Tierra del Fuego

Hello Readers! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. This weekend was SOOO hot until last night when the temperature cooled down a little bit. On that note, I’d love to go somewhere where it’s definitely cooled down since it’s almost winter there. Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago located at the southernmost tip of South America and consists mostly of a main island that is divided by Chile and Argentina. While not a huge city or an urban area, this place is largely known for its protected national parks and reserves.

While this place was given its name by the first European explorer to visit the place, Ferdinand Magellan, Tierra del Fuego can trace civilization back to 10,000BC. In the 19^th century, four natives were brought back to meet the British royalty in London and became, to some extent, celebrities. These four then traveled back to Tierra del Fuego and brought along Robert FitzRoy and Charles Darwin, who took extensive notes while on their expedition.

Just because it’s located in South America, don’t expect to have a tropical vacation…you may need to pack a parka. This region has a similar climate to the Alaskan peninsula and Faroe Islands.

If you’re into nature and outdoor activities, this is your heaven. But, even if that’s not your case, you’ll still love the captivating scenery. You can visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park on the Argentinean side of the island and enjoy the Patagonic Forest and the Altos Andes. You can also go for a train ride called the “End of the World Train”, named for being the southernmost functioning locomotive line in the whole world.

Sound scary? Then skip the train and head over to the Chilean side of the island. On this side, you can visit the Alberto de Agonisti National Park where you can be awed by tidewater glaciers and steep fjords.

This fascinating and interesting place is extremely underrated and overlooked by travel agents. Book your trip today to this hidden gem and experience the wonders that nature offers.

Moscow, Russia

Hey Readers! Hopefully by now you’ve seen the last epic Harry Potter movie. Personally I thought it was amazing and I’m extremely upset that the whole series is now over L Anyway, I feel like I’ve been writing a ton of blog posts on England, so I’m moving on to another fascinating place that you’ll love reading about.

Moscow, Russia is the largest city and capital of Russia and has a deep history that is shown in its culture, architecture and people. It is also the northernmost city in the whole world that has a population more than 10 million people (the city’s population is around 12 million). If you’ve read my post on the cities with the most billionaires, you’d already know that Moscow has 79 billionaires, making it the city with the most billionaires in the world.

Besides all the billionaires (what do we care, right?), there are plenty of things to see, eat and enjoy in Moscow. Perhaps the most famous place to visit in the city is the St. Basil’s Cathedral. This Russian Orthodox Church located in Red Square in the center of the city was built in order of Ivan the Terrible. Traditionally built in medieval times, the structure of the building includes a white stone base and buildings made from red bricks. Look how beautiful this place is!!

The Red Square also features the Kremlin, once a citadel that now serves as the residence of the president of Russia. The Red Square is the heart of the city, and there you’ll find the most interesting monuments, cathedrals and other buildings that portray the city’s long history.

Another cathedral you can visit, which is just as beautiful in its own unique way, is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. This one is located on the banks of the Moskva River, and at 344 feet, it is the tallest cathedral in the world. Another interesting fact about this building is that in 1882, it was the place of the debut of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Although in 1931 the building was ordered to be demolished by Stalin, it was rebuilt in 1992 in the same form.

Moscow is well known for their unique architecture, and perhaps the buildings that show this type are the Seven Sisters. These are seven buildings around the city that show the Stalinist designs, which feature the intertwinement of baroque and gothic with the technology used in building American skyscrapers. This style is easily recognizable and most certainly a magnificent sight to see.

Moscow is perhaps one of the top places on my list to visit someday because it’s so interesting and offers so much history. Check out their website at http://www.moscowcity.com/attractions/attractions.htm.

London, United Kingdom

Hello readers! In celebration of the premier of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Part 2 movie, I decided to do this blog post on London, United Kingdom. I’m so excited to go and see this movie!!

London is the largest and capital city of England and the United Kingdom, and is a leading global city in many aspects, such as fashion, business, media, and tourism. It is also the largest financial center besides New York City. London has a ton of things to flaunt, so let’s check it out!

One of the most famous landmarks in the city is the Tower Bridge, which serves as both a bascule and a suspension bridge over River Thames. This bridge has become a national icon for United Kingdom yet it is often mistaken for the London Bridge (like the children’s song), which is the next bridge upstream. The upper level of the bridge is open to the public to travel on and offers a magnificent view.

Another attraction you can’t miss in London is the London Eye. This mega-sized Ferris wheel is also located on the Thames River, and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the city. The wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned pods that represent each of the 32 boroughs in England. From up there, you will probably get the best view of the entire city.

The Westminster Palace is the meeting place of the two Houses of Parliament. It is also close to the famous Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were recently wed. The Palace’s clock tower, better known as “Big Ben” is a huge national icon. While the old palace may have been built around the 11^th century, this particular palace has been modeled in the 19^th century.

Speaking of palaces, we can’t ignore the Buckingham Palace. This is the primary residence of the British royal family. Built for Queen Victoria, who was the first monarch to reside in the palace in 1837, it is now the home of Queen Elizabeth II and all of her family (including the newlyweds!).

Well there you have it. Now go enjoy the movie if you haven’t seen it already!

Blarney, Ireland

Hello Readers! Welcome back to my blog J I was talking with my friends the other day and found out about this awesome place I must share with everyone. Blarney, Ireland is a town in County Cork and is famously known for many reasons.

Blarney is the main tourist attraction in County Cork and is mostly known for being the home of the Blarney Castle and Blarney Rock. I know, that sounds pretty obvious but keep reading!

The Blarney Castle is a medieval castle that has existed since before AD 1200. Although the castle has had multiple fortifications, the site has not lost its original form. It was subsequently occupied at one time by Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, who is said to have supplied four thousand men from Munster to supplement the forces of Robert the Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 (mmm Munster cheese!). This place is fantastically beautiful, surrounded by all different types of gardens and beautiful paths on which you can walk through while you tour the grounds. You can also visit the Blarney House, a Scottish baronial-style mansion that was built on the grounds in 1874.

Of course, the Blarney Castle wouldn’t be such a magical experience to visit without the Blarney Stone, located at the top of the castle. The Blarney Stone has many stories of legendary history by different groups, such as that the rock was the pillow of Jacob as in the biblical story, or that it was used as the Stone of Destiny in Scotland because it had prophetic powers of royal succession. Whichever story it is truly identified with, the stone is known to bestow the gift of eloquence. Tourists may hang upside down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone for this gift. After supplying men for the battle of Bannockburn, it is said that Cormac McCarthy was given this stone by the Scots as a gift of gratitude.

There are plenty of other things to do in County Cork if you don’t want to make a trip just to visit Blarney. Other castles and mansions include the Bantry House and Gardens, which offers an individual sound tour, and the Desmond Castle, which held American sailors as prisoners during the American Revolutionary War. You can also visit the Fota Wildlife Park, which is Ireland’s only wildlife park. So check out Blarney and County Cork, Ireland today and let me know what you think!

Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)

Edinburgh, United Kingdom is the capital of Scotland and is nicknamed the Athens of the North. It is known as Europe’s festival capital, holding all different types of festivals year round. There are so many things to do and explore in Edinburgh, from castles and museums to gardens and markets.

There is an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. While looking through these pictures of Edinburgh, I realized it’s probably better for all readers to see and enjoy these pictures than reading about it. Let me guide you through these pictures:

The Our Dynamic Earth is an exhibit and museum that is most definitely worth visiting. This place, with free admission, offers a unique 3D AND 4D experience that you will never forget. The museum teaches its visitors of the history of our planet, the present and even the future.

The Edinburgh Castle was erected in the 7th century on an extinct volcano. This castle is an extremely historic place, not to mention absolutely beautiful! It is the connecting monument in between Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town.

This is a scene you would find yourself encased in when you visit one of Edinburgh's many festivals!

The Royal Mile is located right in the heart of Edinburgh and is the center for public gatherings and the main place for an amazing local shopping spree.

As I'm sure most of you know already, Scottish Whiskey is famously known all around the world. Trying one of these authentic whiskeys is an opportunity you most definitely cannot miss when you're there!

Edinburgh is a beautiful, unique gem that is proud of its rich, long history and of its magnificence. What do you think of Edinburgh?