One evening in Åland, painters decided to behave like tourists. They drove to the other side of the island and visited some historic places. Well, French and English tourists ruined the fortress of Bomarsund 1854-1856. We saw what is left. 

 
( some more... )

This is probably the most famous historic attraction in China, the Great Wall. I had a chance to see a short piece of the wall and climb a bit the steps of the wall. As you may remember, I have practised with our less impressive stairs in Finland, so I was in good condition for climbing higher and higher. The weather could have been more clear but it was good enough.
( wall & tomb... )

The Forbidden City is a world heritage site of China. I'll let my photos to tell the story...



P.S. I borrowed a movie from my niece, "The Last Emperor". It's filmed on the authentical places in the Forbedden City. I've seen it before but I have to see the movie again - I will probably spot some familiar places...

 

( Mallards... )

 

Reincarnated Napoleon (the tour guide) caused disorder in the streets of Alexandria and Rosetta.

( Rosetta... )

El Alamein, the battlefield of the Second World War. An insignificant part of desert in the middle of nowhere. The place where Rommel and Montgomery led their troops against each other. The place is situated about 100 kilometres west from Alexandria.

( the museum and cemeteries... )

 

The second and the last whole day in Cairo was dedicated to the Egyptian Museum and the Light & Sound Show.
( some more... )

After visiting Visavuori we continued our tour to Hämeenlinna. Aulanko sightseeing tower gives a good look around Finnish landscape.  
 

The amphitheatre of El Jem is a creepy place, it's not a movie fiction but a true place of horrible events. It has been preserved quite well after all these years and you can still feel the atmosphere of big fights between gladiators and wild animals when only the winner left the stage alive. I walked through the basement where lions, gladiators and poor christians had been just before they went to the arena and I have to say that I'm lucky that I wasn't there 2000 years ago! 
 

As far as I knew and remembered according to history lessons at school long ago, Carthage was destroyed by the Romans. The place itself exists and I had an opportunity to visit there. The place is not far from the city of Tunis and there are many interesting historical places to explore, certainly worth visiting. When the Romans destroyed the city about 2200 years ago they built a new city on top of the ruins and now there are many modern buildings on top of those ruins of the Roman era.

The view from the Byrsa hill towards the harbour
 

Do you know who was Koroibos of Elis? The first Olympiad was held in 776 BC, and the winner of the "stadion" (foot-race) was Koroibos! Wow, I didn't know that before! The happening was held in the place called Olympia in Greece of course. I visited the place and here are some pictures from the place as it is in these days.


The model of Olympia 

( photos... ) 

I think these photos are more what you wanted to see from Greece!



Ancient Delphi looked like this. In these days there are only ruins left but the place is still worth visiting. It's built in the high mountains (Mount Parnasso in my map) and the view from the village is breath taking. We made a short visit to the place with the car we had rented and it took about 1.5 hours to drive from Trizonia to Delphi. This is the view from the village of Delphi, far away in the seashore is the city of Itea.
( more photos... )