Cat Cat Village – Vietnam

Cat Cat Village was founded in the middle of the 19th century by the local Mong ethnic people. The village is located in Northwestern Vietnam about 2 kilometers from Sapa Town and about 376 kilometers from Hanoi. Cat Cat Village consists of around 80 households that are located in the center of the village and…

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Zion National Park Scenic Byway – Utah

Zion National Park started out as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909 but it became a national park in 1919. It is located in the southwestern corner of Utah near the Nevada and Arizona borders. It is a convenient trip from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City or from the Grand Canyon National Park. The highlight of…

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Potsdamer Platz – Germany

Potsdamer Platz is a modernized plaza that is surrounded by modern skyscraper with a covered public space in the center. It is in the Berlin city center located only about one kilometer from Brandenburg Gate with the Reichstag and Tiergarten (park) also nearby. The view of Potsdamer Platz from the Reichstag rooftop and from the…

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Birds, birds, birds

Birds, birds, birds! Everywhere we look there are birds. Birds live in practically every environment. Birds live in the forest, in swamps, in the desert, in the fields, on the water, at the beach and around the lake. We see birds in the parks, we see them in the parking lots, we see them when…

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Byodo-In Temple – Japan

The Byodo-in Temple was originally built in 998 AD as a retreat villa for the Fujiwara family. The temple is located in the city of Uji a short distance from Kyoto. The Byodo-in Temple is part of the Jodo sect of Buddhism and is dedicated to the worship of Amida, the cosmic Buddha of “Infinite…

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Hoover Dam – Arizona/Nevada

The Hoover Dam was built between the vertical walls of the Black Canyon on the Colorado River that is the border between Arizona and Nevada and is located about 35 miles from Las Vegas Nevada. Construction of the dam began in 1931 and was completed in 1936. The dam is named after America’s 31st president,…

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Retiro Park – Spain

Retiro Park is an approximately 300 acre urban green space in the center of Madrid, Spain. The park was built in the 17th century but was not opened to the public until 1868 and is Madrid’s version of New York’s Central Park. The park is dominated by trees in all directions but is packed with…

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Nazca Lines – Peru

The Nazca Lines are a collection of about 300 designs in the shapes of living creatures, plants and geometric figures that are scratched on the surface of Peru’s arid coastal plan.  They are located about 400 kilometers south of Lima between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. The Geoglyphs are created between 300 B. C….

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Temple of Hephaestus – Greece

The Temple of Hephaestus may be the best preserved ancient temple in Greece. It is located about 500 meters northwest of the Acropolis in Athens and was dedicated to Hephaestus, the ancient god of fire and Athena, the goddess of pottery and crafts. It is believed to have been built around 450 B. C.  …

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Papapapaitia Falls – Samoa

Papapapaitai Falls is located in the heart of Upola Island in Samoa. It is easily seen but it is not easy to access. The falls are a short distance from the Cross-Island Road that connects the country’s capital city of Apia with the southern part of the island. There is a lookout location near the…

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Butchart Gardens – Canada

Butchart Gardens covers an area of 55 acres and is located near Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. The gardens are a group of floral display gardens that include a Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and a Mediterranean Garden. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada and they celebrated…

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Doge’s Palace – Italy

The Doge’s Palace is located in Venice, Italy and it was not only the center of government during the Venetian Republic but it was also the residence of the Doge. The Doge was an elected lord and Chief of State during the medieval and renaissance periods. The unique architectural design makes it one of Europe’s…

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