List of the oldest buildings in the world This article attempts to list the oldest extant freestanding buildings constructed in the world, including on each of the continents and within each country. "Building" is defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy. In order to qualify for the list a structure must: be a recognisable building;incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height;be largely complete or include building work to this height for most of its perimeter. This consciously excludes ruins of limited height and statues. The list also excludes: dolmens—a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone—unless they were originally covered over to form a barrow and used for collective burials. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating and should be considered approximate. Lists
Best Life-Changing Trips When you bump into giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies while strolling the sand, it’s no ordinary beach vacation. And the extraordinary is what visiting the Galapagos is all about. Spot unique species, snorkel with sea lions, hike a volcano—life as you know it seems very far away. Transformative trips like following in Darwin’s footsteps expand your global perspective and prompt you to reevaluate what really matters. “A person cannot have a trip of a lifetime unless they open their mind,” says Thomas Stanley, COO of luxury trip planner Cox & Kings, The Americas. On Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, for instance, you can base yourself at a working vineyard, indulge in ice cream topped with shaved truffles, meet with local winemakers, and learn how to properly taste olive oil—with the help of bespoke tour operator Tasteful Croatian Journeys. No matter what your reasons for traveling, our slideshow is sure to inspire at least one life-changing journey.
Cool Things In Random Places - A little refreshing randomness from around the globe 8 Incredible Mazes Around the World The world “mazerific” is thrown around a lot these days. But we’ve found eight mazes that really are superlative, either for their size, history or quirky features. Check out our review below . . . and try not to get lost along the way. Longleat Hedge Maze Wiltshire, England The 16th-century Longleat House is a reasonably cool attraction in its own right. LEARN MORE | READ | FLY THERE | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | ShareThis Related post: The Fabulously Crazy Crazy Bear Hotel The Dole Plantation Pineapple Garden Maze Wahiawa, Hawaii Many mazes claim to be the world’s largest but only one has been granted the titled by Guiness Book of World Records: The Dole Plantation Pineapple Garden Maze. Related post: Simply Luxurious Hawaii Beach Huts LEARN MORE | READ | HAWAII HOTEL DEALS | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | ShareThis Château & Jardins de Villandry Villandry, France LEARN MORE | READ | FLY THERE | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | ShareThis Related post: The Best Pedicure in Paris Benson Farms Denton, Nebraska USA Peace Maze
The 10 Greatest Opera Houses For those who suffer from what Cocteau called the "red-and-gold disease," relief is found only in the glittery, cavernous darkness of an opera house. Yet one does not always enter what Jean Harlow would have called a "rafeened" atmosphere. To be sure, the opera house serves up the food of the gods, but blood sport is also part of its history. Opera houses were built not only for the delectation of opera buffs and balletomanes, but also as urban temples to the romance of music and the magic of stage illusion. Paris OpéraBuilt in 1875, the Palais Garnier lies in the heart of Paris on—where else? Once a year there is a grand défilé of the entire company and school of the Paris Opéra Ballet, whose origins date to the time of Louis XIV. Ticket buyers beware: Despite a recent renovation, many of the Palais Garnier's sightlines are dreadful. Sydney Opera HouseFor some travelers, Australia is beer-drinking, surfing, and "Waltzing Matilda."
The List Blog - StumbleUpon 10. Why are dogs committing suicide by jumpingoff the Overtoun Bridge? The Overtoun Bridge is an arch bridge located near Milton, Scotland, overthe Overtoun Burn. A burn is a term used to describe a type of streamwhich is smaller than a river. Milton is a village in West Dunbartonshire,which is just on the outskirts of Dumbarton. The long leap from the bridge onto the waterfalls of the Overtoun Estatealmost always results in immediate death. There have been a number of theories as to why dogs are choosing to endtheir lives by jumping off the bridge, ranging from the bridge being hauntedto the canines suffering from depression, or even picking up depressed orsuicidal feelings from the bridge. It has been suggested that the height of the bridge’s granite walls significantlyimpairs the dogs’ sense of sight and hearing, so when they go to investigatethe smell, they are unaware of the massive fall that awaits them. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. In 1940, Willard F.M. 3. 2. 1. Moonlight Maze
10 of the World’s Best Desserts Everyone (well, almost everyone) loves dessert. From tart and savoury to sweet and creamy, the best desserts come in all shapes and sizes. And while we might deny ourselves the pleasure of finishing off the meal with something special, when we travel the opportunity presents itself for some can’t-miss temptations. So splurge, enjoy yourself, and walk it off the next day with any of these ten of the world’s best desserts. Mont Blanc at Angelina’s in Paris The only thing better than relaxing on the River Seine at Sunset is savouring a cup of coffee or tea while enjoying a Mont Blanc at Angelina’s, the best bakery in Paris the world. Quindim in Brazil Quindim is another world-class best dessert, and appearances might be deceiving as sometimes its presented a bit like a Brazilian doughnut! Beingets from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans The beingets from Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans are almost as famous as Mardi Gras itself. Gelato from Anywhere in Florence Galub Jamun in India Maple Taffy in Canada
World's Most Amazing Prison Islands & Prison Tours It’s always a pretty raw, fascinating experience to witness places were people have been or are locked up in prison. I guess I’m getting into the promotion of “dark tourism” here, but there really are some amazing prison tours that can be taken in Central and South America - and a lot of travellers really do rave about the experience of visiting such places. Here’s my pick of the best prison islands to visit, and prison tours available in Latin America. 1. Coiba Island, Panama I’ve probably been to over 100 destinations in Latin America - Coiba Island would be in my “top 3″ places that I have visited. Hello tropical paradise of Coiba Island! Coiba Island is on the Pacific side of Panama - not far from the surfing hotspot of Santa Catalina. Coiba prison’s disintegrating cells hint at a darker past. 2. San Pedro prison, La Paz, Bolivia - looks charming doesn’t it? Apparently, the US TV series “Prison Break” was based on La Paz’s notorious prison San Pedro. 3. Devils Island, French Guiana 4.
10 Weirdest Places to Live - Oddee.com (places to live) Living in a Billboard This has got to be recycling at its best. Why throwout perfectly good billboards when you can reuse them as a living space? Living in a Walking House WALKING HOUSE is a modular dwelling system that enables persons to live a peaceful nomadic life, moving slowly through the landscape or cityscape with minimal impact on the environment. Living under the Grass At first sight, the place seems inhospitable. Living in a Water Tower "The Tower," a Tri Level House Standing 85 Feet Tall, is a Replica of a Historical Water Tower that was Reconstructed. Living over a Bridge Max Pritchard Architect brought out the adventurer side in you. Living inside an Airplane This accommodation is not a private dwelling but instead a suite that is part of the Hotel Costa Verde, a hotel located near Quepos, Costa Rica. Living in a Church This stunning Gothic Revival-style building is now one of the most extraordinary and largest single family homes in San Francisco. Living on a 2,575m Peak
Top 6 Lists It’s always difficult to choose a single favorite of anything, but we wanted to make sure that we kept a record for the kids of their top foods, sites, and activities in each country or region we visited. We hope that in later years this will help kindle fond memories and guide them in their own independent travels. We also figured it could prove useful to fellow travelers and give our friends and family back home something to laugh about. We post the lists for each country individually in the blog and you can see them all at once by clicking here. Top 6 Natural Wonders Visited 1. Top 6 Manmade Wonders Visited 1. Top 6 Cities Visited 1. Top 6 Activities 1. 1. 1. Other notables: “Waiter, there’s a bug in my rice.” “Help! We’ve got many more lists in the works. Like this: Like Loading...