Eleventh Post - China, Shichahai(十刹海)

 The eleventh place that I want to go is Shichahai of china. I know this place thanks to Chinese lessons in high school.

 Shichahai is an historic scenic area consisting of three lakes in the north of central Beijing

in China. They are located to the north-west of the Forbidden City and north-west of the Beihai Lake. Shichahai consists of the following three lakes: Qianhai (前海), Xihai (西海) and Houhai (后海). In imperial times it was called the Riverbank.

There is place called Shichahai Lake in Beijing that gains the reputation of the most beautiful attraction. Shichahai Lake located in the center of the city, not far from Forbidden City has in total area of 147 hectares and because of that, it has become one of the largest lakes in China. This nature lake has such a beauty and stunning scenery with the hills view around. Surround the lake, there also has some important and famous historical places which famous from long time ago, since Yuan Dynasty. And in Ming and Qing Dynasty, Shichahai area had already become the resident area for lot of senior officials.

 At past, some local resident take advantages of the lake to fulfill their daily need such as, fishing, fish farming, relaxing place, etc. And from Ming Dynasty, the lake has become tourism destination, planted with trees, flowers and renovated with the layout of the building where located in the strategic lake. Till now, Shichahai Lake had several renovated from local government to make the lake more commercial.

 Today, Shichahai has become the exotic place famous among the local visitors. Travelers are addicted in the traditional culture of Beijing and have the enthusiastic to explore the old courtyard. Enjoy and feel like you are stay and live inside the old Beijing make Shichahai become the top leisure destination.

 Now, Shichahai area also filled with unique restaurants, bars, cafes, souvenir shops etc. As sunset approaches, the bright lights and traditional lanterns in the many bars and restaurants offer a fun and attractive atmosphere. Whether you’re out for your evening walk or looking for a place to share a drink with friend, Shichahai Lake can be the right place. The area combined the nature view with harmonic cultural tradition.

    A Day View Of Beijing Shichahai Lake

 In Shichahai there is also famous restaurant you can not missed. The restaurant called “Barbecue Ji” Restaurant. Barbecue Ji Restaurant has a long history, it gradually formed its unique style on the process of development and became one of the most famous Capital flavor. In addition to the traditional roast lamb meat, Barbecue Ji Restaurant also provide Roast Duck, fish ,chicken and seafood, etc. Barbecue Ji Restaurant has become the first choice of abroad and domestic visitors to have a taste of Chinese traditional flavor. Barbecue Ji Restaurant has become the most unique scenery of Shichahai area.

 

Roast Lamb Meat In Barbecue Ji

Restaurant

Tenth Post - France, Avignon

 Avignonese Captivity is one of the most heard words in world history class in high school. So this place is always curious for me and wanted to visit.

Avignonese Captivity is not to be missed in the history of Europe. The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1378, during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France, rather than in Rome. This situation arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown.

 I try to introduce the field of the history of Avignon. Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône River. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city about 12,000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts. Often referred to as the "City of Popes" because of the presence of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423 during the Catholic schism, it is currently the largest city and capital of the département of Vaucluse. This is one of the few French cities to have preserved its ramparts. In addition, its historic centre, the palace of the popes, Rocher des Doms, and the bridge of Avignon are well-preserved. It was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. As a showcase of arts and culture, the fame of its annual theatre festival, known as the Festival d'Avignon, has far exceeded the French borders.

The Saint Benezet Bridge is famous bridge of Avignon. This bridge made by Saint Benezet.

So it is called the Saint Benezet Bridge. Erected to Cathedral in the middle of bridge to honor him. Avignon is commemorated by the French children's song, "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" ("On the bridge of Avignon"), which describes folk dancing. The bridge of the song is the Saint Bénézet bridge, over the Rhône River, of which only four arches remain which start from the Avignon side of the river. In fact people would have danced beneath the bridge  where it crossed an island on its way to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The bridge was initially built between 1171 and 1185, with an original length of some 900 m, but it suffered frequent collapses during floods and had to be rebuilt several times. Several arches were already missing before the remainder were destroyed in 1660.

Once the massive stage of the event in its history changed, currently people live in the present in the history of Avignon.

This place is not only to give beautiful scenery but also to learn and feel many things.



Ninth Post - Spain, Toledo

 The ninth place that I want to go is Toledo. Segovia and Toledo are well known for korean people as  the heart of Madrid travel. So followed by Segovia this time I want to introduce the place Toledo. Toledo is a city in the Middle Ages.

Having been populated since the Bronze Age, Toledo (Toletum in Latin) grew in importance during Roman times, being a main commercial and administrative centre in the Roman province of Carthaginensis. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Toledo served as the capital city of Visigothic Spain, beginning with Liuvigild (Leovigild), till the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the early years of 8th century (711-719).
Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, Toledo was the center of numerous insurrections dating from 761 to 857. The Banu Qasi gained nominal control of the city until 920 and in 932 Abd-ar-Rahman III captured the city following an extensive siege. Toledo experienced a period known as La Convivencia, i.e. the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Under Arab rule, Toledo was called Tulaytulah. After the fall of the Caliphate, Toledo was the capital city of one of the richest Taifas of Al-Andalus. Its population was overwhelmingly Muladi, and, because of its central location in the Iberian Peninsula, Toledo took a central position in the struggles between the Muslim and Christian rulers of northern Spain. The conquest of Toledo by Alfonso VI of Castile marked the first time a major city in Al-Andalus had fallen to Christian forces; it served to sharpen the religious aspect of the Christian reconquest.
Today, Toledo is one of Spain's foremost cities, receiving thousands of visitors yearly.

How to get Toledo in Madrid.

1. The Metro Plaza Eliptica Station. Tickets from Metro station you purchase 'Zona T Nomal'. (Line 11, line 6).

 2. Metro Bus Terminal is connected. The only Terminal de Autobus signs will go along well.

3. Go to the bus terminal, the bus to Toledo (Toledo until time takes about 45 minutes)

Eighth Post - Germany, Fussen

The eighth place that I want to visit is the city Fussen in the state of

Bavaria, Germany (Bavaria).

Füssen was settled in Roman times, on the Via Claudia Augusta, a road that leads southwards to northern Italy and northwards to Augusta Vindelicum (today's Augsburg), the former regional capital of the Roman province Raetia. The original name of Füssen was "Foetes", or "Foetibus" (inflected), which derives from Latin "Fauces", meaning "gorge", probably referring to the Lech gorge. In Late Antiquity Füssen was the home of a part of the Legio III Italica, which was stationed there to guard the important trade route over the Alps. Füssen later became the site of the "Hohes Schloss" (High Castle), the former summer residence of the prince bishops of Augsburg. Below the Hohes Schloss is the Baroque complex of the former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang, whose history goes back to the 9th century. Füssen has Saint Mang (Magnus of Füssen) as its patron saint. His original burial place was in the small chapel he built. His bones were transferred to the crypt of the church built in 850. Around the year 1100 all his bones disappeared. In 1745, the Treaty of Füssen was signed between the Electorate of Bavaria and Habsburg Austria, ending Bavaria's participation in the War of the Austrian Succession. During the 19th century, composer Richard Wagner used to come to Füssen by railway when he visited King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

Füssen city is famous for its beautiful natural surroundings. Also Füssen is famous for Disney castle motif Neuschwanstein Castle. So I want to introduce Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as homage to Richard Wagner. Ludwig paid for the palace out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing, not with Bavarian public funds.The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886. Since then over 60 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer. The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and later, similar structures.

Hohenschwangau Castle or Schloss Hohenschwangau is a 19th-century palace in southern Germany. It was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. It is located in the German village of Hohenschwangau near the town of Füssen, part of the county of Ostallgäu in southwestern Bavaria, Germany, very close to the border with Austria.

Seventh Post - France, Arles

 The seventh place that I want to go is Arles of France. Southern France, Arles is the town where Van Gogh loved. There are many traces of Van Gogh in hospital, café and alleyway. His posthumous work scattered all over the world, but the gentiles are looking for a small town still. Van Gogh stayed in the warm sun drenched Provence for a year and left the work of more than 200points. It was very active than ever poured out his masterpieces like sunflower. Van Gogh went to Arles in February 1888. The city was winter, but impression about Arles was warm to Van Gogh. I want to introduce the place that the background of Gogh's works. 

 

↑This is the Rhone river where the background of a starry night in Arles.

This is the café where the background of the night café terrace. This  café  is to relax and reminisce about in Arles.

Café alley is more flavor at night like the scene. This store is still operating. The rest of the trail of Van Gogh is exist.

This hospital is S.Paz where Gogh stayed. There are many beautiful flowers in yard like in works that the garden of Arles hospital.

↑ A history of over 2000 pristine ancient Roman amphitheater. When the festival here in the bullfight here.
 Arles is a well preserved Romans ruins remained. On the breath of Gogh the Romans ruins are remained. It is thanks to the ruins that Arles landscape is strange and mysterious. Romans are longing the sunshine and the scenery of Arles. Around 100BC they built the ancient theater and Amphiteater. And its remnants remain intact. In addition to the stadium they leave Necropolis grave. Romans loved this city.

Roman monuments like Stadium Arena have been listed as a World Heritage Site.

In writing this post, I know why Van Gogh loved this town.

Although Van Gogh does not exist in Arles. Remember him in mind and finish this post.