7 Strong Men!

 

The Manpupuner rock formations (aka Seven Strong Men or Poles of the Komi Republic) are seven massive rock pillars located in the Ural Mountains of the Troitsko-Pechorsky District of Russia.  They are seven oddly shaped monoliths of about 100 to 131 feet tall that stand alone on a hilly plateau.  Long ago, they were once cut out of the land via ice and winds.  The pillars are a very popular tourist attraction in Russia, however they aren't internationally well known (yet) and are still relatively unspoiled by tourism. Local legends tells of story of Samoyed Giants that once walked through the mountains of Siberia to destroy the Mansi people.  However, upon seeing the holy mountains, the shaman of the giants dropped his drum and the entire team froze into the stone pillars.  The pillars have only been scaled once by a climber as previously were thought to be impossible for even the most experienced climber.

Adrenaline Junkies Stroll

 

El Caminito del Rey (aka The King's Little Pathway) is a very dangerous pathway located along the steep walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro, Spain.  It was originally built in 1901 for hydroelectric power plant workers to transport materials and for maintenance of the channel.  The walkway is a little over 3 feet wide and is about 330 feet above the river below.  It's constructed of concrete and steel rails, although it is in very poor shape and partially collapsed in areas.  At one point, there were hand rails, but non are left.  Today, there are safety-wire runs along the length of the path but the integrity of these rails is in question.  Due to many deaths, the pathway is closed at both entrances, but a gift shop still remains.  But good news for you adrenaline junkies.. it is set to reopen in 2015!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road?

 

The real Yellow Brick Road is located in the city of Schiedarn, Netherlands.  It is considered to the the poorest city of all of the country.  The road was painted yellow as it's the main road to connect the city center to the train station and was not intended to be beautiful.   But some say it was intended to symbolize the "road to prosperity and success".   Whatever the case,  it's a nice little touch to the poorest city in Netherlands, which doesn't appear to be much of a slum.

 

 

 

The Swallow's Nest

 

The Swallows Nest is a beautiful castle located in Gaspra, Russia on the Crimean Peninsula.  It was built around 1911 on the top of a 130 foot high cliff along the Black Sea.   It is built in a Neo-Gothic design by a Russian architect name Leonid Sherwood for a Baltic German oil millionaire.
The first structure built along this cliff was built in 1895 was merely a wooden structure named the "Castle of Love" only to be replaced to the opulent castle that remains today.  The castle survived a massive earthquake in 1927, however the cliff sustained a major crack risking the building integrity.  This forced the building to be closed for over 40 years until 1968.  Today the castle is a very popular restaurant and an very popular tourist destination for obvious reasons.

Fountain of Faces!

 

The amazing Crown Fountain can be found only in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois USA.   It's a interactive video sculpture and one of a kind.  It opened in 2004 and is composed of a black granite reflecting pools placed between a pair of glass brick towers.  The 50 ft. towers use LED lights to display digital images of various faces and scenery.  Water spouts out of the mouths seen on the faces.   The fountain is only open from May to Oct as winters are pretty rough in Chicago.  The fountain is loved by locals and critics alike for it's artistic and entertainment features.   It' is interactive and both children and adults can be found frolicking in it's waters.  The fountain also displays faces of local Chicagoans who are visiting the fountain :).   What can anyone say about this place but "WOW"!

 

The Magic Carpet :)

 

Every two years, since 1971, in August the city of Brussels, Belgium covers it's Grand Place (the central square of Brussels) with a magical carpet of flowers.  The beautiful begonia flowers cover an area of 253 feet x 79 feet.  It takes only one weekend to assemble the carpet by volunteers :).   Not much to say about this amazing tradition..  check out the pictures below :).  Oh, I will say Brussels hold a very special place in my heart :).

Diggerland!

 

How could I be the mom of four little boys and not know that there is such a place so wonderful as Diggerland :)?   There are currently only four Diggerlands in England, but a new Diggerland is being constructed in West Berlin, New Jersey!  It's a wonderful place for the whole family and a dreamland for little boys.  Children and their families can drive, ride and operate heavy machinery in a safe family-friendly environment. Kids can dig, drive and ride as they wish.  The new park will have 23 attractions and was apparently set to open in the summer of 2014?  Does anyone know if it actually opened?   The park also has rock climbing, train rides, rope courses and swamp buggy attraction.   Just too much to post.   They have a website and the pictures below speak volumes.  What a great idea :)!