Coptic areas of Cairo – the signs on the wall announcing the various monuments inside the area

1) The Hanging Church: Located above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, probably the most famous church in Egypt. Built long long ago, rumored to be in the 7th century. The Church has a number of icons inside it.
2) Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga). This is a Church that is supposed to have been built over a site where the Holy Family stayed during their journey in Egypt, when they were fleeing persecution by the Romans. It is considered extremely holy, however, the exact spot where the stay is supposed to have happened (in a cave below the ground) is blocked by a metal gate, and only open on specific occasions. The church is named after 2 soldiers martyred in the 4th century in Syria.

Coptic areas of Cairo – entry to the St. Sergius Church and the Holy Crypt in it

3) Coptic Museum. This was founded in 1910 to house many old Coptic objects, and now houses many important Coptic items.
4) Ben Ezra Synagogue (also known as the El-Geniza Synagogue). It is supposed to be located on the site where the Moses was found as a baby on the Nile, and adopted by the Pharaoh.
Entry to this area is through a gate, and you need to pass through a small covered corridor to reach the area, with the corridor having many books and paintings on both sides for tourists to purchase.

Coptic areas of Cairo – Security police at a barrier to ensure safety of tourists

Coptic areas of Cairo – a guest house to the back of the monuments

Coptic areas of Cairo – entering the complex through a staircase descending down

Coptic areas of Cairo – view of the entry to the complex

Coptic areas of Cairo – narrow corridor with old books and paintings on either side

Coptic area in Cairo – a security metal gate before entering a monument

Coptic area of Cairo – inside a Church

Coptic area of Cairo – the older sections of the Coptic part

Coptic area of Cairo – a beautiful painting in a wooden structure inside a Church

This post is turning out to be longer than I thought, so will carry on with more locations inside Cairo in the next post.

Zurich is one of the most famous cities of Switzerland, situated at the northern corner of lake Zurich. The city is bordered by wooden hills, with the centre of the city being the “Lindennof”‘ a small natural hill on the west bank of ‘Limmat’ (river). The city has a number of tourist attractions such as museums, art galleries, walks, the lake, railway journeys, access to Winter Sports, cultural events, etc. The city has the busiest airport, railway station and most people travel to Zurich by either air or train. However travelling to Zurich is also possible by roads. Zurich is a historical city, being 7000 yrs old city that was actually founded by Romans (who called it Turicum). In terms of being described as a place to live, the city has been acknowledged to be the city with ” The Best Quality Of Life” and is also the richest city in Europe, and a financial center for the whole region. When we talk about the areawise division of Zurich, it is currently divided in to 12 Municipal Districts.

History

Historically, in Roman times, the city known as Turicum at that time, was a point more in the nature of a tax collection point, on the border of Gallia Belgica and Raetia, for goods transported on the river Limmat (that runs through the city of Zurich). Their was some expansion of the city over a period of time, with a city wall being built during the 13th century and enclosing an area of 38 hectares. Over a period of time, there were political transformations, including being part of several treaties, with the power of the city increasing and decreasing.

Transport

Zurich is very significant in terms of transport, with the city having the busiest train station and airport in the country. The main mode of transport in the city are through the Railways, Trams, Buses; with a number of people coming to the city via air, through the Zurich International Airport which is situated around 10 kilometers northeast of the city. Public transport network, in addition, also has the following modes – Boats on the lake & on the river. One good facility is that once you buy a ticket for a trip, this ticket is valid on all means of transport (Public transport such as Train, Tram, Bus, Boat), and is one of the major strong points of the city’s transport network.

Economy and people

Zurich is significant in that it is the main economic zone of Switzerland. The city of Zurich is an attractive destination for banking giants and a hub for leading financial institutions. Zurich also serves as one of the main destinations for cultural events. The city is not very large in terms of population, having approx 3,00,000 population, but this is enough to make it the largest city of Switzerland. This population actually contains maximum no of Swiss citizens followed by Germans & Italians.
The most popular language of Zurich is Zurich German as it is the mother tongue of more than 75% of the population. The second most used language is Italian which is followed by a few other language like Serbian, Crotian, Macedonian, Spanish, English, and Albanian. However, since it is a tourist location, language is typically not a constraint when traveling in the city.
In terms of religious proportion, the 20th century saw a shift towards a larger section of the population having Catholicism as their faith, and they form the largest section of the city; however, like many other sections of western thought, there are an increasing number of people who declare that they do not have any religious affiliation.

Climate and Attractions

If we talk about climate of this beautiful city, the statistics are a simple example of why people enjoy being there. Zurich city has four distinct seasons, with summers being much warmer, with average high temperatures of 21-24 degree C (and a low temperature of 10-12 degree C), winters being much colder with average temp. of 10-12 degree C. The months of Spring and Autumn are much better, being cool and mild. The overall classification of the city in terms of weather is a humid continental climate.
What is Zurich’s claim to being a good tourist location ? It can be called a heaven on earth, with a bountiful quantity of such attractions as a great climate, some incredible locations, churches, museums, etc. Some of the many sights to visit are the Church of Grossmunster, Fraumunster, St.Peter are some of the great places that one should visit during a tour to Zurich. For museums, Kunsthaus Zurich, Swiss National Museum, Haus Konstruktiv are great museums that have a collection of modern art, and whose construction, and design tells the story of a city that showed the transformation of an old city in becoming global and one of the attractions of the world. In addition to all these, the Sun Rise Tower of the Serbian district is also a great attraction to the tourist. A more detailed list of such attractions in the city are:
A listing of the attractions of Zurich:
1. Rhine Falls
2. Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich): This museum has a very impressive selection of modern art, and a comprehensive collection all th way back to the 1600′s
3. Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster): A beautiful church, with stained glass windows and a spire seeming to point towards heaven
4. Zurich Toy Museum: A thrill for all kids, this museum has a collection of toys
5. Zurich Zoo: A large collection of animals from all over the world
6. Swiss National Museum: Visit to learn more about Swiss history
7. Great Church (Grossmunster): Originally constructed a very long time back by the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne
8. Belvoir Park: A large park, enjoy strolls through this park
9. The Old town on the banks of the Limmat river
10. Johann Jacobs Museum: Specialty museums
11. Bahnhofstrasse: Enjoy shopping on this famous street of Zurich
12. Criminology Museum (Kriminalmuseum)
13. Museum of Masks (Bündnermasken-Keller)
14. Paleontological Museum (Paläontologisches Museum der Universität)
15. Opera House: A pretty famous cultural location in Zurich, it opened in 1891
16. Flea market Bürkliplatz: Flea markets can be a lot of fun to shop in for all sorts of stuff; open 6am-3:30pm every Saturday, May to October.

Here are some photos from the time that we had spent some time in Zurich.

The exterior architecture of a building in Zurich, Switzerland

Streets in Zurich have large electric overheads because of the train and tram system

Inside the train station in Zurich

Angular view of the bridge over the river Limmat in Zurich

A view of the Bridge on the Limmat river in Zurich, Switzerland

A tourist bus conducting tours of Zurich in Switzerland

A river cruise on the Limmat river in Zurich, Switzerland

How to reach Mahabaleshwar

By Air
Pune, located at a distance of 120 km is the nearest airport. If you plan to travel to Mahabaleshwar by air, you can board a flight till Pune, and then easily avail a bus, taxi or a private car from the Pune airport. The airport has various facilities within its premises for tourists traveling to the place. State operated buses are also easily available from Pune. Even private tour-operators provide luxury/ non- luxury bus services to Mahabaleshwar. You can even hire a vehicle of your choice from the airport, for the entire duration of your stay.

By Train
The nearest railhead from Mahabaleshwar is Wather, located at a distance of 62 km from the city. But if you choose to travel to Mahabaleshwar by train, the Pune railhead, located at a distance of 120 km, is comparatively more convenient than the Wather station, because of its better connectivity to Mahabaleshwar. People traveling by train can get down at the Pune railway station to reach Mahabaleshwar. Private tour operators provide buses, mini-buses, taxis, etc, which are easily available for tourists outside the Pune station. One can also avail the state-operated buses that shuttle between Pune and Mahabaleshwar.

By Road
From Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is 285 km (via Pune route) and the distance is about 247 km (via Mahad route). There are regular state-operated buses that travel to Mahabaleshwar from the nearby cities of Pune and Mumbai. Private tour operators also provide various luxury/ non-luxury, AC/Non-AC, Deluxe and Volvo buses and other vehicles to and from Mahabaleshwar. You can even drive your own vehicle to Mahabaleshwar, enjoying its idyllic beauty, as the roads are excellent. It takes around 5 hrs to reach Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai by road.

Location of Mahabaleshwar on Google Maps:

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An evergreen plateau located amidst the Western Ghats of the Sahyadri mountain range, Mahabaleshwar is one of the largest hill stations in the state of Maharashtra. With its resplendent valleys, cascading waterfalls, placid lakes, ancient temples, cobbled streets and large vistas of greenery, Mahabaleshwar is a home to various spots of instantaneous tourist attractions. Be it the spectacular lookout points or the spiritual ardor in its air, Mahabaleshwar remains one of the most popular hill resorts of India. Here are some of the hot-spots that can be included in the sightseeing tours of the place.

Mahabaleshwar is known as the Queen of Hills in Maharashtra. Mahabaleshwar near Pune is a very popular town located at an altitude of 1,372 meters. The steep hills and green valleys of Mahabaleshwar are a retreat from the chaos and pollutions of Mumbai and Pune. The town was originally established as the health resort in 1829 A.D. The town is marked with neat bungalows and ancient churches. It was in the 19th century, that the sanatorium was established along with an open jail reformatory center. Prisoners from China and Malaysia were kept in this place. They had to construct roads, grind corn flour, and maintain potato farms and other vegetable gardens in the English resorts. At present you will find, the Public Works Department bungalow at the location of the prison.

Well known for its strawberries and Chikki, Mahabaleshwarenchants many religious tourists as well. Mahabaleshwar is the starting point of 5 important rivers, the Krishna, Koyna, Savitri, Veena and Gayatri, which are regarded as holy rivers in the country.

Tourist Attractions in and around Mahabaleshwar

- Arthur’s Seat Point : It is an exotic and picturesque spot, overlooking the konkan. On the way to Arthur’s point are the ancient Temples of Lord Shiva, ‘Gau-Mukha’ – Connected to a source of water.
- Lodwick Point : Located at an altitude of 1,240 m, it is named after General Lodwick, who is said to have been the first to set foot on this point in 1824. A monument has been erected there in his memory by his son.
- Elphinstone Point : Named after a Governor of Mumbai, Sir Elphinstone, it was discovered by Dr. Murray in the early 18th century. A great spot for picnicking, it bears a resemblance to an elephant’s head and trunk, if seen from the Lodwick Point.
- Wilson’s Point : It is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar, thus offering you the best view, at an altitude of 1,435 m. With three observation towers erected here, it is the best place to catch the sunrise, and hence has also been called the Sunrise Point.
- Mahabaleshwar Temple : The hill station derives its name from the presiding deity “Mahabali”, of this famous Hindu temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is girdled by a five feet tall stone wall on its sides and is divided into a God-chamber and a central hall.
- Waterfalls : These gurgling waterfalls heighten the beauty of the place and are a source of instant attractions among the tourists. Lingmala waterfall flows down a steep hill and provides an enthralling effect with its illuminating silver water. Dhobi and the Chinaman’s waterfalls are two other major waterfalls and picnic spots, and are at their best during the monsoons.
- Venna Lake : With a length of 2.5 m and the availability of boating and fishing facilities, the lake allows people to enjoy the placidness of its water, while feasting on nature’s bounty. There are also strawberry stalls that surround the place, with ponies trotting nearby.
- The Krishnabai Temple : One of the temples in the complex– was built during the Yadava Dynasty by Raja Singham in the 13th Century AD. It was renovated and improved by the Mores of Jaoli. Shivaji and his mother Jijabai are thought to have visited Mahabaleshwar to seek spiritual advice from a learned Brahmin living there.
- Connaught Peak: Ht 1385 m Distance 3.5 km. A beautiful carpet of evergreen forest is seen from this point. The view of Mahabaleshwar town is scenic. Sunsets are a big attraction here.
- Kate’s Point: Ht 1290 m Distance 6.8 km. The view is clear and magnificent during winter when the skies are clear and the Dhom dam (which it overlooks) is full. One can also spot Kamalgadh, Pandavgadh and Mandardeo peaks.
- Pratapgad Fort : Around 25kms from mahabaleshwar, a serpentine, steep mountain road leads to Pratapgad from Mahabaleshwar on the Poladpur side, built by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1656. History was created at this fort when Shivaji met with Afzal Khan, the Sardar of Bijapur.
- Beckwith Monument: The Sir Sydney Beckwith Monument is just near the Government Hospital. An obelisk about 10 m in height, it is situated about 1500 m above sea level. A weather observatory is situated near it.
- Panchaganga Temple : Panchaganga means five rivers, which according to Hindu mythology are the holy rivers of Krishna, Venna, Koyna, Savitri and Gayatri, which flow nearby. While the shrines situated here date back to the prehistoric period, the temple itself was built in the 13th century by a Yadav King, and was further restored in the 16th century and then in the 19th century.
- Hanuman Mandir : This temple also has the Samadhi of the 16th century sage Sant Rama Dassa.
- Catholic Church : This church is not a place of architectural significance and is in ruins, yet it is worth a visit for its magnificent stained glass windows.
- Mount Malcolm : This is another building of significance from the early 18th century, primarily due to its architecture, unfortunately it has lost much of its charm today.
- Morarji Castle : It is where Gandhiji stayed for a while in 1945.
- Panchgani : It is another hill resort just 19kms from Mahabaleshwar. You could go here for a day trip and enjoy views from Sidney Point, Parsi Point and the Graves Point, and have lunch at one of the excellent Parsi restaurants there.

Other Activities

– Boating : To do some boating head to the Venna Lake, 25 acres in size and a favorite place for some fishing too.
- Outdoor Activities : Bird watchers can spend hours in the open with their binoculars and bird books. Horse riding is another excellent outdoor activity, as is trekking and hiking in the forest.
- Shopping : The market at Mahabaleshwar offers you a wide variety of items ranging from clothes to footwear and food. The one thing the region is famous for is its pure unadulterated honey. The fruits and vegetables grown here are no less enticing; strawberry jam and preserve being another favorite buy.

Places to stay in Mahabaleshwar

- Ramsukh Resorts
- MTDC Holiday Resort Mahabaleshwar
- Brightland Holiday Village
- Sherwood Resort
- Ishwar Inn Resort
- Pratap Heritage
- Hotel Shreyas

The still remaining tall structure of the St. Augustine Church in Goa, now in ruins

Base platform of the ruins of St. Augustine Church in Goa

Next up, we visited the 2 side-by-side churches called the Dom Basilica Church, and the Se Cathedral. Both of them look real difficult. To reach there, the parking is located on the road next to the Dom Basilica Church and there is a short walk through a path lined with trees on both sides.

People braving the rain to go the Dom Basilica

Downpour outside as visible from the Dom Basilica in Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Basilica of Good Jesus (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) is a World Heritage site located in Goa, and also holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, with the church name referring to the infant Jesus. The church construction was started in 1594 and completed in 1605 when it was consecrated by Archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes. The church is also famous since it holds the remains of the Saint Francis Xavier, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) along with St. Ignatius Loyola. The remains of the Saint attract a huge number of visitors, especially once every 10 years when the body is made available for public viewing (last done in 2004). The inside of the Church was very beautiful and solemn, although sections of the Church seemed like a Spanish villa with an inner courtyard having a garden.

The body of St. Francis Xavier in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa

View of inner greenery of the courtyard inside the Dom Basilica in Goa

Statue of saint inside the Dom Basilica in Goa

Next to the Dom Basilica (across the road) is the Se Cathedral, also known as the Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina, is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, and is a huge and beautiful building, with some excellent indoor structure and very beautiful outdoors. The Cathedral was built starting in 1562, completed in 1619, and consecrated in 1640, and was built to celebrate the victory of Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army in 1510 (which led to the conquest of Goa), and was named after Saint Catherine since the day when victory happened was on the day of the feast of Saint Catherine.

Beautiful view of the Se Cathedral from outside with greenery

Inside the Se Cathedral in Goa

Chandelier hanging from the roof of the Se Cathedral in Goa

Sculpture of Jesus Christ on a cross inside the Se Cathedral in Goa

After spending a couple of hours at these 2 beautiful churches, we moved on, visiting a Hindu temple, the famous Shri Mangueshi Temple, Goa. It was drizzling slightly, so there was some amount of mud and ditches, but the inner compound of the temple was relatively much cleaner. We went inside the temple, said our prayers, visited the tower, and then moved on. By this time, we were ready for lunch, and we were also enticed by the prospect of visiting a local spice plantation. These are large tracts of land on which spices are grown organically, and they also give you an organic lunch and a trip around the plantation where you can see their growing habits and learn about which spices grow on which plants along with seasons. It was pretty exciting to go there. The trip to a spice plantation can however cost you around Rs. 400 per head to go inside and do the trip.

Exterior architecture of the Mangueshi Temple in Goa

After the spice plantation, it was back to the water. We were not interested in visiting the Miramar beach since we were running short of time and light in the sky, and so we headed to a different type of beach, called Dona Paula. The place is a expensive and luxurious place to live, and is named after the daughter of a Portuguese viceroy who threw herself off the cliff when she was refused permission to marry a local fisherman. However, this is not a typical beach, more of a beachfront and where there is an observation tower located at a height from where you get a good view. You typically do not work along sand with water next to you.

After all this, we were attracted by the notion of a 1 hour cruise on the River Mandovi. There are these numerous water cruisers (not very attractive) which carry you aboard and for a one hour cruise for Rs. 150. You sit on plastic seats, with a local band providing the music or can go to the open upper deck (but since it is night, you do not see anything much). Having done this cruise, I can say that you will not miss much if you do not do this cruise.

On board entertainment on river cruise in Goa – boring

Many photos of Goa at this location.

A map of the tour is available at this link.

So, you get started on the bus (and it was a double decker bus); I quickly climbed to the upper level even though it was windy, since you get a great view. We got down at several stops on the way, with the places that we spent a lot of time being:
London Eye (you cannot go away from London without doing a spin (1 hour) on the huge ferris wheel),

A view of London Eye at night from outside the entry point

London Eye straight ahead – view from the path right in front

Big Ben and surrounding areas (the whole area has many great buildings, where you get a great view of the architecture)

Photo of Big Ben by night – Well lighted up and an important tourist attraction

Thames (go for a cruise on the Thames, you get a short view of the history of London along with seeing the numerous bridges on the way)

A cruise ship on the Thames in London (similar to the one I was traveling in)

Passing under one of the Bridges across the Thames in London

The Hungerford Bridge over the river Thames in London

Tower of London (the place used by royalty earlier, and also used as a detention and execution place)

Part of the Tower of London as seen from the Thames

The Tower of London – A beautiful lawn replaces the moat now

The beautiful architecture of Tower of London

Buckingham Palace (the current residence of the queen, there is a great changing of the guard ceremony every alternate day at 11 in the morning)

A closer view of the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace

Close up of marching formation at Buckingham Palace changing of the guard

Front facade of Buckingham Palace when it is less crowded

The beautiful autumn at the Green Park just outside Buckingham Palace

Madam Tussaud’s (A world famous wax museum, but I got bored after around 30 minutes)
Trafalgar Square (A great open place, with a water attraction, big lions, and mermaids)

Admiralty Arch and adjoining building near Trafalgar Square in London

One of the fountains of Trafalgar Square in London

People enjoying on the bronze lions in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

The Tower Bridge looks incredible and one should visit it atleast once.

A beautiful view of the Tower Bridge in London against a blue sky

A photo of London Bridge in a beautiful setting

Photo of Tower Bridge and the buildings to one side of the bridge

Some other photos from London

Bus that takes tourists on a trip around London to the major tourist points

A beautiful view of a partially cloudy sunset over the Thames and Westminster in London

A beautifully decorated London store near the Chinese New Hour in the evening

A close up of the glass dome of the London City Hall

A glimpse of the exterior architecture of Westminster Abbey

A jetty on the Thames used to drop and pickup passengers of cruise ships

A more detailed view of the dinosaur skeleton in the central hall of the Science Museum in London

A view of the London skyline with the top of the Gherkin (Swiss Re building) in the background

Constitution Arch with the largest British bronze statue on top in Belgrave Square

You can see photos from my trip to London at this location (link)

Map of Vatican City (placement within Rome) on Google Maps (may need to zoom in)

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A great site with information on timings for many places inside the Vatican, dress code, mass timings, climbing the cupola, grottoes, restrooms, St. Peter’s Tomb, seeing the pope, Sistine Chapel, Tours (link)

Hours: St. Peter’s Basilica is open daily, Apr-Sep 7:00-19:00;
Oct-Mar 7:00-18:00
Treasury Museum: 9:00 – 18:15 (Apr – Sep) 9:00 – 17:15 p.m. (Oct – Mar)
Grottoes: 7:00-18:00 (Apr – Sep) 7:00-17:00 (Oct – Mar)
Cupola: 8:00 – 18:00 (Apr – Sep) 8:00 – 16:45 (Oct – Mar)
Scavi Office: weekdays 9:00 – 17:00

Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel – (Vatican website)
Hours – Closed on many holidays, check the Vatican Website
Mar-Oct 8:45-15:20, Exit 16:45 Saturdays 8:45 – 12:20 Exit 13:45
Nov-Feb 8:45 – 12:20, Exit 13:45
Closed Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month which is free.
Regular Price – 12 Euros

Virtual Tour of St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls available at this link (click here)

Virtual tours of the Vatican Museums at this link (click here)

Information on St. Peter’s Basilica (Wikipedia – including the history of the construction of the Church) and Square in the Vatican City (link), (Photos from EWTN Catholic Network)

For people visiting the Vatican, it is always a challenge for them to decide what to visit. Here are some links to articles that describe what to visit:

Article in the Telegraph about how to visit the museums (click here)

Few visitors to the Vatican Museums come away unmoved by what they see – especially in the Sistine Chapel. The sheer scale of Michelangelo’s ambition and achievement (he painted more than 600 figures in all), the coherence of the compositions and the consistency of the artistic quality is heart-stopping. The problem is how to enjoy it. Throughout most of the year, the sheer number of people cramming into the chapel, and especially into the Raphael Rooms, undermines the whole experience. It’s like trying to read metaphysical poetry in a rugby scrum.
Top 20:
Raphael paintings and tapestries, Aldo-Brandini Wedding Fresco, Horses heads, The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, Fra Angelico: Chapel of Nicholas V (for more, including descriptions, visit the actual article)

Some useful tips at this forum post at fodors.com (link)

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums and furthest from the entrance. There is an admission fee. For an additional fee, you can prebook a timed entry to avoid waiting in line. Anecdotal evidence suggests that lines are short or non-existent after about 1 pm.

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/index.html

There is no fee for entry to St. Peter’s Basilica, but there is a security line, which generally moves quite fast.

Tips from ehow.com (link)

Select the day you want to visit Vatican City. Check the official Vatican website for events you want to attend or avoid, including the Pope’s weekly public appearance in St. Peter’s Square.

Private visit to the Vatican Gardens and Sistine Chapel (link)

Detailed description of visit to the Vatican City with photos (link)

Finally, we moved into the Sistine chapel where no speaking, photography or videography is allowed. It is difficult to comprehend the scope of the Michelangelo ceiling from individual images – they can never recreate the feeling of looking up at this work in its whole. This is also the room in which the Pope is elected by the college of cardinals and seems to resonate with history and untold secrets. It was far less crowded in the chapel from the last time I visited, and we were able to take seats along the benches that line the perimeter. From here we could comfortably take in the various panels without the sort of reverse vertigo that you get from walking in slow circles with your head tilted back. Certainly the panel showing God creating Adam is captivating, but so are many of the less famous images that lead to this centre piece.

Ticket Office online of the Vatican Museums (for skipping the lines, for getting guided tours, for school groups, and for pilgrimages) (link)

A pilgrim’s report (link)

As Christian and Catholic, I will never conceive a visit to Rome without visiting the Vatican City, the spiritual centre of the Christendom, with the famous Saint Peter’s Basilica and the other three Basilicas located outside the Holy See walls: Saint John in Lateran, Saint Mary Major and Saint Paul outside the Walls, the impressive Vatican Museums, the beautiful Gardens and the fantastic St. Peter’s Square.

Vatican City, Italy – Sistenth Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica

2 parts of a virtual tour of the Vatican (an excerpt from a National Geographic documentary titled “Inside the Vatican”).

A virtual tour of the Vatican (Part 1)

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We did not need to hire a vehicle, relatives vehicle was good enough. And so we started – getting out of London is always the more troublesome part. Once you are out of London, then it is a straight road (around 120 kilometers) on a straight 8 lane expressway. It took roughly 2-2.5 hours to reach there, and even the expressway was beautiful on many stretches. As we reached closer, there were turnoffs for the Dover-Calais Chunnel (train under the English Channel), and soon, we could see the water of the English Channel and the cliffs of Dover.
The Castle is reached by passing through the main streets of the town of Dover, and then following the directions. The entrance to the castle is fairly expensive, (I think it was just about 10 pounds per adult), and lower for children (if you live in England or frequently visit, consider buying a Heritage package that allows a family to visit a number of places for an overall much lower rate). The road to the castle goes through a big gate, passes in front of the castle and keeps on going to the parking lot. The first thing that struck me as I started moving around was the incredible cleanliness of the place, with nothing out of place and everything spic and span. The grass looked so green and like a good carpet (although it was cold when we went in November, and hence we did not really try to sit on the grass !).
The castle is really old (you can imagine how old the whole location is when you realize that the castle also contains the ruins of a Roman lighthouse built when the Romans were in control of Britain). The castle has had sections built over a period of time, and was last used during the second World War when it was the headquarters for Admiral Ramsay (when he was over-seeing Operation Dunkirk, the saving of the British expeditionary force from the continent), and was also a field hospital and a command center. There is a vast labyrinth of tunnels built over different periods of time that also served as military headquarters.

The architecture of the castle is incredible, and since it is located on a height, the upper towers offer a good vantage position for looking over the surroundings. What is special are the exhibits inside the castle that showcase the quarters for the king when he would visit over here. There are many posters and presentations that display the going-ons in the castle when the king would visit (an interesting tidbit is that the king never paid enough to have proper work done inside the castle, and hence this was probably the first location in the world where the field of interior decoration was used to a large degree to cover up for lack of new construction).

You also get a guided tour of the tunnels used during wars, including an actual simulation with sound effects, a movie displaying the history of the war effort, as well as a chance to see the bunks, hospital areas, command centers, wireless and communication abilities, etc. This was very interesting, and made the trip very worthwhile; be sure to book this early since there is a limit to the number allowed per such visit. There is also a beautiful old church called St. Mary’s church in the premises.

Overall, the trip was a very good experience, and I had lots of fun. What took the cake in the end was the classic sunset over the English channel and the great colors of the setting sun. And then the trip back was tiring, with the inevitable letdown after a beautiful visit.