BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture located in Central London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects (not all of which are on show) are the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to present day.

The museum opened to the public in 1759, with the famous Rosetta Stone becoming the most famous piece of the collection in 1802. The museum features antiguities from all over the world along with many Greek and Egyptian antiquities. As well as the Rosetta Stone, the museum also houses many other famous pieces such as the Elgin Marbles from Greece. The spectacular Great Court, with its impressive glass roof, was opened in 2000, following the relocation of the British Library to St Pancras, and is the largest covered public square in Europe. Entry to the museum is free but there is a charge for some of the temporary exhibitions on show.

The Great Court

Finally, the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court opened in 2000. This two-acre square (8000 sq m), enclosed by a glass roof, creates an indoor courtyard with the museum's famed circular reading room in the center. This design made by Norman Foster and Partners makes it easier for visitors to find their way in the museum thanks to the large open space, very similar to the way the Easter Island Sculptureentrance area below the Loure Pyramid in Paris Work.

Egyptian Collection

Another highlight of the British Museum is the extensive Egyptian collection. Besides many sarcophagi and statues, including an enormous one of Pharaoh Ramesses II, the collection is home to the famous Rosetta stone, used by Jean-François Champollion to decipher the hieroglyphic writing.

The text on the stone, created in 196 BC after the end of the Egyptian dynasties, is written in three different writings: Greek, hieroglyphic and demotic (a symplified form of hieroglyphic).

The British Museum is also known for its very large and popular collection of Egyptian mummies and coffins. You can even find animal mummies here.

BIG BEN CLOCK

The clock inside the tower was the world's largest when it was installed in the middle of the 19th century. The name Big Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell, the largest of the clock's five bells. The other four are used as quarter bells.

There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour bell. A first, 16 ton weighing bell was cast by John Warner and Sons in 1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet completed, the bell was hung temporarily in the Palace Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in 1858 in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.5 ton bell. Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the belfry in July 1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead of yet again recasting the bell, the crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to prevent any more cracks. 

The hour bell was probably named after Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works. Some sources however claim the bell was named after Benjamin Caunt, a British heavyweight boxing champion.

The Clock

The clock was the largest in the world and is still the largest in Great-Britain. The clock faces have a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand is 9ft or 2.7m long and the minute hand measures 14ft (4.25m) long. 

The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely failed during its long life span. Even after the nearby House of Commons was destroyed by bombing during World War II, the clock kept on chiming. The clock's mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's rate is adjusted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum.

The Tower

The tower was constructed between 1843 and 1858 as the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. The palace is now better known as the Houses of Parliament. 

The clock tower rises 316ft high (96m) and consists of a 200ft (61m) high brick shaft topped by a cast iron framed spire. The clock faces are 180ft / 55m above ground level.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com

EIFFEL TOWER

You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the World Exhibition in 1889, held in celebration of the French Revolution in 1789.

The construction was only meant to last for the duration of the Exposition, but it still stands today, despite all protests from contemporary artists who feared the construction would be the advent of structures without 'individuality' and despite the many people who feared that this huge 'object' would not fit into the architecture of Paris.

Today, there is no such aversion anymore among the Parisians, and one could not imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, in fact it has become the symbol of the City of Light.

The man behind the Eiffel Tower was Gustave Eiffel, known from his revolutionary bridge building techniques, as employed in the great viaduct at Garabit in 1884. These techniques would form the basis for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. He was also known for the construction of the Statue of Liberty's iron framework.

The structure took more than two years to complete. Each one of the about 12,000 iron pieces were designed separately to give them exactly the shape needed. All pieces were prefabricated and fit together using approx. 7 million nails.


Paris Army Museum

The Musée de l'Armée was opened in 1905. It combined two already existing museums, the Artillery Museum and the Historical Army Museum.

Situated at Les Invalides, the expansive French Army Museum covers war from the Stone Age to Hiroshima. The museum boasts a nearly unparalleled selection of artifacts, artwork, uniforms, and personal effects from many wars. Special attention is given to 17th and 18th century wars beginning with the reign of Louis XIV, the Napoleonic Wars, the Franco-Prussian War and World War I and II.

The World War II exhibition is particularly extensive and covers several rooms, with displays on the German invasion, the occupation of France, the resistance and liberation. There's also coverage of the Holocaust, the American involvement in the war as well as the war in the Pacific. 

Visitors can also view a large collection of ancient arms and armor from the 13th to 17th centuries as well as hunting and tournament weapons and armour. A part of the museum is dedicated to oriental weapons between the 15th and 20th century. There are also some artifacts from France's participation in the American Revolution.

Napoleon

For fans of Napoleon Bonaparte, there are some very rare items to view, including the general's own uniforms and hats, his field tent, and his personal trophies. The collection of period uniforms, in general, is fascinating and is among the most extensive of any such collection in the 

world.

Tomb of Napoleon

Visitors to the museum can also include a visit to the tomb of Napoleon - there's a combined entrance fee for the tomb and the museum. The tomb is located on the premises inside the Dome Church. Also buried there are two of his brothers and his son. Some guided tours include a visit to the tomb.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com

AVENUE OF STARS

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Avenue of Stars was designed to recognize the film industry's contribution in promoting Hong Kong as a destination worldwide.

This attraction goes a few steps further than Hollywood's popular Walk of Fame. Along Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars, visitors will find not only plaques 

emblazoned with the names of famous Hong Kong actors and actresses, but will also be treated to a video about the local movie industry, sculptures of particularly notable stars, souvenir kiosks, and interesting tidbits about Hong Kong's more than 100-year film history.

One of the most recent additions to the Avenue of Stars is a 2-meter-high bronze statue of the world's most famous martial arts actor, Bruce Lee. Dedicated in 2005,the statue marked the 65th anniversary of Lee's birth.

Some actors whose names are included on the Avenue of Stars are recognizable only to the Hong Kong community or aficionados of Hong Kong films. Others may be recognized by film fans the world over, such as Jet Li and Sammo Hung, considered the king of the Hong Kong action film.

Initially, 100 actors - both living and dead - were honored along the Avenue of Stars. The local film board notes that they hope to add more stars to their walkway each October.

Avenue of Stars is a free attraction that can be visited any time of the day or night. It's especially lovely in the evening when it's illuminated with tons of twinkling lights.

The promenade at Tsim Sha Tsui also provides a stunning view of the harbor and is an especially good place from which to watch the nighttime Symphony of Lights, a must-see for visitors to Hong Kong.

STATUE SQUARE

The pretty pedestrian area that has become known as Statue Square has been a fixture in Hong Kong since the end of the 19th century. At that time, Hong Kong chose to honor royalty from the then-mother country of England as well as a prominent citizen who had left his mark on the British colony.

When the square was first organized, statues of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII (Prince of Wales and later King of Great Britain and Ireland) all stood in this area.

Joining them was Sir Thomas Jackson, the chief manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) from 1876 to 1902.

Originally, one could view Victoria Harbor from the northern side of the square. However, buildings now stand between Statue Square and the waterfront.

During World War II, the artwork in Statue Square, along with two bronze lions that stood at the nearby HSBC building, were commandeered by the Japanese and taken to Japan to be melted. Fortunately, that never occurred.

After the war, all of the statues were returned to Hong Kong. Currently, Jackson's sits in the middle of the square and the statue of Queen Victoria was placed in Victoria Park. The lions were returned to their original home as well. The cenotaph, a memorial honoring those who died during the second World War was placed at the northern end of the square.

In the mid-1960s, Hong Kong officials beautified the square and added plantings and fountains to the area, making it a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy the midday meal or just take a respite from a long day of sightseeing.

Sources  :
                        www.wikipedia.org
                        www.traveleye.com

TAJ MAHAL

The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous building in the world. Its picture has covered many magazines and travel brochures, and everyone has probably seen a picture of it, but nothing really compares to the real thing - the Taj Mahal looks a lot better in reality than on a picture.

Even those who come to see the Taj with high expectations never fail to be overwhelmed by its beauty.

The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his wife, Arjumand Bann Begum (Mumtaz Mahal) after she died in 1630 at Burhanpur in South India. The construction started in 1632 and was completed in 1653. The workforce of some 20,000 included craftsmen from Italy, Persia and Turkey. It is built by the bank of the Yamuna river not very far from the Agra Fort.

The whole structure is more than 55 meters high built in white and yellow marble. The Taj Mahal is flanked by two smaller red stone buildings, one a mosque and the other a rest house. Outside the walls surrounding the tomb, you'll be harassed by many hawkers, but the Taj and the surrounding gardens are haggler free, so even with the huge crowds visiting the mausoleum, it is a relaxing place. Most people spend several hours around the Taj or in the gardens, which are well maintained. The garden has a geometrical structure, and is believed to symbolize paradise.

To enter the mausoleum, you need to put a cloth around your feet like for any temple in India. You can rent it for a small fee just before the stairs leading to the tomb. If you want to go barefoot, you will certainly burn your feet on a sunny day due to the marble heating up under the Indian sun. Inside the mausoleum it is surprisingly chilly. The interiors are rather dark, and on first sight there's not much to see, but if you take a closer look you will see all the fine marble carvings decorated with many precious and semiprecious stones of any color sapphire, topaz, coral. If you're accompanied by a guide, he will certainly show you that a lot of the interior decorations are made of transparent marble. In the middle of the room inside the Taj, a screen of carved marble surrounds the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, also built exclusively in marble, with calligraphy and other inlay work.

AGRA FORT

While most people visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Agra, once the capital of all of India, has more to offer. Less than 2 kilometers from the Taj Mahal, on the same river bank, you'll find the impressive Agra Fort.

Agra's history goes back more than 2500 years, but it wasn't until the reign of the Mughals that Agra became more than a provincial city

Humayun, son of the founder of the Mogul empire, was offered jewelry and precious stones by the family of the Raja of Gwalior, one of them the famous Koh-i-Noor. 

The heyday of Agra came with the reign of Humayun's son, Akbar The Great. During his reign, the main part of the Agra fort was built. Construction of the fort started in 1156 and was finished in 1605. Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, erected most of the buildings inside the fortress.

The fort

The fort is built alongside the Yamuna river and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone and several buildings inside. The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. You can only enter the fort via the Amar Singh Gate.

Inside Agra Fort

After going through the gate you walk over a ramp and enter the Great Courtyard. On the right hand sight, there's the many pillared Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). 

It was built by Shah Janan in 1628.

Further you find the Royal Pavilions. It contains beautiful mosques (Nagina Masjid & Mina Masjid), palaces (Macchi Bhavan, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal, Shah Jahani Mahal) and the Zenana Mina Bazaar.

Several of the buildings are made of pure marble with beautiful carvings. To cool off the rooms in the marble pavilions, the walls were hollow and filled with running water.

From the balconies in the pavilions, you have a nice view on the Yamuna river and the Taj Mahal.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com

STATUE OF LIBERTY

The Statue of Liberty is 46,5 meters (151ft) tall and together with the pedestal it reaches a height of 93 meters (305ft). You can take the staircase inside the statue and walk all the way up the 354 steps to the crown from where you have a nice view over New York City.

The statue was designed by a young French sculptor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who was striving to build a statue like the great Colossus that once stood at the Greek island Rhodes.

The statue's face was modeled after his mother's and the story goes that the body was modeled after a prostitute.The crown of Lady Liberty, as the statue is often affectionately called, has seven spikes, symbolizing the Seven Seas across which liberty should be spread. In her left hand she holds a tablet with the Declaration of Independence and in her right hand a torch, symbolizing Enlightenment.

The statue's steel framework was made by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel, better known as the man behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Thanks to an ingenious construction consisting of copper plates attached to the metal framework, the statue is flexible enough to withstand heavy storms. Large iron bars attach the framework to a central pylon.

The Statue of Liberty was constructed in Paris, France. It took nine years before it was completed in 1884 after which it was sent to the USA in 214 crates. Even before the arrival of the statue, Bartholdi himself had traveled to the United States to discuss the location of the statue with president Ulysses S. Grant. Eventually it was decided tot erect the statue at a small island in the harbor of New York City. Today the island is known as Liberty Island.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

The Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1869 and 1883, connects Manhattan with New York's most populous borough, Brooklyn. The bridge is one of the most famous and magnificent landmarks in New York City.

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge started in 1869 and took 14 years to complete. At the time many saw the construction of such a large bridge as a folly.

The driving force behind the whole project, John Roebling, was a German immigrant who had worked for the Prussian government as a bridge and road builder. He launched the idea of building a bridge across the East River after he had taken a ferry across the river that ended up stuck in the ice.

The Brooklyn Bridge ranks as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century and remains one of New York's most popular and well known landmarks. The impressive bridge spans the East river between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 ft, about 1.8 km. The span between the large towers measures 1595.5 ft (486 meters). This made the Brooklyn Bridge the world's largest suspension bridge.

The most noticeable feature of the Brooklyn Bridge are the two masonry towers to which the many cables are attached. The towers with large Gothic arches reach a height of 276 ft (84 meters), at the time making them some of the tallest landmarks in New York. Roebling claimed that the monumental towers would make the bridge a historic monument. He was proven right when the bridge officially became a national monument in 1964.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com

FIELD MUSEUM

Chicago's Field Museum is considered one of the finest natural history museums in the U.S. It even gained national acclaim when Steven Spielberg made it the home base for the esteemed archaeologist in his Indiana Jones movies. Movie appearances aside, however, the Field Museum was originally founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. That collection still remains the core of the Field's permanent collection. However, in more than a century, the museum has grown into a home for more than 20 million specimens and a 25,000 volume natural history library. 

The Field Museum boasts a number of both permanent and temporary exhibits that will appeal to museum goers of all ages.

Nature Exhibits

Nature exhibits include areas dedicated to the animals of Africa, North American birds, plants of the world, sea mammals and an underground adventure. 

Main Hall One of the African exhibits tells the story of the Lions of Tsavo, two lions that once terrorized East Africa. Other exhibits include Evolving Planet, a journey through 4 billion years of life on earth and Moving Earth, where you can discover why the plates on the earth move.

Also in the nature section are several galleries with profile rocks and fossils. Other galleries focus on Jade, diamonds and other gems.

Culture Exhibits

Permanent culture-related exhibits include a look inside Ancient Egypt, a chance to view a full scale Pawnee earth lodge, the hall of the Ancient Americas and the lacquer ware art of Japan. There's also a Maori Meeting House and an exhibit on life in Tibet as well as exhibits on Eskimos and Northwest Coast Indians.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the most popular museums in the United States. It covers diverse areas like energy, the environment, the human body, space exploration and transportation. It is located in the South Side, not far from the University of Chicago.

The museum occupies a beautiful Beaux-Arts building designed by Charles C. Atwood. It was built for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition as the Palace of Fine Arts. After the fair the building was occupied by the Field Museum. But in 1921 the Field museum moved to its current home in Grant Park and the building, which was initially constructed as temporary structure, started to deteriorate fast.

In 1926, Julius Rosenwald, owner of Sears, Roebuck & Co. came to the rescue. Inspired by a visit in 1911 to the Deutsches Museum in Munich featuring interactive exhibits, he wanted to bring such a museum to Chicago. Thanks to a donation of 3 million dollar, the new Industrial museum was founded as the Rosenwald Industrial Museum.

Sources  :

                        www.wikipedia.org

                        www.traveleye.com