Living in an Inside Cabin

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Almost 2 months off at home and I am now planning on leaving Saturday for the next contract.  I’ll be spending the first week on land in Puglia, Italy seeing new places including the famous architecture of the trulli.  I’m making a stop in Matera in Basilicata to see the old city that starred in the movie, The Passion of Christ.  Before I leave I am catching up on a lot of reading material from the travel trade magazines.  Smithsonian had an article the 28 Places to See Before You Die.  I liked it since it is much shorter than the book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die.  I’ve seen a number of these but there a few still on my own bucket list.  Thought you might enjoy the list and give you some ideas for your next vacation.  

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

1.  Mesa Verde and the Ancestral Puebla Indians

2.  Pompeii, Italy.  You, too, can find the original pizza oven here

3.  Tikal, Guatemala.  Amazing pyramid founded in 200AD

4.  Petra, Jordan.  Haunting rock city from the 1st century BC

5.  Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

6.  Taj Mahal, India.  This truly makes the entire trip worthwhile.  Amazing.

7.  Easter Island.  Monolithic effigies 13 feet tall, weighing 14 tons.  How did they get there?

8.  The Great Wall, China.  4,500 miles long built to keep out the invaders

9.  Aurora Borealis.  Northern lights seen from above 60 degrees latitude

10. Serengeti, Africa.  Means “land of endless space in MAsai it is the only place where the migration of wildebeests occurs

11. Iguazu Falls, South America.  Seen from Brazil or Argentina, there are more than 200 waterfalls strung along 230 foot high cliffs.

12. Machu Picchu, Peru.  The royal retreat of the Incas was constructed in the 15th century and is a breathtaking site

13. The Louvre, Paris.  Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, all waiting for you here.

14. Zen Garden of Kyoto. The garden’s meaning remains a mystery.  Perhaps you can solve it.

15. Uffizi Gallery, Florence.  The palazzo is home to Renaissance masterpieces and one of the world’s oldest collections.

16. Fallingwater, Pennsylvania.  Frank Lloyd Wright’s most ingenious residence as it totally fits with nature.

17. Yangtze River, China.  A river cruise will get you here in a comfortable way

Yangtze River

18. Antarctica.  Vast unexplored territory that evokes awe and wonder how the multitude of penguins and seals survive here.  Read the book, The Endurance, for a great look at Shakelton’s adventure.

19. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.  Only 1 in 10 people complete the trek to the top of this 19,340 foot peak

20. Grand Canyon, Arizona.  6000 feet deep, 277 miles long you can descend via foot or mule or raft the river

21. Pagan, Myanmar.  There are more than 3,000 temples here constructed between 1057 and 1287

22. Parthenon, Athens.  Dominating the skyline of the Acropolis for 2400 years, it is worth the climb

23.  Great Barrier Reef, Australia.Largest coral reef in the world, being affected by global warming. Go soon.

24. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.  14 major island with unique wildlife that inspired Charles Darwin on evolution

25. Venice, Italy.  Built totally on tiny islands the city continues to amaze and impress visitors.  The perfect walking city but a boat ride is fun, too.

26. Amazon Rain Forest, South America.  Covers more than 2 million square miles, spans 8 countries.

27. Angkor Wat, Cambodia.  A vast metropolis of temples built from the 9th to the 15th century.  Awe inspiring.

28. Ephesus, Turkey. Busy seaport in the second century AD, it will take to you ancient Rome as you walk the streets

Antarctica

How many have you visited?  Which ones appeal to you?  Have fun getting there.