Travelsmartplanet

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If you have strong calf muscles, it is definitely worth the 100’s of winding steps to the Whispering Gallery. Not only does it give you a great view of the cathedral below, but you can learn the whisper secret. You can ask one of the guides up there to tell you where to sit to try it out. Don’t give up, it’s delightful when you can make the hundreds-year-old magic work.

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Beyond the regal London, you might come across a dragon in the sky when you take the Hop On Hop Off Bus. This one was on the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. Free ride when you buy the London Pass.

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The newest, highest tourist spot in London is called the Shard. You go up up up to the floor 68, 69 and 72 to find a garden of Eden, with a snack bar and plenty of photo ops. Since it is almost twice the height of any other view in the capital, it offers wowy 360-degree views for up to 40 miles. Free on the London City Pass.

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It’s terrific to see women empowered, as depicted on this London monument to the women who served in World War II.

Tags: Britain, CostSaver, CostSaver Tours, England, Europe, History, London, monument, sights, sightseeing, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, war, women, World War II

The Lord is between the guys (and a horse on a shoulder) at Trafalgar Square, London (Lord Nelson’s Column, that is). He was called Admiral Horatio Nelson when he died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

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What better place to learn a piece of Manassas history than with a Cemetery Tour. Learn about “Important Citizens who Influenced Prince William County History”. The Manassas City Cemetery tour is a biographical tour of our predecessors which allows you to discover their contributions to society. 

The Ladies Memorial Association of Manassas (later to become the United Daughters of the Confederacy) created the Confederate Cemetery in 1867 on one acre of donated land. The land was given to hold the remains of Confederate soldiers “scattered over the Plains.”

Although the Bull Run Ladies Association reburied the remains of soldiers found on the battlefield in the Groveton Cemetery, there were many other remains recovered throughout Manassas. In 1911, the Association placed a bronze statue of a Confederate Soldier “At Rest” on the brownstone monument that had been dedicated in 1889. Legend has it that the soldier faces east to guard against attack from Washington. 

Each year for the cemetery tour a different theme is used. Tragic deaths (murders or accidents), women, cemetery architecture are just a few from the past. This year focuses on County and Community leaders: Sheriffs, politicians, school administrators,… This tour is done with the greatest respect to the cemetery and its “inhabitants”.

To purchase tickets visit: manassasechoes.com, or call 703-368-1873

Location: Manassas Confederate Cemetery, 9317 Center St., Manassas, VA 20110
Date: Fri, March 17, 2017
Time: 8pm – 9:30 PM
Tel: 703-257-8265
manassasmuseum.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: manassascity.org

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Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell relaxing on a park bench in Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

Tags: Alexander Graham Bell, art, Baddeck, bench, cape breton, historical, inventor, Museum, national, nova scotia, park, scientist, sculpture, site, telephone

The Empire State Building gets dressed up for different events. On the Fourth of July you can see her red white and blue colors from near and far all around New York City. One of the best vantage points to view the iconic panoramic view of the whole Manhattan skyline is driving along the Brooklyn Queens expressway. you don’t even mind sitting in traffic, since it allows for more time to ogle the view.

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Michael Jackson wanted to live in Munich in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof.  He never got to do it, but the people of Munich have set up a memorial spot to him on the base of a statue of composer Orlande de Lassus (a Renaissance composer) in the grassy median facing the hotel. His loyal fans have put up photos of him and leave flowers, candles and handwritten notes.

Tags: Bayerischer Hof, composer, flower, hotel, memorial, Michael Jackson, Munich, Orlande de Lassus, photo, Renaissance, statue

In Munich, during his reign a giant Nazi swasttiker hung on Feldherrnhalle building. Hitler ordered that everyone passing by it had to give the Nazi salute. This was in honor of Nazi sympathizers who had been killed there during the Beer Hall putsch in 1932.

Many people practiced a kind of passive resistance by turning down Viscardigasse, a small street next to it. Therefore, they didn’t have to do the salute. The street was called “Drueckebergergasse” by the locals as “drueckeberger” is a German slang expression for someone who tries to avoid his duty.

In the mid-90s, a wavy stripe of gold metal pieces were set in the cobbles on the road in the Viscardigasse in memory of this civil resistance.