Beautiful Places On Earth

Dresden is the capital city of the German federal state of Saxony. Located on both banks of Elbe River, Dresden is known worldwide for the Bruehl’s Terrace and other historic landmarks in the Altstadt (German word for old town). Surprisingly, Dresden was nearly 75% destroyed by the Allied aerial bombing during the World War II.

Restoration work on the Bruehl’s Terrace has been carried out after the war, and one can say that the place looks very much the same today as it did in the past. Some of the landmarks here are Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, Semperoper and Katholische Hofkirche, just to name a few. The Frauenkirche or the Church of Our Lady is a baroque church built between 1726 and 1743 and was completely destroyed in the bombing. The Zwinger is now a museum houses collection of fine arts and treasures especially at Alte Meister. The Semperoper is an opera house which was first built as early as 1841 and is lauded as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, certainly worth a visit!

Dresden, Germany

Not to miss out is the Dresden Elbe Valley, a former UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a 20-kilometer valley passing through the Dresden Basin and the city of Dresden which is known for the integration of the urban area into the natural landscape on the river banks. Its status as a World Heritage Site was revoked in 2009 due to the construction of a bridge across the valley. UNESCO believed the construction will bring destruction to the Dresden Elbe Valley eventually.

Vila Rica do Ouro Preto (Rich Village of Black Gold) or just Ouro Preto is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The city is approximately 475 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro. Ouro Preto is a former colonial mining town founded at the end of 17th century, during when there was a gold rush period in Brazil under Portuguese rule.

Ouro Preto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 for its outstanding Baroque architecture. The wealth from gold mining had attracted sculptors such as Aleijadinho, painters such as Mestre Athayde, composers such as Lobo de Mesquita and poets such as Thomas Gonzaga to Ouro Preto. Some of Aleijadinho’s Baroque masterpieces are Church of Saint Francis de Assisi and Nossa Senhora de Pilar.

Ouro Preto

The best time in the year to travel to Ouro Preto, Brazil is between November and April. You can plan your Ouro Preto trip with us!

Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico. Built by the Mayan people in 432 AD, Chichen Itza is located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula, which is the present day Mexico. In Mayan language, “Chichen Itza” means “At the mouth of the well of the Itza”.

The Chichen Itza had been enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The site contains many fine stone buildings; some are well preserved while others have been restored over the years. The buildings of Chichen Itza are grouped into several groups called complex. The 3 best known complexes are the Great North Platform, which includes the monuments of El Castillo, Temple of Warriors and the Great Ball Court; The Ossario Group, which includes the pyramid of the same name as well as the Temple of Xtoloc; and the Central Group, which includes the Caracol, Las Monjas, and Akab Dzib.

Among all the monuments, the Temple of Kukulkan is the most prominent. The Temple of Kukulkan (also known as El Castillo) had been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. El Castillo is a square pyramid with stairways up each of the 4 sides to the top. If you are to visit El Castillo on the Spring equinox (March 21) and Autumn Equinox (September 21), you would see the corner of the structure casts a shadow in the shape of a serpent especially during sunrise and sunset.

Lost Temples: Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza

The Finger Lakes are a chain of 11 lakes in the state of New York, United States of America. Each lake takes a linear shape and is oriented on a north-south axis. Together, they resemble fingers, hence the name Finger Lakes.

Being the largest wine producing region in New York, the Finger Lakes are also a popular tourist destination. Over 100 wineries and vineyards are centered around the lakes. In the summer, the Finger Lakes are home to many festivals such as the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, Skaneateles Festival and many others. If you prefer urban culture, you can visit Rochester, the third largest city in New York.

Finger Lakes scenic railway blues & brews

Best known as a ski resort in Austria, Kitzbuhel is a medieval city situated in Troy along the river Kitzbuhler Ache. Kitzbuhel is situated in between the mountains Hahnenkamm and Kitzbuhler Horn in the Kitzbuhel Apls. The Hahnenkamm hosts the annual FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. The downhill course of the famous Streif is regarded as one of the hardest race courses on the World Cup circuit.

Kitzbuhel skiing

Besides being one of Austria’s best known winter sport resorts, Kitzbuhel also hosts the ATP Austrian Tennis Open on clay in the summer. In recent years, Kitzbuhel has also earned a reputation for its high end dining. Last but not least, Kitzbuhel had recently been included as one of the 31 places to go in 2010 by New York Times.