There are so many cities in the world and they all differ from each other in various aspects. But what never fails to impress me is how spectacular cities look like when observed from a viewpoint. It is incredible when we think about what humankind has achieved so far in terms of construction. If possible I always make sure to visit an observation deck or to climb to the top of a mountain in order to get a view of the city. Observations decks are mainly a touristic attraction and sometimes the ticket prices to ascend the deck are quite expensive. However, there are many alternatives. Just ask the locals or do some research on websites! In Madrid for example, the "el corte inglés" at Gran vía offers a splendid view over the city on its food court. Here are eleven cities, observed from above, which I have visited in the last few months. Existem milhares de cidades no mundo e todas elas se distinguem em vários aspetos. E sempre que observo uma cidade de algum miradouro fico sempre de boca aberta, até porque é incrível ver o que o Homem foi e é capaz de conseguir, em termos de construção neste caso. Se possível, sempre que viajo para uma cidade desconhecida visito um miradouro ou subo ao topo de uma montanha para ver a cidade de cima. É claro que são pontos muito turísticos e por vezes os preços dos bilhetes para aceder aos convés de observação podem ser bem caros. Porém, há muitas alternativas. Basta perguntar aos moradores ou pesquisar na internet. Muitos bloggers revelam alguns cantinhos secretos das cidades mais conhecidas do mundo. Em Madrid por exemplo, o El Corte Inglés na Gran Vía convida todos a visitarem o último andar, onde se encontram os restaurantes, para se maravilharem com a grande vista sobre a cidade, a custo zero! Neste blog apresento-vos onze cidades vistas de cima e alguns dos miradouros. 1. Rio de Janeiro Mountainous, green, bright, oceanic, that is how I describe Rio. The crowded Cristo Redentor statue and the popular Sugarloaf will provide you with amazing views over this town. Another tipp: climb to the top of the valley of Tijuca, to get a great view of the east side of Rio. Montanhoso, verde, vivo, oceanico, é como descrevo o Rio. O Cristo Redentor, rodeado de inúmeros turistas, e o famoso Pão de Açúcar são de facto grandes miradouros para ter uma vista espantosa sobre a cidade carioca. Outra dica: subir ao topo da montanha do Tijuca para ter também uma vista do Oeste! 2. São Paulo From above, the city looks like a sea of buildings. The area of the municipality is 90 times bigger than Zurich! The pictures above were taken on the rooftop bar of the hotel UNIQUE and on the tower of Italy Torre de Itália (Avenida Ipiranga, 344 - República, São Paulo). Parece um mar de edifícios. Imaginem só que a área da municipalidade é 90 vezes maior que a cidade de Zurique! Estas imagens foram feitas no topo do edifício Torre de Itália (Avenida Ipiranga, 344- República, São Paulo) e na rooftop bar do hotel UNIQUE. 3. Lisboa My hometown reminds of San Francisco because of the similar bridge, Ponte 25 de Abril. But Lisbon still has its own charm, incomparable to any other city in the world. Here, on top of the statue of Christ in Almada, it is possible to catch sight of the long bridge of Vasco da Gama which connects Lisbon to Setúbal and also the old city of Lisboa, the Baixa, is recognizable. A minha cidade natal faz lembrar São Francisco por causa da Ponte 25 de Abril, parecida com a Golden Gate Bridge. Mas Lisboa tem o seu próprio charme, incomparável a qualquer outra cidade do mundo. Aqui, no topo do Cristo Rei em Almada é possivel avistar a Ponte Vasco da Gama que liga a cidade de Lisboa a Setúbal. Também se pode observar a Baixa, a cidade antiga. 4. Athens On the Akropolis many monuments are visible, which are a landmark of the greek city. The view over Athens is simply mesmerizing, but I also recommend enjoying a drink on the rooftop bar AforAthens in the centre of the city. A partir da Acrópolis pode-se observar muitos monumentos que são a imagem de marca da região. A vista é simplesmente deslumbrante, mas também recomendo uma visita ao bar AforAthens no centro da cidade. 5. London The London Eye might be on the bucket list of every tourist passing by London but it is obvious that the view is spectacular. It is the Europe's tallest Ferris Wheel with a height of 135m, but if you want to get higher then you can visit the observation deck of The Shard on the 72nd floor. O London Eye é supostamente uma atração visitada por qualquer turista que por ali passe. Pudera, obviamente que a vista é imperdível! Com os seus 135m de altura é a maior roda gigante da Europa. Quem quiser subir mais alto pode visitar o convés de observação do The Shard no 72o andar. 6. Delhi It gets very tight in the narrow minarets of the Jama Masjid Mosque, but it is defitinely a great spot to observe the capital from another perspective. The wall of Red Fort is visible on one side and on the other side, depending on the air quality, you can see beyond the horizon. Such a vibrant and colorful city! Quem subir ao minarete da mesquita Jama Masjid é recompensado com uma grande vista. De um lado vê-se o muro do Forte Vermelho e do outro, dependendo da qualidade do ar, vê-se além do horizonte. Uma cidade vibrante e colorida! 7. Tokyo Soccer fields on top of buildings, ancient settlements and gardens hidden between the high apartments and the end of the city is beyond of sight. To get this view of Tokyo visit the observation deck of Tokyo Tower, "the red Eiffel Tower". If you go during sunset you will be in awe observing the sun's red veil setting over the city... Campos de futebol nos terraços dos prédios, edificios antigos e jardins escondidos por entre os arranja céus, uma cidade que parece não ter fim. No convés de observação da torre Tokyo Tower, "a torre Eiffel vermelha", pode-se observar tudo isto e muito mais. Durante o pôr do sol a vista torna-se ainda mais mística, quando a lua vermelha se põe. 8. Hong Kong A fusion of Rio de Janeiro and New York. It's the lightshow, the skyscrapers, the green valleys, the bay... Hiking the Victoria peak might be quite exhausting but the view from above is priceless. For an evening relaxation enjoy the view on the rooftop bar Sevva! Uma fusão de Rio de Janeiro e Nova Iorque. São os espetáculos de luz, os arranha- céus, os vales verdes, a baía... Subir ao Victoria Peak pode ser bem cansativo mas a vista é espetacular! Para relaxar à noite disfruta da vista no rooftop bar Sevva! 9. Singapore Now this is another level. Singapore is a fantastic, futuristic and prosperous city. On top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel you will get the perfect view. Isto é outro nível. Singapura é uma cidade fantástica, futurística e próspera. O convés de observação do hotel Marina Bay Sands oferece a melhor vista! 10. Chicago Can you imagine that those waters are not forming a sea or an ocean but the Michigan LAKE instead? I went to the observation deck of Willi's tower where 3 glass balconies, known as the Ledge, give visitors the chance to see the city below their feet at an altitude of 412metres! Consegues imaginar que aquelas águas não formam um mar ou oceano, mas sim o LAGO de Michigan? Visitei o miradouro da torre Willi's Tower, onde 3 balcões de vidro, Ledge, dão aos mais curiosos a oportunidade de observar a cidade mesmo por baixo dos seus pés a uma altura de 412 metros! Que vertigens... 11. New York Last but not least, the concrete jungle seen from the observation deck of the Rockefeller tower. Personally, I believe this might be the best place to see the city from various perspectives since on one side you can see the majestic Empire State building and on the other side you can check out the rectangular shaped Central park which extends through Manhattan. E claro que não podia faltar a icónica vista da cidade mais famosa, Nova Iorque. Recomendo visitar a torre de Rockefeller pois aqui pode-se observar o gigantesco parque Central Park de um lado, e do outro lado está o majestoso edifício Empire State Building. Which is your favourite city, seen from above? Do you have any other recommendations for an even better view in one of these cities? :) Qual é para ti a cidade mais bonita, vista de cima? Tens outras dicas para observar uma destas cidades de uma outra perspetiva? :)
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Câmara de lobos On my last day in Madeira my aunt and I passed by the popular Câmara de lobos. It was a traditional fishing village and is situated 5km away from Funchal. The name of Camara de lobos was given by the discoverers João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira because of the shape of its bay and the many sea lions ("lobos") living there at the time. It is a lovely village with many restaurants and bars and breathtaking viewpoints. Câmara de Lobos, apart from its wonderful bay, has several points of interest such as Pico da Torre, Curral das Freiras, Boca dos Namorados, Boca da Corrida and Cabo Girão. Here are some pictures of Camara de lobos that I would like to share with you. Make sure to visit the observation point of Cabo Girão. It is the highest cape in Europe, at an elevation of 580 m, and is famous for its suspended glass platform. Since I visited Madeira during winter, I forgot to take into account its closing time. We arrived there at 8pm, so it was closed. I could only take a picture from outside the skywalk, at night, which you can see above. So this observation point is still on my bucket list... Winter schedule: 8am - 7pm Summer schedule: 8am - 9pm To finish this blog, here's a photo of the beautiful village I stayed at, Jardim do Mar. It is very popular among tourists and backpackers. Jardim do Mar is a quiet place, perfect to enjoy the nature and admire the ocean. This village is also the starting point of many hiking routes like Vereda da Fonte and Vereda da Piedade.
These were my golden days on Madeira island. I hope the pearl of the Atlantic Ocean has caught your attention, you will definitely fall in love with this archipelago! If you have any questions for your (possible) trip to Madeira, just comment below! :) Here is a sneek peak from our day trip to Pico do Arieiro in Madeira island. Enjoy :)
The journey up to the Pico do Arieiro mountain. With an altitude of 1818m, Pico Ruivo is the third highest mountain of Madeira island, after Pico Ruivo (1861m) and Pico das Torres (1851m). It is the only mountain that is accessible by car. The slope on the way gets incredibly steep (all around the island, actually), and there are many observation points before arriving at the Pico do Arieiro, as you can see on the picture below. Observation point over Curral das Freiras, on the valley floor. Pico do Arieiro If the weather allows it, you have a view over much of the island and Porto Santo. It takes about half an hour by car from the centre of Funchal up to Pico to Arieiro. Starting point: PR 1 is the walking route to Pico Ruivo, the highest mountain, which is 7 km long and passes by different vegetations, through cliffs and some tunnels. Adequate hiking equipment and clothing is recommended. Casas de Santana These triangular shaped houses were built by the first habitants. Since the region lacks of stone, the main material used for the construction was the stalk, found in the sugar cane, bambu, corn and rice plant. This type of construction allowed the houses to get warm during winter and remain fresh during summer. The houses of Santana can be found in the municipality of Santana. This was the journey of my third day on the island of Madeira. If I had more time, I would have walked the hiking routes (levadas) and get to Pico Ruivo. The view up there is amazing.
Don't miss my last post about Madeira, coming up next! :) This is the culinary world of Madeira! The portuguese kitchen varies from mediterranean fish dishes to rustic meat delicacies. In Madeira, the sweet potato, seafood, bolo do caco (typical bread from the locality) and the fried corn milho frito are part of the daily basis. And as desert or snack there is a range of sweet and exotic fruits such as passion fruit, banana (which is highly cultivated on the island), papaya, mango avocado and cherimoya fruit.
Sweets and deserts The bolo de mel, honey cake, is made with sugar syrup and dried fruits. It is traditionally consumed during Christmas season. The consistency is hard and dry but it has a very sweet flavour. Mmmhhmmm... getting hungry? ;) You can find most of the recipes of the above mentioned dishes on the internet, they are very easy!
Which of these dishes or deserts would you like to try? What is your favourite fruit? " Smell the sea and feel the sky, |
According to historic references, the archipelago had been discovered and traced on geographical maps long before the portuguese Descobridores set foot on the island. |
A paradise of forestry, they must have thought, for they baptized the territory as Madeira, the portuguese designation for "wood", since there was an abundance of this raw material. The island revealed a great strategic potential.
Thereafter, the first portuguese citizens started settling down on the island. The first population was formed by relatives of the three navigators as well as some people from the nobility and even old prisoners.
Banana trees and tunnels
Banana trees, sugar cane, passion fruit, sweet potatoes and many other products imported from exotic countries during the golden Age of Discovery were then cultivated on the immense territory of the island. It was then an important trade point for merchants.
On such hilly lands, there was no other solution than building tunnels in order to facilitate the transport and travelling around, apparently. But it is very intriguing waiting for the end of the tunnel and be surprised with a new view. It is like those "click and view" toy cameras, such breathtaking scenarios!
Calling all the nature lovers
Madeira is a pearl on the Atlantic Ocean. Located 560 km, 347 miles away from the shore of Morroco it is a popular stop of cruise trips and passionate hikers can explore the magical levada walks. These roads, called levadas, were built for the transportation of water during medieval era.
The smell of fresh grass and saltwater hovers in the air. If I lived there, I would probably feel like I was on vacation for ever.
Which is your favorite island? Which island are you dreaming of visiting one day?
Até logo!
Lili :)
The defendor of this heavenly highland is the primal force of nature and features ancient legends and myths. He is the dragon of Longqingxia.
Yanqing District
At the mouth of the Yanqing Old city river, this Scenic Area invites discoverers to ride along its waters, leading to fantastic places of natural beauty. It takes up to 2 hours by car to reach this area.
Long Qing Gorge
How do you get onto the dam?
The dragon mentioned above does indeed exist, but it is an artificial construction with the purpose of being an escalator, taking visitors onto the dam.
Main attractions
The landmark of the scenic area is the 70meter high Comb Hill is also known as Solitary Beauty Peak.
Flowers Cave features artificial trees of more than 1650 species which are decorated with birds and other animals. Various themes like Blooming Flowers and Northern Scenery divide these plants into categories. I have only seen the ice lantern festival, explained below.
During winter, it is not possible to take boat cruises since the river is frozen and the dragon escalator is closed anyway. However, from January until Feburary, this scenic area hosts a spectacle of ice and lights, namely the Ice Lantern Festival, or Winter lights Festival.
Ice sculptures and lanterns light up the whole exhibition, which is sited below the reservoir. The most favourable time of the day to visit Long Qing Xia is at dawn, around 4 to 5 pm, when the dark nights are then illuminated by innumerous lanterns placed around the hills, you will see light shows aswell as concerts that take place. One of the highlights is definitely the massive icefall against the dam.
Every year, the festival portrays a different theme. This year, it presents the future Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
It is certainly an impressive event, but the ice cold temperatures can also be a great obstacle. Yes, I always feel cold, so I put on many layers of clothing to keep me warm during the visit. I wore three (!) pairs of socks and still couldn't move my feet for about 2 hours. So if you don't already feel comfortable with the freezing temperatures in Beijing downtown, and want to go for a trip to Long Qing Xia, then prepare ypurself for "Siberian - like" conditions.
How to reach Long Qing from Beijing downtown
By Bus: at Deshengmen Station take number 919 heading to Yanqing County and then transfer to 875 to reach Long Qing Gorge.
By Train: At Beijing North Railway Station get onto the Inter - city Line S2, afterwards take the bus 875 to get to the destination.
Remember that the bus schedule is between 5:30am and 6:00pm!
If you go by car, you can park it at Long Qing and then take a tuktuk (tickets cost around 10 Yuan) to get to the gorge.
Opening Hours and Tickets
The entry only costs 40 Yuan per person, and if you want the whole visit (elevator, cruise and flowers cave) the ticket costs 140 CNY per person.
For further entertainment activities refer to the prices below:
Flower Cave: 10 CNY
Boating: 100 CNY
Slide: 20 CNY
Cableway: 50 CNY
Bungee Jumping 150 CNY
Immortal Temple incl. cableway roundtrip: 50 CNY
I am sure visiting the gorge in summer again!
Do you know other beautiful gorges around the world?
Looking forward to reading your comments :)
I'd rather have a passport full of stamps than a house full of stuff.
Forever a discoverer
They say home is where your heart is. But all the places I have been to until now have stolen my heart, all of them have an interesting and exciting essence which has caught my attention. I don't have a favorite destination, the whole world is my home.
Every locality has something special, a curious culture, valuable history, unique nature and amazing hidden spots waiting to be discovered.
As a flight attendant, this is my attempt to explore these vast lands and to learn more about life, and finally, to show it to you from another perspective.
Let´s get lost!
The bad news is time flies.
The good news is you´re the pilot.
Click here Fotomeitschi and see the world through her eyes ;-)
Es sind die Begegnungen mit Menschen, die das Leben lebenswert machen.
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