Unutterably Silly Let's Go Places!

[drjd]

Yonago, Japan

Yonago is a city located in northwestern Tottori Prefecture, Japan, facing the Sea of Japan, and adjacent to Shimane. Yonago has always been an important crossing point of several routes in the area. Yonago Station serves three railway lines. The city also has a seaport to the Oki Islands. Miho-Yonago Airport, located in a neighboring city of Sakaiminato, serves the area.

[Phyllis41]

Oman, Saudi Arab

[drjd]

New Jersey, USA

[PeterT]

York, England

[drjd]

Kathmandu, Nepal

[Phyllis41]

Ulm, Germany

[drjd]

Manila, Philippines

Manila is the capital city of the Philippines. It is the home to extensive commerce and seats the executive and judicial branches of the national government. It also contains vast amount of significant architectural and cultural landmarks in the country.

Since Manila is prone to earthquakes, the Spanish colonial architects invented the style called Earthquake Baroque which the churches and government buildings during the Spanish colonial period adopted. As a result, succeeding earthquakes of the 18th and 19th centuries barely affected Manila, although it did periodically level the surrounding area. Modern buildings in and around Manila are designed or have retrofitted to withstand an 8.2 magnitude quake in accordance to the country's building code.

[Phyllis41]

Algeciras, Spain

[drjd]

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, prospering from its location on the Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean. At times Samarkand has been one of the greatest cities of Central Asia.


Bibi-Khanym Mosque

[cromag]

Delaware Township, NJ

Delaware Township is home to the oldest covered wooden bridge in New Jersey -- we don't have many left. It's still in active use but is only wide enough to accommodate a single lane of traffic. A second, modern bridge was built next to it for traffic in the other direction.




Delaware Township was also home to noted illustrator John Schoenherr. Best known (to me, at least) for his illustrations in science fiction magazines. I believe his farm served as the "model" for the illustrations he made for Jane Yolen's childrens' book, Owl Moon. You can see those illustrations over at Youtube.

[drjd]

Puma Punku, Bolivia.

Puma Punku is part of a large temple complex or monument group that is part of the Tiwanaku Site near Tiwanaku, Bolivia. Tiwanaku is significant in Inca traditions because it is believed to be the site where the world was created.

In assembling the walls of Pumapunku, each stone was finely cut to interlock with the surrounding stones and the blocks fit together like a puzzle, forming load-bearing joints without the use of mortar. One common engineering technique involves cutting the top of the lower stone at a certain angle, and placing another stone on top of it which was cut at the same angle. The precision with which these angles have been utilized to create flush joints is indicative of a highly sophisticated knowledge of stone-cutting and a thorough understanding of descriptive geometry. Many of the joints are so precise that not even a razor blade will fit between the stones.

[PeterT]

Usk, Wales

Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales, situated 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Newport.

It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient crossing point. It developed as a small market town, with some industry including the making of Japanware, and a notable prison. In recent years Usk has become known for its history of success in Britain in Bloom competitions, winning the Large Village award in 2005. The resident population of the town in 2001 was 2,318, increasing to 2,834 at the 2011 census.

[Phyllis41]

Koszalin, Poland

[drjd]

Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg is known for Nürnberger Bratwurst (grilled sausage), which is shorter and thinner than other bratwurst sausages.

Another Nuremberg speciality is Nürnberger Lebkuchen, a kind of ginger bread eaten mainly around Christmas time.


Nürnberger Bratwurst

[Phyllis41]

Gijón, Spain