Archive for the 'Architecture' Category
An 80 minute flight on an Air Lao prop plane. We received our visas at the airport and it was off to sleepy Luang Prabang on the Mysterious Mekong. It’s a “city” of pagodas and wats , and a beautiful ride up the Mekong to visit the Pak Ou caves.
On a Sacred Mountaintop.
Lord Buddha Gazes Over All.
Serenity is soon to end , as China connects Laos to the outside world by high speed rail that will run from Kunming to Vientiane and onwards to Bangkok and Singapore, or westwards to London, for that matter.While the USA build walls and excludes outsiders, China is building the Belt and Road Initiative uniting countries from Southern Africa to Eastern Asia and all points in between.
The Gateway To Pak Ou.
While Hue remains a warlike image in the minds of many Americans, due to the 1968 Tet offensive, it is a city at peace .
Sampans glide the river.
Evil spirits are kept at bay.
Street Food is incredible !
The Pagoda.
Water Buffalo on their way home for the evening. 
Making honey at the Pagoda.
Dinner by the Pearl River.
After two days in Da Nang, TotalAdventure moved on to Hue on the Reunification Express. Unlike other things in Vietnam, the train has not changed at all, except that the French built cars we rode in in 1993 are now 25 years older. “Express” is a hopeful term, as it too nearly 3 hours to cover 43 miles( 70 km).Beautiful views.
Hue is the exact center of Vietnam and incredibly beautiful.
We’ll move this later , but our travelers will surely enjoy this beautiful videoof a bridge in Da Nag.
As mentioned in March, 2012 posts, TotalAdventure spent 1967 to 1969 in Heidelberg. TotalAdventure has only visited twice until now – in 1983 and 2012;. In 2012, Mark Twain Village and Campbell Barracks, were off limits to non-Military personnel due to 9/11 Security. Consolidation to Wiesbaden and Dortmund has led the Army to return bases to the German people, in many cases for the first time since the 1930s when the German Army requisitioned the same land. Right now Mark Twain Village is a Ghost Town, but will be a new housing area in about 3 years. TotalAdventure attended school on the base from 2nd though 4th grades.
Schloß Heidelberg by night.
Alte Brücke by night.
TotalAdventure’s home base in Heidelberg. Temperature was 95 ( 35 C) but air conditioning has not yet been installed.
The Castle by day.
Home from 1967 to 1969.
Alte KIrche in Handschuhsheim.
From Bavaria and the Konstanszee we drove in 4 countries in 45 minutes, from Germany to Austria to Switzerland, to Liechtenstein, the wealthiest country in the world ( by income) ,technically the last remaining piece of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Castle of Prince Hans-Adam II.
In the high valleys of Switzerland where the only sound is the wind and cowbells.
Summer Snowmelt.
From The Glaciers Above.
Evening in Faido, Svizzera.
Gassing up before returning to Germany.
Brandenburger Tor, always a welcome sight after coming from the East.
The Reichstag, Power Center of Europe.
Wiener Schnitzel, a delicacy we enjoyed almost every night in Germany. Lunch too.
NO speed limit on the Autobahn except in city areas. German drivers are the best in the world and have earned the privilege.
The Altstadt of Nuremberg has been restored.. It took nearly 30 years after merciless Allied bombing that took place in 1944 and 1945.
In A Lutheran Church that had once been Catholic.
We walked out to Zeppelin Field. At first, an airstation for Blimps, it was utilized for Nazi Party rallies from 1933 to 1938.
From 1945 to 2005 the complex was occupied by the US Army as parade grounds. Here, in 1945, US Forces blow up a giant swastika.
Thankfully, Nuremberg now a city at Peace.
While 70% of US Citizens favor dropping all restrictions for traveling to Cuba, President Trump , delivering on a campaign promise to a vocal minority in Miami, has reimposed restrictions on most individual travel to Cuba. These will likely take effect in the coming months. The purpose of the restrictions is to help individual Cubans in the tourism sector. Thankfully, TotalAdventure trips fall into that category. We have amazing trips that see the real Cuba, working and visiting with local people.
There are 3 places left on Cuba Explorer – 9 Days in August for $ 2199.
Also in August Cuba Rhythms – Only $ 944 !
The Cuba Colonial trip is also in August. 6 Places left at $ 2499.
Central Europe Panoramic – Austria, Czech Republic,Poland And Hungary.
After a 4 hour train ride from Vienna, TotalAdventure arrived in Prague – for the first time since 1990, just after Liberation. Although tourists congregate heavily in the Old City and the population is much wealthier – the medieval buildings have stayed much the same.
Over the Stari Grad – Old City.
Habsburgian Architecture.
Hradcany Castle
Hradcany by Night.
On The Metro, about 60 cents US.
A Musical City.
Baroque.
Evening Storks.
U Modre Kachnicky is one of the best game restaurants in the world outside of Iceland. Here is smoked duck.
Wild Boar at U Modre Kachnicky.