. There are many day trips to take. You can go around the Beagle Channel and look at the wildlife. If you get lucky, you can even play with penguins. You can do all kinds of activities in Patagonia from hiking, to camping, canoeing and so on. But, one different thing you can do is ride the train. It's the Southern Fuegian Railway, or The Train to the End of the World. Not many trains can lay that claim. So, If you like a relaxing train ride, this one comes with comfortable seats and some of the most amazing scenery you'll ever see on a train. Enjoy that one.
Now, it's true that summer is winter and winter is summer when it comes to the southernmost city in the world. But, all you really have to do it pick your season wisely. And, pick your activities wisely. There are so many places you can go to with Ushuaia as your hopping off point. There are excursions to the widely disputed Falkland or Malvinas Islands where you can see some truly unique settlements. You can arrange a trip to or from Antarctica at key points during the year. Once again, choose your seasons wisely. But, there is one unforgettable excursion that makes this location land right on my bucket list. I always wanted to see the end of the world.

Cape Horn is by and large referred to as The End of the World. People from all around this globe call it that. Cape Horn is actually, by definition, not even a true cape. It is an island. Isla Hornos. It's part of Chile, which shares southern South America with Argentina. It sits on the Strait of Magellan, and some of the roughest waters in the world. Antarctica is only accessible during a few weeks of the year for tourists, and it's not accessible all year to anyone. There are many hazards in the southern waters, and that makes traveling there a true adventure.
Taking the trip to Cape Horn is fraught with potential issues. One of the biggest, other than angry seas that routinely try to kill people, is that those waters may stop you from being able to land on the Cape Horn island. That's right, the cruises that take you there do not promise that you will be able to walk on the island. It is weather permitting. So, not only could it be extremely dangerous, it could be a waste of money. But, I would gladly give it a try. I mean, the scenery has got to be pretty good, even if you don't get to make landfall.

I love a good adventure. The southernmost city in the world sounds like a real adventure. A scenic train where there shouldn't be people? Sounds awesome. Glaciers that still grow? Cool. Beautiful landscapes? Wouldn't miss it. An inaccessible island at the end of the world? Just another challenge in a life full of them. I'm all in. I would love to spend some time at the end of the world in Ushuaia, Argentina and the area.
Now, why don't you tell me somewhere that you would like to go, and I'll try and find out a bit about it. Just remember, if your bucket list isn't ready, then when Covid-19 is finally over and we can travel; you won't have a clue where to go. Get ready for that just like you would for anything else. Enjoy.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g312855-Ushuaia_Province_of_Tierra_del_Fuego_Patagonia-Vacations.html
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ushuaia-Argentina
https://www.tripsavvy.com/ushuaia-argentina-end-of-the-world-4062008
https://www.patagonia-argentina.com/en/ushuaia/
https://www.swoop-patagonia.com/travel/cruises/cape-horn-cruises
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