Category: Architecture

Great architecture from around the world

4 Days in Xian, China (Warrior Pose)

I stayed for a glorious smog-free day in Beijing and then continued with an overnight train to Xi’an for my 4 days in Xian.  Although I had a berth for this overnight ride, it was the 3rd (top) bunk.  I made sure I didn’t drink anything before bed because the last thing I wanted to …

Continue reading

4 days in Beijing (I’m in the 1%!)

Beijing marks the end of the Trans-Mongolian railway of our train ride from Ulaanbaatar.  Upon arrival in Beijing, we had a very busy 4 days in Beijing.  With 4 days in Beijing, you can see all of the following:  Temple of Heaven Great Wall of China – we chose to visit the Mutianyu section of the …

Continue reading

Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar Bus + What to Do in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

We took a short break from the TransMongolian train and for the leg into Mongolia, we took the Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar Bus. After our lovely afternoon sightseeing and sleeping in Ulan Ude, Russia before our bus to Mongolia. We walked from the Ulan Ude Traveller’s House Hostel (Check Rates and Availability) to the starting point …

Continue reading

Ulan Ude Lenin Statue (Are We in Europe or Asia?)

Based on a tip we got from the internet for the Trans-Mongolian journey, we decided to take a train to Ulan Ude, Russia and then bus to Mongolia rather than take the train.  The train is a 24-hour ride, whereas the bus allows you to get a good night sleep in Ulan Ude and then …

Continue reading

Irkutsk Lake Baikal (World’s Largest Lake)

Irkutsk Lake Baikal is the “Paris of Siberia” and a great stopover on the Trans Siberian Railway.  The flowers and churches were great. There were lots of old wooden buildings. We went to the local market for fresh fruit. Edna and I had arranged for a car tour to Lake Baikal and Listvanyka town and …

Continue reading

A Day in Moscow (Don’t have a Cow)

We took the first of many hours on the Russian trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow.  The trip was only 8 hours overnight and was quite comfortable and then we only had a day in Moscow before making our way further east on the Trans-Siberian Railway. We spend the day doing our own walking tour …

Continue reading

2 Days in St. Petersburg (Old Sankt Pete)

2 Days in St. Petersburg is just enough time to get a good taste of the city.  Ideally there would be time for more, but on this trip I had many days on the Transsiberain railway on my way to Mongolia and China and only a month to do it. Amazing Architecture Driving into and …

Continue reading

Long Layover in Helsinki (A Hel of a Time)

Had a beautiful flight over Iceland to land in Helsinki.  Followed by a Long Layover in Helsinki before catching my overnight bus to St. Petersburg, Russia. Met Jakko, a guy I met in Cali, Colombia. It was cool to check out the art deco buildings in Helsinki. Tonight, I will take an overnight bus to St …

Continue reading

What to Do in Bogota Colombia

I was feeling homesick by the time I got to Bogota Colombia.  The heat of the coast had worn me down.  I was missing my boyfriend back home.  So, I decided to see some sites in Bogota and possibly see if I could fly home early. I found plenty of things to do in Bogota. …

Continue reading

Muddy on the Coast (Destination: Cartagena, Colombia)

Before researching for my trip to Colombia, I didn’t know a lot about Cartegena.  As a youngster, it evoked images of the film “Romancing the Stone” where the sister was kidnapped and held in Cartegena.  My friends Marie and Hank had flown directly to Cartegena and I met them there in the morning. We took …

Continue reading