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The India Gate (originally called the All India War Memorial) is a war memorial located in New Delhi, India. The 42-metre (138-foot)-tall India Gate, stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The India Gate hexagon complex, with a diameter of about 625 meters, covers approximately 306,000 m² in area. India Gate is a memorial to 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21 in the First World War. 13,300 servicemen's names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate. The All-India War Memorial in New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens, who was not only the main architect of New Delhi, but a leading designer of war memorials.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Gate

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The Gateway of India is an arch monument built during the 20th century in Mumbai, India. The monument was created to show respect the landing of King Emperor George V and Queen Empress Mary at Apollo Bunder which was a pier in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) on their visit to India in 1911.  The monument is an arch built in yellow basalt and indissoluble concrete, 26 meters (85 feet) high, the central dome is 48 feet (15 meters) in diameter and 83 feet (25 meters) above the ground at its highest point. The arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style.  The final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914 and the construction of the monument was completed in 1924. The monument's design is a combination of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. On each side of the arch, there are large halls with the capacity to hold 600 people.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_of_India

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The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building on the grounds by the bank of the Hooghly River, near Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1809–1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination. The building is 338 feet (103 m) by 228 feet (69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet (56 m). It is constructed of white Makrana marble and is a memorial to an empress. In design, it connects to the Taj Mahal with its dome, four subsidiaries, octagonal-domed, terrace, and domed corner towers. The Victoria Memorial was funded by Indian states, individuals of the British Crown and the British government in London.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓c

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Memorial,_Kolkata

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Qutub Minar is also spelled as Qutab Minar is a minaret in Delhi, India. Qutub Minar is a 73 meter tall tapering tower of five stories, with a 14.3 meters base diameter, reducing to 2.7 meters at the top of the peak. The first three stories of the Qutub Minar are made of Redstone and the last two are made of marble and sandstone. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Qutb ud Din Aibak founder of the Delhi Sultanate which is an area sketched over large parts of subcontinent, started construction of the Qutb Minar's first storey around 1192. In 1220, Qutb ud Din Aibak’s son-in-law Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed a further three stories. In 1369, a lightning strike destroyed the top story. Firoz Shah Tughlaq replaced the damaged story, and added one more.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_Minar

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Taj Mahal means the “Crown of palaces" ivory white marble on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra in India. It was specially ordered in 1632 by the emperor Shah Jahan to his favorite wife which is Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was completed in 1653 at that time the cost was 32 million rupees which would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (US $827 million) in 2015. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of The World.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

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The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 by the emperor who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City. Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle.

Specifically, I will only be constructing the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It is a triple-gabled circular building, 36 m in diameter and 38 m tall, built on a marble stone base. The building is built entirely of wood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven

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Shaolin Monastery / Shaolin Temple (Brian Chu)

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Shaolin Monastery / Shaolin Temple (Brian Chu)

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The Shaolin Temple is a Chan (禅) Buddhist temple believed to be founded in the 5th century CE. The temple has an area of 57,600 sq meters (160 m x 360 m). It has 7 main halls on the axis and 7 other halls around, with several yards around the halls.

I will be constructing the Mountain Gate, Forest of Steles, West Arrival Hall (aka Kung Fu Hall), and Heavenly Kings Palace Hall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery

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Now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Wall of China began construction in about 1450 AD. The early walls were under construction when China was under the rule of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Over the course of Chinese history, the wall has been destroyed, rebuilt, and extended several times. The wall is about 5 ~ 8 m high, and 6 m wide at the bottom and 5 m at the top. the total length of the wall is 8,851 km including other types of barriers (I will only be constructing a very small portion of the wall). The Great Wall was constructed using mostly brick, with stone used in the foundations, gates and other sections.

http://www.unmuseum.org/7wonders/greatwall.htm

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Forbidden City - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Brian Chu)

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Forbidden City - Hall of Supreme Harmony (Brian Chu)

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As the heart of the Forbidden City, it used to be the place where emperors received high officials and exercised their rule over the nation. Grand ceremonies and celebrations for the emperor were also held here. The hall is 35 m high (37.44 m including rooftop decorations), 63.96 m wide and 37.2 m long. There is a total of 72 pillars in 6 rows supporting the roof.

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/forbidden/supreme.htm

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Forbidden City - Gate of Supreme Harmony (Brian Chu)

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Forbidden City - Gate of Supreme Harmony (Brian Chu)

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The Gate of Supreme Harmony separates the first court from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Guarded by two bronze lions, it is a symbol of imperial power. Built on marble foundations, it is 2 m tall and about 20 meters long. The building has a double glazed yellow tiled roof. On the ground floor are lined arcades, with 9 on the length and 4 on the width. The whole building has an area of 1300 sq meters.

https://www.wonders-of-the-world.net/Forbidden-city/Description/Gate-of-supreme-harmony.php

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Forbidden City - Meridian Gate (Brian Chu)

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Forbidden City - Meridian Gate (Brian Chu)

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The 37.95 m tall Meridian Gate is the southern (and largest) gate of the Forbidden City. It has a concave layout with 5 towers, appearing like a Phoenix. The central tower, with double roofs made of color-glazed tiles is 60 m long and 25 m wide. The towers set on a red support platform 12 m high. Three doors are visible from the front (at the center), and five doors are visible at the back (two more, one at the center on each of the "arms").

https://www.wonders-of-the-world.net/Forbidden-city/Description/Meridian-gate.php

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Forbidden City - Outer Wall + moat (Brian Chu)

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Forbidden City - Outer Wall + moat (Brian Chu)

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Around the Forbidden City is a 7.9 m high wall constructed with rammed earth core, and layered with baked bricks on both sides of the wall. The walls are 8.62 m wide at the bottom, becoming thinner to 6.66 m wide at the top. Surrounding the wall is a 6 m deep and 52 m wide moat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City#Walls_and_gates

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The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing. It served as the home for emperors for almost 500 years. The complex consist of 980 buildings in an area of over 180 acres. Its buildings are in the style of Chinese palatial architecture.

The entire Forbidden City is 961 m from North to South, and 753 m from East to West. In my city plan, I will only construct the outer wall, the moat, the Meridian Gate, the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City

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The Great Pyramids are made up of an estimated 2.3 million rough limestone blocks. When the pyramids were completed, they were covered with white "casing stones" (slant-faced, flat-topped) made of highly polished white limestone. Along with rough limestone, pink granite was used for the interior walls of the pyramids. Basalt was used to cover the floor of the pyramids. The walls of the pyramid were made with mud bricks "cooked" in ovens to stay stronger and last longer.

The Great Pyramids are a significant part of the Egyptian culture. This monumental structure proves the amazing capabilities of human beings in the past.

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St. Basil's Cathedral is a church that is located in Red Square in Moscow. It was built under Ivan the Terrible, the Grand Prince of Moscow. It was the tallest building until the emergence of Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The shape of the building is like flame, which is very unique.
In 1990, the church became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire (Jerry Lee)

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Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire (Jerry Lee)

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Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined monasteries in England. It was founded in 1132, it enjoys a stunning situation in a tranquil valley beside a river. For more historical fact the maps of cathedrals, it was the battlefield and Anglo-Saxon sites in Britain.

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The Louvre Museum is the world's largest museum and is also one of the historical monuments located in Paris, France. The Louvre was originally built as a defense mechanism, to be more precise a fortress, in the 16th century it was reconstructed to serve the royal palace. On August 10th 1793 it had been reconstructed and established as a museum, the Louvre now holds some of the most famous art pieces in the world (For example: The Mona Lisa).

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The marienkirche is one of the most famous buildings in Poland. It is about 262 feet tall which enables it to overlook the entire old town square in Krakow. It was destroyed in the early 13th century but then was rebuilt in the early 14th century. It is a Gothic style building with bricks and stone works. It is also apart of a tradition of playing the Hejnal ariacki, a trumpet piece on every hour.

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This is the loveliest castle in the world! This structure is over 900 years old. And why not stay over at the Stable Courtyard bedroom!

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 Stonehenge is a historical monument located in Wiltshire, England. It is basically a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that it was constructed between  3000BC to 2000 BC. Several research shows that the construction of Stonehenge was completed in several phases. 

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Big Ben and the House of Parliament (Christina)

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Big Ben and the House of Parliament (Christina)

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The House of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben) is one of the most famous landmark and historical site of United Kingdom. The Big Ben weighs more than 13 tons is more than 96 meters tall.

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Taj Mahal means the “Crown of palaces" ivory white marble on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra in India. It was specially ordered in 1632 by the emperor Shah Jahan to his favorite wife which is Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was completed in 1653 at that time the cost was 32 million rupees which would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (US $827 million) in 2015. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of The World.

More information on the link below↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

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Located in the heart of UK, lies the Buckingham Palace. It is in the Westminster City, and the Queen lives here. It is one of UK’s top 20 “Historic Listed Buildings.”

The Buckingham Palace, originally called the Buckingham House, was built in 1703 for the Earl of Mulgrave, but became a Buckingham “Palace” for royals in 1761. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms in total, including bedrooms for staffs, offices, bathrooms, etc. There are over 40,000 lightbulbs in the palace before electricity was installed!

The Buckingham Palace was built in a Neoclassical style, with three wings around a central courtyard. It was originally constructed of Caen limestone, but later got refaced with Bath Stone.
You can find many architectures with a similar style around the United Kingdom - the towers, castles, and bridges - where ideas from places like Greece, Italy, and France flowed into England and integrated with the English style.

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Tiananmen 天安门 aka Gate of Heavenly Peace (Brian)

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Tiananmen 天安门 aka Gate of Heavenly Peace (Brian)

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Built as an entrance to the imperial city, the gate is 66 metres (217 ft) long, 37 metres (121 ft) wide and 32 metres (105 ft) high. The gate has unique imperial roof decorations. Two stone columns, each with an animal on top of it, stands in front of the gate. In front of the gate are two lions standing in front of the gate and two more guarding the bridges.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen

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In around AD122, Hardrian which in the Roman Empire he ordered the building of an immense wall stretching over 80 miles from the east coast to the Britain to the west This impressive structure was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987…

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It was built in 16th century in the honor of Empress Elizabeth. At that time, it was used as a residence for every emperors
and empresses since Peter III. It was originally luxury and it was decorated further during the Nicholas I's era.In 19th century,
it became a meeting place for the provisional government. After Moscow became the capital city of Russia, The Winter Palace has served as a Museum. Today, it's known as one of the most famous building in St. Petersburg.

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The Acropolis is the most important ancient heritage of Greece it is an ancient citadel located on a rock above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. . It has been the main attraction of Athens since the 5th century BC, and is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of the city. The building are made of Limestone.
There are five major structures in it, The Parthenon, The Propylaea, The Temple of Athena Nike, The Erechtheion, and The Statue of Athena Promachos

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This Synagogue is one of the oldest Synagogues in Poland and the one of the most important Synagogues until the German invasion of WWI.

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This is a destination where a lot of tourist visit, hundred of thousands of people. This is the place of William Shakespeare and it;s also situated in Warwickshire, it's just down the road.
By: Jerry Lee

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The Lincoln Memorial is a national memorial in the United States, built in honor of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The structure is built in the form of the Greek "Doric" temple. The statue of Abraham Lincoln stands (actually, he is sitting) 19 feet (5.8 m) tall from head to foot. The statue is built using Georgia white marble. The statue rests on an oblong pedestal made of Tennessee marble, measuring  10 feet (3.0 m) high, 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, and 17 feet (5.2 m) deep. Directly beneath this lies a platform also made of Tennessee marble about 34.5 feet (10.5 m) long, 28 feet (8.5 m) wide, and 6.5 inches (0.17 m) high. The structure's exterior echoes class Greek temples, built with Yule marble. The structure measures 189.7 by 118.5 feet (57.8 by 36.1 m) and is 99 feet (30 m) tall, and is surrounded by a peristyle of 36 fluted Doric columns.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial#Sculptural_features

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Trafalgar Square is a public square in Westminster city centered around London, formerly known as Charing Cross. It celebrates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars of France and Spain, which took place on October 21, 1805, on the Cape Trafalgar coast.

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It's a castle built by William the conqueror, this time in 1068, the stone has been remodeled in the 12th century.A bit of history is this castle was home to the powerful Earls of Warwick, including Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, nicknamed in the 16th century of "King Maker" during the war of roses.
By: Jerry Lee

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Gwanghwamun is the south gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and it is the front gate of the palace. Although Gwanghwamun was the front gate to the king, it was gorgeous and gorgeous in terms of size and formality compared to the front gate of other palaces because it was the front gate of Gyeongbokgung, the royal palace of Joseon.

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Villa Savoye  is a modernist  villa in Poissy. It was  built between 1928 and 1931 using

Reinforced concrete

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Red square(Krasnaya Ploshchad) locates in city center of Moscow, which is the capital city of Russia. It was built in 1924. Its Russian name "Krasnaya Ploshchad" means "red" and "beautiful". It was originally considered as a sacred place, today, it is used for official ceremonies.

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Located at the center of Rome, the Colosseum is an amphitheater built of travertine, tuff, and brick-faced concrete. After being devastated by the Great Fire of Rome, many bricks from the Colosseum were removed by an emperor to build his own tomb.

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Stonehenge is a historical monument located in Wiltshire, England. It is basically a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that it was constructed between  3000BC to 2000 BC. Several research shows that the construction of Stonehenge was completed in several phases.

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Great Sphinx of Giza, made out of limestone, it is a statue of a sphinx, and is located in Giza, Egypt. The sphinx measures some 240 feet (73 metres) long and 66 feet (20 metres) high. It features a lion's body and a human head adorned with a royal headdress. The statue was carved from a single piece of limestone, and pigment residue suggests that the entire Great Sphinx was painted. According to some estimates, it would have taken about three years for 100 workers, using stone hammers and copper chisels, to finish the statue.

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The marienkirche is one of the most famous buildings in Poland. It is about 262 feet tall which enables it to overlook the entire old town square in Krakow. It was destroyed in the early 13th century but then was rebuilt in the early 14th century. It is a Gothic style building with bricks and stone works.

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Established in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham, the Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea in the bhumisparsha mudra position. With the surrounding portrayals of gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples, all realistically and elaborately sculpted in high and low relief, it is considered as a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the East Asia.

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Stonehenge is a historical monument located in Wiltshire, England. It is basically a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that it was constructed between  3000BC to 2000 BC. Several research shows that the construction of Stonehenge was completed in several phases.
By Jerry

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Nijo Castle (二条城, Nijoujou) was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period. His grandson Iemitsu completed the construction of the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep.

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Red Square                            Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. It separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and now the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. Red Square is often considered to be the central square of Moscow since the city's major streets, which connect to Russia's major highways, originate in the square.

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Red Square                            Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. It separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and now the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. Red Square is often considered to be the central square of Moscow since the city's major streets, which connect to Russia's major highways, originate in the square.

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Cheomseongdae 첨성대 is an astronomical observatory in Gyeongju, South Korea. Cheomseongdae means star-gazing tower in Korean. Cheomseongdae is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, and possibly even in the world. It was constructed in the 7th century in Silla Dynasty, of which the capital was Seorabeol, or Gyeongju in now days.

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Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement residence of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408.

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Easter Island is famous for its 887 monumental human statues, called moai, which were created by the early Rapa Nui people.
By Jerry

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Cape of Good Hope (Jean-Mari)
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The Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle or the White Egret Castle, was built in 1333. It is  located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan  in the city of Himeji.  The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 rooms with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period.  The Himeji Castle was originally a fort that was built on the top of Himeyama hill by  Akamatsu Norimura . But, the fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Toyotomi Hideyoshi had added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu had awarded Himeji castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ikeda Terumasa completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex.[3] Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618.[5] For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake .

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Bulguksa was built in 528, the year after Buddhism was officially legallized by the Silla Dynasty of King Beopheung regime. In order to fulfil the wishes of his mother, Lady Yeongje and his wife, Queen Gi Yun, he built a temple with the names Beopryusa or Bulguksa. Later in 574, the temple was rebuilt by the Lady Jiso who was the mother of King Jinheung, and it is recorded that statues of Vairocana Buddha and Amita buddha were added at this time.

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Located near Salisbury, this structure is over 3,000 years old. The stones used to build it was imported from Wales. Scholars are still not sure how the builders got the stones there, So it is a mystery that has gone unsolved, since the technology didn't allow it to happen.

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Known as the oldest surviving building in South Africa, and has been the center of civilian, political and military life in Cape Town since 1679. The yellow paint of the building was used to reduce the glare from the sunlight, and reflects less heat.in 1982 it was restored to its former glory.

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Obviously space will not allow us to delve into the rich, difficult history of this world-famous building. Save to say that the story of his Castle is a story of our young country. It is a story of joy, pain, tears, laughter, disappointment, fear, hope - and all the other human emotions that characterize us as a nation...

Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is known as the oldest surviving building in South Africa and has been the centre of civilian, political and military life at the Cape from approximately 1679.

In its current state, the Castle arguably represents one of the best preserved 17th century DEIC architecture on the entire globe. The 2015 - 2016 renovation of the Castle - the first in 20 years - will further enhance its appeal and position it well to become South Africa's next UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This historical building now houses, among others, the William Fehr Collection managed by Iziko Museums of South Africa, an permanent ceramic exhibition (FIRED) and the Castle Military Museum.

The Castle was, however, not the first fort to be built at the Cape. A quadrangular (four-pointed) fort was built after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 where the Grand Parade and the main Post Office are situated today. This fort was completed towards the end of 1653 and its inner structures in 1656. However, constant problems were experienced: The walls of the fort, which were constructed mainly of clay, collapsed and required constant repairs. A model of this original fort can be seen in the Castle Military Museum.

Jan van Riebeeck left the Cape in 1662, and was succeeded by Zacharias Wagenaer. In 1664 there were renewed rumours of war between Britain and the Netherlands. Fearing a British attack on the Cape, the Lords Seventeen instructed Wagenaer to build a five-pointed stone Castle similar to other such fortifications in Europe and the East. The Castle was planned around a central point - a water-well under the "Boog" - with five bulwarks known as bastions.

The site of the new Castle was chosen in 1665 by the Commissioner and later first Governor of the Cape, Isbrand Goske. The engineer, Pieter Dombaer, was responsible for the construction of the Castle which was built by slaves, Khoikhoi, burghers, and company workers. (Anna Ras, die Kasteel en Ander Vestingswerke, p56, 57)

The foundations were dug in 1665 and the cornerstones of the first bastion, later known as the Leerdam Bastion, were laid on the 2nd January 1666, after which building started in all earnest. Three hundred sailors, commandeered from passing ships, soldiers, local Khoikhoi, women and slaves were used as workforce, breaking stone and collecting shells which were burned in lime ovens. One often wonder what was the real human cost of building this European fortress on African soil.

Clinker bricks, also known as "Ijsel-stene", which were brought as ballasts in Dutch ships, were offloaded at the Cape and were used as decorative features in certain parts of the Castle.

In 1667 peace returned to Europe, which caused building on the Castle to be delayed. The first bastion, Leerdam, was completed on the 5 November 1670. Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje followed.

In 1672 the outbreak of war in Europe caused the building of the Castle to be resumed with new vigour. In 1679 the Castle was completed. It was called a Castle because, as in the case of other Castles in Europe, in addition to being a defensive structure, it comprised a small community or town on its own.

Inside the Castle walls there were among others a church, bakery, workshops, living quarters, offices, cells and numerous other facilities.

The slate used as paving in the Castle came from quarries on Robben Island. Wood was brought from Hout Bay. The cement used to build the Castle was obtained by burning shells in lime kilns at Robben Island until they formed lime. This lime was mixed with shells and sand to form extremely strong cement. (Historical Buildings in South Africa, p. 8) This means that the Castle is intrinsically linked to two of South Africa's icons and UNESCO World Heritage sites - Table Mountain and Robben Island.

The yellow paint on the walls was chosen because it reduces the glare from the sunlight, and reflects less heat. You may recall that former president Nelson Mandela damaged his eyes whilst working in the lime quarries of Robben Island during his long imprisonment there. (Historical society of Cape Town, Newsletter 3, December 1986)

In 1982, a comprehensive restoration process was started to restore the Castle to its former glory. The process was completed early in 1993. Another exciting restoration and renovation is planned to proceed towards the end of 2014.

The Castle is entered through the Main Gateway from the Grand Parade and City Hall side. This entrance was built between 1682 and 1684 to replace the original entrance which was situated between the Buuren and Catzenellenbogen bastions. There are also two smaller entrances to the Castle.

This gateway offers a window on the past. The pediment above the entrance bears the coat-of-arms of the United Netherlands, portraying the crowned lion rampant with the seven arrows of unity in its paw. On the architrave below are carved the arms of the cities of Hoorn, Delft, Amsterdam, Middelburg, Rotterdam and Enkhuizen. These were the Dutch cities in which the United East India Company had chambers. The company's monogram, VOC, flanks the carvings on either side.

The two pilasters, the entablature and pediment above are built of a grey-blue slate from Robben Island. Built of small yellow bricks, called "Ijsselstein", the entrance is a unique example of 17th century Dutch classicism in South Africa.

Looking at the Main Gateway from the courtyard, a baroque gable is seen above the entrance. The gable is typically Cape-Dutch and dates back to the early eighteenth century. A painting of the gable by Lady Anne Barnard (painted between 1797 and 1803) was traced to Britain and the colours scheme of the gable was chosen accordingly. The correctness of this bright colour scheme has been confirmed by the Netherlandse Monumenten Zorg. (Dutch Monument Care) (Ref: Mr Green, Restoration Architect, Dept. of Public Works). The relief work is a replica consisting of four basic military elements, which are unusual features in gable decoration namely a flag, a regimental banner, drum, mortar and a pyramid of cannonballs. It is crowned by the helmet of a knight and various weapons of a knight are also shown. On either side of the entrance are the statues of Mercury, the god of commerce and Neptune, the sea god (with the trident).

The look-out tower on the roof is known as the Captain's Tower. The latter used to be the tallest building in Cape Town for many years to come. The inner courtyard of the Castle is divided by a wall. The wall is approximately 116 metres in length, 12 metres high, three and a half metres wide at the bottom, and two metres wide at the top. Buildings were erected on either side of the wall.

The part of the Castle formerly known as "De Kat," was the office of the governor and arguably the first seat of political power in our country. The course of history was determined in what are today very humble chambers. In 1674 the Council of Policy and the Council of Justice and the church used the same chamber. The Council of Justice was responsible for hearing all cases at the Cape.

From these chambers, the Council of Policy controlled all facets of early colonial life; where they could live; what they could plant and produce; the prices of their produce and many other aspects of their lives in order to ensure order in the settlement. The new governor's house became known as "Het Nieuwe Kat" and the transect wall, "Het Oude Kat". This is where the Castle's chapel is situated and where one of the great indigenous figures of the time, Cratoa or Eva was buried.

The right-hand entrance in the wall was the entrance to the governor's residence. His living quarters were on the top floor. The governor's sleeping quarters were above the arch linking the front courtyard to "Het Wapenplaatz". On the left of the arch was the residence of the Secunde, who was the second-in-command of the settlement. The bottom floor was mainly used for wine cellars and storage space.

This building currently houses the William Fehr Collection of artworks depicting aspects of cultural life at the Cape from the VOC era until the end of the 19th century. The private collection of Dr William Fehr was exhibited at the Castle at the tri-centenary celebrations of the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1952. This valuable collection has special relevance to the Castle and was bought, on public demand, to be on permanent exhibition in the Castle. (300 Years of the Castle at Cape Town, p. 109)

On the top floor, one finds the Lady Anne Barnard Banquet Hall. The hall originally consisted of four rooms, which were converted into a reception hall in 1930's.

The well-known porch or stoep (frequently and wrongly referred to as De Kat Balcony) is an outstanding feature of the transect wall. The first porch was built in 1695 and known as "De Puij". It was rebuilt between 1786 and 1790. From this stoep proclamations were read, announcements made and laws proclaimed to soldiers and civilians at the Cape. All legal sentences were announced from here and here official visitors to the Castle were welcomed (The Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, p. 124). This remains a great reference point to explain how the announcements affected the lives of indigenes and slaves and in fact the shaped modern South Africa.

In 1936, the stoep which had become derelict was threatened by demolition. This was prevented, however, by an architect by the name of James Morris, who offered to restore it at his own expense.

Sundials were used to tell the time in the early years at the Cape. The sundial on the eastern side (above the ceremonial office) was used to tell the time in the morning. In the afternoon, the sundial next to the balcony was used. The time of the sundials was the official time for the entire Cape settlement. The settlement was kept informed of the time by the ringing of the bell in the bell-tower every hour on the hour. At night, or when the sun did not shine, time was kept by means of an hour glass. The "rondeganger" (guard on duty) turned the hour glass and rang the bell.

The Castle represents, in its restored form, Dutch, English and French building styles. In certain parts the flat roofs favoured by the Dutch were rebuilt during restoration. In other sections the pitched roofs and stone work of the British era can be seen. The original slate roof tiles were replaced with replicas.

The building on top of the roof between the bastions Leerdam and Oranje, is known as the Captain's Tower. For 150 years, the Captain's Tower was the highest building in Cape Town.

Sections of the moat around the Castle were restored. The original moat was 25 metres wide and filled with water from the streams of Table Mountain. The building of the moat started on 26 November 1677. Unfortunately, the moat quickly became foul-smelling because the drainage system was inadequate and the residents used it as a rubbish dump. In 1896 the moat on the seaside of the caslte was filled up to make way for the railway line. Later the whole moat was filled up.

From the Buuren bastion, the advantage of the pentagonal shape of the Castle is evident. The range and angle of attack of the cannons on the bastions overlapped, thus providing an impenetrable wall of cannon fire in the event of an enemy attack.

The Castle formed part of a formidable defensive system at the Cape that discouraged attacks. It has never been attacked.

The five bastions were built in the order Leerdam, Oranje, Nassau, Catzenellenbogen and Buuren. The bastions were named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of Orange. The height of the walls of the bastions on the sea side was 10 metres, and those on the land side were even higher, apparently so that in the event of an attack from the sea, the cannons on the landward bastions could be turned around to fire across the seaward bastions.

The sections of the walls built in stone by the Dutch are evident. The brick sections date back to the British era. During British rule, the walls were made higher. During Dutch rule, the slate roofs were flat. The pitched roofs were erected by the British in the 1830's (Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa, Vol. 3 p. 123).

From the Catzenellenbogen bastion, it is possible to imagine how close the sea came to the side of the Castle, before the land as we know it today was reclaimed between the years 1930 and 1945 with the help of Dutch engineers. The original entrance to the Castle, the "Waterpoort", used to be in the wall between the Buuren and Catzenellenbogen bastions. This entrance was unsuitable from the outset because at high or spring tide the water level made access to the Castle impossible.

On Catzenellenbogen you also see the mountings of 4 six-pounder rapid-fire Hotchkiss cannons. These cannons were removed from the Castle at the beginning of the Second World War. While these guns were still on the bastion they were used to fire gun salutes on special occasions (The Argus 27.10.88).

The Garrison jail was built by Louis Thibault (1786). (300 Years of the Castle at Cape Town, p. 101).

The double cell to the right of the door was used for locking up drunken soldiers. The large cell with two doors was used for a maximum of 20 prisoners. The holes through which the prisoners received their food are clearly visible.

On the left hand side there are two cells designed for a maximum of ten prisoners.

The double cell to the left of the entrance was the ablution cell or bathroom. Here you can see a primitive stone bath which was used by the prisoners.

On the doors are inscriptions made by the prisoners. It is said that the prisoners used nails which they pulled from their shoes to make the inscriptions; this is probably only partly true. They also had access to other instruments such as cutlery. All these inscriptions were made during the British era. The inscriptions on the outside of the doors were probably made during daytime when the doors of the cells were open and the large entrance locked. The cells were used for the last time during the Second World War to detain prisoners from passing ships on their way to the East.

In these cells we find the first, physical evidence that British military regiments were stationed at the Castle. The inscription that remained intact makes mention of 61 Regiment and dates back to the years 1840-1845.

It is said that the names above the doors of two of the cells are names of well-known Cape taverns at the time.

When you move out of the cells you will see, on your left hand side, the jail warden's office. The fireplace and safe box for keys can still be seen.

The engraved ship on Robben Island slate may have been placed above the original Castle entrance or Waterpoort.

It is believed that this dungeon or so-called "dark-hole" was used as ammunition store and gunpowder magazine. The room was, however, too damp and was later used as a coal store.

Research has revealed that the two rooms in the corner of the Old Recruitment Building were the original interrogation chamber and dungeon of the Castle. There was a good reason for the interrogation chamber being next to the dungeon. According to Dutch law, a criminal had to confess to his crime before his sentence could be executed. The sound of torture coming from the adjacent room certainly facilitated this process. Prisoners were not supposed to be detained here for longer than 24 hours.

Horseshoes were sometimes put on doors for "luck". It is interesting to note that the horseshoe on this door is hanging upside down indicating that in this room luck had run out.

The second courtyard of the Castle is known as "Het Wapenplaatz". The name is evidently derived from the weapon inspections and drill exercises which regularly took place here. The well which is found here, formed part of the water supply system inside the Castle.

The soldiers' quarters were situated on the top floor between Catzenellenbogen and Nassau. The middle floor was used as storage space. The hooks and large doors behind the hooks are still in evidence. Supplies were hoisted by rope, and swung through the doors. The workshops of tradesmen, as well as stables and storerooms were situated on the ground level.

From this courtyard the other two entrances to the Castle, which were mentioned on your arrival, are found. The larger entrance is known as Sally Port (an opening in a fortification through which to make "a sally", in other words a sudden charge from a fortification up its besiegers (The Concise Oxford Dictionary).

The lawn on Het Wapenplaatz has been planted according to a Dutch garden design.

The paint used on the walls during restoration, is whitewash mixed with a coloring agent. The condition of the paint is not due to bad workmanship, but to the lack of moisture-resistant methods used during the construction of the Castle. Walls such as these must allow moisture through, which is necessary to bind the clay bricks. Whitewash ensures that enough moisture is allowed through and retained without the wall appearing wet.

The woodwork is painted in different colours. Tradition has it that the windows painted in a reddish-brown colour were the windows of rooms used to store arms. Another possible reason was that this was the only available paint at that time.

"Het Wapenplaatz" faces the back of the Governor's quarters. The large doors to the left of the arch were three coach houses for the use of the governor. The last smaller door was the Governor's fuel-wood store.

The date on the stone above the arch is probably the date on which this part of the Castle was completed (show stone to visitors).

"Het Bakhuys" is a modern replica of a building which was built in 1706 during the era of Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. The original bakery was converted into a u-shaped building around a pool. The building was demolished by the British in the 19th century to make place for a parade ground. During the restoration of the Castle, excavations exposed the foundations of the original building and revealed the existence of the original Dolphin Pool. The balustrades and decorated walls of the pool were thrown into the pool during demolition, and covered up with soil. It was thus possible to determine exactly what the original pool looked like.

The original pool was named after the impressive fountain in the form of a dolphin in the middle of the pool. It was possible to make a replica of the fountain by examining sketches and descriptions made by Lady Anne Barnard during the late 1700's. The replica was created by the artist Jan Corewijn. The original fountain was never traced. The dolphin resembles a fish that is found in the Mediterranean. A similar fountain at "Het Loo", the palace of Willem III, in the Netherlands inspired Willem Adriaan van der Stel to build this fountain.

From May 1797, Lady Anne Barnard, wife of the British Colonial Secretary, acted as first lady to the Governor of the Cape, Lord McCartney whose wife did not accompany him to the Cape. Lady Anne Barnard and her husband lived in the Governor's residence because he found it far too large for his purposes. She made an everlasting impression on social life at the Cape. From sketches and documents which she left behind, much is learnt about life at the Cape during the period in which she resided here. (Lady Anne Barnard at the Cape, p. 1, 133)

The wooden blocks used as paving under the arch, were installed with the aim of dampening the sound made by the horses' hooves and coaches when they moved underneath the Governor's sleeping quarters.

They also ensured that people walking through the arch did not have to walk in mud and water.

The wooden cross found in the arch, was made of wood from the forest at Delville (France), where many South African soldiers lost their lives in the Battle of Delville Wood. As part of the 9th (Scottish) Division, 1 SA Brigade took part in the Somme offensive and in particular the Battles of Trônes Wood, Berfnay Wood, Longueval and Delville Wood, at the beginning of July 1916. The SA Brigade was almost entirely eliminated in these battles, lasting from 5-20 July 1916. After the bloody battle, the brigade had 29 officers and 751 troops remaining out of a total of approximately 4000 that started the battle. (SADF Review, 1991)

The well was originally in the centre of the large courtyard inside the Castle, before the dividing wall was built. According to research, it was the centre spot from where the Castle was measured out. Today we find the well in this small room (show the room).

From the archway, the width of the original dividing wall before the buildings were added can be seen.

The granary is one of the driest rooms in the Castle. Originally it was the governor's granary. It was later used as a gunpowder magazine, because the previous gunpowder store had become too damp.

Today the room houses an archaeological museum. On display is, among others, one of the two lions which were originally seen on the pillars at the entrance to the Castle. Initially it was thought that they were the work of the German sculptor Anton Anreith. When layers of whitewash had been removed, however, it was found that they were made from baked clay and of Eastern origin, probably dating back to the 13/1400's.

An example of the archaeological excavations done during the restoration of the Castle found here (the tourist guide will point out the excavation).

Today the Castle stands not only as a bastion of our colonial past but as a beacon of our unsure but bright future. More and more South Africans (and foreigners) are embracing and accepting this citadel as part of their collective heritage and history. Through events, festivals, celebrations, commemorations, concerts, workshops and exhibitions, the Castle of Good Hope is positioning itself for survival over the next 350 years...

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Obviously space will not allow us to delve into the rich, difficult history of this world-famous building. Save to say that the story of his Castle is a story of our young country. It is a story of joy, pain, tears, laughter, disappointment, fear, hope - and all the other human emotions that characterize us as a nation...

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Built around 1400 by Inca masons by fitting stones with our mortar (Ashlar) to make it more earthquake proof.. more info ..

link: https://www.annees-de-pelerinage.com/machu-picchu-architecture-explained/

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When we stepped off the Expedition Train at Aguas Calientes we wasted no time, proceeding directly to the busses for the ride up to Machu Picchu.

We did not stop to eat, did not check into our hotel, did not pass go, and did not collect two hundred dollars.

We just climbed aboard our carriage for the harrowing trip up the side of a crazy-sheer cliff.

The road takes thirteen switchbacks to make it up the mountain, all while passing busses coming down hill on this somewhat-less-than-two-lane dirt road.

Several times we were clinging right on the edge... with no guard rails... not that they would stop a bus from going over the side.

But hey, they would've made us feel better.

However, as soon as we rounded the last switchback and saw the ruins spread out before us, all of that was forgotten.

Our super-guide Eddy would take us through the entire site, but first lunch and some delicious Goldfish Ceviche... we had no idea, hopefully a translation snafu and not actually the bowl-inhabiting pet.

Crazy name aside, it was tasty.

Over our Goldfish, Eddy explained that Machu Picchu is not really the name for the city - that name is lost forever. When Hiram Bingham came here in 1911, the locals told him of a place between Machu Picchu (old mountain) and Huayna Picchu (young mountain).

When Bingham told the world of his "discovery," (how does one discover something that lots of people already knew about?) the name stuck.
Click here to learn how we dealt with altitude issues while in Peru
Our tour began with Eddy showing us the very different styles of stone work, which implies that the building of Machu Picchu took place over several different times.

This goes against many of the guidebooks that claim the entire city was built, occupied, and abandoned within the span of about one hundred years.

Eddy most certainly doesn't buy that theory, but as with so much about the Empire of the Incas, the facts remain unknown.

Another place where Eddy diverged from the books was when he said how he feels it is not the ruins themselves that are so mind blowing, but the location.

At first that sounded strange, but as we looked throughout the sight we had to agree.

Not to discount the remarkable structures and work involved, just to acknowledge that this spot is truly amazing above and beyond the ruins.
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Theories abound as to the purpose of Machu Picchu... summer home for the Inca, agricultural testing site, hideout, fortress, or sacred city, but no single explanation seems to fit.

Perhaps the truth is some combination of these that will forever remain a mystery.
Click here to learn how we dealt with altitude issues while in Peru
We moved on through the ruins and came upon a diamond shaped rock that was cut and placed to depict and align with The Southern Cross, then another incredibly carved boulder that is orientated with the sun called Intihuatana.

In the Quechua language inti means sun and watana (huatana in Spanish) means place to tie up, so this is often called the hitching post for the sun.

Next we entered a small building containing two carved stone pools that perfectly reflect the sky through a window, but only when the viewer is standing on the small rocks that mark the proper spot.

It is believed that these were used for star gazing... perhaps an Inca version of late night TV.

In one tiny entrance we noticed a strange doorway. A wall blocks direct access, forming a kind of S turn to get inside, so we asked Eddy about it.

He said this was a storage room and the extra wall was to keep the llamas out of the food supply. It seems that they can't manage the tight turns, ingenious.

Speaking of llamas, these cousins of the camel pretty much have the run of the place.

The nimble buggers are everywhere, hiking side-by-side with visitors, stubbornly blocking paths and standing around looking pensive.
See more great photos of the pensive llamas of Machu Picchu!
When the site closed at five, we headed back down the crazy road to find our hotel and some food.

We checked into the very European feeling Hotel El Mapi, and toasted the day with a Pisco Sour.

Pisco is a distilled grape type of brandy and is considered the national drink of Peru.

Since we sampled the quintessential Peruvian drink, we figured we should set out in search of some cuy for dinner.

Cuy is guinea pig - yes just like the pets - and is traditionally eaten in the Andes highlands on special occasions. We decided an occasion couldn't get much more special than celebrating our visit to Machu Picchu, so when we saw a place with cuy al horno (oven roasted guinea pig) on the menu, we sat right down.

The cuy came baked and quartered on a plate, head and all, with some potatoes on the side. Most disturbing were the tiny little feet and the two buck teeth. But we'd come this far, so we had to eat it.

Like the old cliché... it tasted like chicken. Only this time it was true. Like a chicken thigh, or closer to rabbit. It's good, and yes, we ate the whole thing, which was really only a few forkfuls. Between the cuy dinner and the goldfish at lunch, we took to calling this the day we ate pets.

In keeping with the celebratory spirit of the occasion, we made plans for the next day's return to Machu Picchu to visit the Temple of the Sun.

Two windows in the temple are aligned so that on each of the solstices the sun rises directly through them. Since we were less than a week away from the June solstice (winter here, summer in the northern hemisphere), we figured that alignment should be pretty darn close.

Just before daylight we once again made our way to the busses. Several sources mentioned long lines for the first bus to go up each morning, but once again Eddy steered us in the right direction and advised us to get to the bus just before 6am. At 5:55 we walked right on to the second bus.

With daylight breaking we scurried toward the temple, which stands in the center of the ruins, and found a spot where we could watch the sun come through the window.

Sunrise! The cosmic alignment was pretty darn close and the window lit up as advertised. We, and everyone around us, were feeling very in tune with the cosmos.
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From the temple we climbed upward to the top of the ridge between the two peaks, Machu and Huayna Picchu, to get our first view of the back side of the ruins.

We were surprised by how much was back there. About half as big as the front side, but concentrated more on the terraces that were used for farming and, perhaps more important in this case, preventing erosion and landslides.

This was also where we could catch the famous Inca Trail. The trail runs for some fifty miles all the way to Cusco, and is a remnant from the expansive system of roads or trails that spanned Tawantinsuyu, the Quechua name for the Inca Empire.

But we would only be going a couple of those miles, up to the Sun Gate, or Inti Punku in the Quechua language.
Click here to learn how we dealt with altitude issues while in Peru
In about an hour we climbed up another few hundred feet above sea level from the main part of Machu Picchu, taking us over 2,000 feet above the valley below. Inti Punku is the spot where the sunrise can be seen through the Sun Temple window on the solstice in December.

It is also where hikers that have walked four days along the Inca Trail from the Sacred Valley get their first view of Machu Picchu.

For the rest of the day we simply soaked it all in, until we needed to make our way back so we wouldn't miss our train.

Missing the train would be a problem since it was our only way out of Aguas Calientes... unless we wanted to hoof it back to Ollanaytambo.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Click here to see our full adventure with Road Scholar - a not-for-profit organization - through Ecuador, Peru, The Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu and much, much more!

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david and veronica james are going gypsy

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Discovering the Lost City of the Inca, Machu Picchu | The GypsyNesters

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Check out what happens during a summer solstice sunrise at Machu Picchu. A harrowing bus ride, brushes with llamas, and inexplicable happenings - and even when visiting a wonder of the world, your GypsyNesters can sniff out some weird regional food!.. CONTINUE READING >>