Monthly Archives: June 2013

London

While I just spent a few hours in London, I still managed to capture some of the city’s main attractions such as the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Big Ben and the Parliament, the London Eye, the Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Abbey Road and Harrod’s.

 

_33B2469.jpgMarble ArchLondon TaxiBond StreetBuckingham GateBuckingham PalaceBuckingham Fountain;Hyde Park Gate_33B3149.jpgTrafalgar FountainNational GalleryTrafalgar Square MonumentAbbey Road StudioBeatles StoreTower of LondonLondon Night ViewTower Bridge 1Tower Bridge 2Glass BuildingThe London EyeBig Ben_33B2769.jpgHarrod's

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Paris

Paris, the capital of France, is situated on the river Seine.  It is also known as the City of Light because it used to be the centre of education and ideas during the Age of  Enlightenment, and later because of its adoption of street lighting.  The river Seine is an attraction in itself as it has over 30 uniquely designed bridges and the main city attractions can also be viewed while cruising the river.

Many of Paris architectural buildings such as the Opera House, the Louvre Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tour can be best viewed during the evening because of the excellent lighting.

Churches are the oldest intact buildings in the city.  The Notre Dame Cathedral is a showcase of Gothic architecture while the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur is a combination of Romanesque and neo-Byzantine design.  The Eiffel Tower remains an enduring symbol of Paris.

Another attraction in the city is Champs-Elysees, the main shopping street of Paris where popular brands like Louis Vuitton can be found.

The Chateau de Versailles or Versailles Palace is a wealthy suburb of Paris.  Versailles is famous not only for its building and gardens but as a symbol of monarchy during the ancient regime. Its Hall of Mirrors is regarded as one of the most famous rooms in the world.  It has 17 mirror clad arches that reflect the 17 arcade windows that overlook the gardens.

Arc de TriompheLouis VuittonTricycleAl Fresco 1Al Fresco 2BicycleFrench Architecture_33B1949.jpg_33B1963.jpg_33B1972.jpgAlong the River Seine_33B2005.jpgEiffel Tower_33B2180.jpgVersailles PalaceVersailles Ceiling MuralThe King's Room at VersaillesHall of Mirrors CelingGold StatueHall of MirrorsFountain_33B2306.jpg_33B2316.jpgView from Montmartre HillSacre-Coeur BasilicaCafeNotre Dame CathedralNotre Dame InteriorThe PantheonInside the LouvreThe Louvre Museum At NightOpera Garnier

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Lucerne

Lucerne, a city in north central Switzerland, was a pleasant surprise to me.   It has beautiful  natural landscapes –  Lake Lucerne is beautiful and serene and the views of Mount Pilatus, Mount Stanserhorn and the Swiss Alps are simply majestic.

In the city, the most famous landmark is the Chapel Bridge which was built in the 14th century.  The long wooden bridge is the longest covered bridge in Europe.

Another popular attraction in the city is the Lion Monument.  It is a carving of a dying lion created to commemorate the hundreds of Swiss Guards who were massacred during the French Revolution in 1792.

Switzerland is also popular for its unique architecture and high quality watches.  There was a huge selection of high quality Swiss watches at Bucherer but I ended up buying a Swiss knife instead as a souvenir.

After a long walk in the city taking photographs, I was lucky to find an Irish Pub and enjoyed a pint of Guinness at the end of the day!

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