Jasmine.Postcards

P500 - Holland - Windmills of Zaanse Schans

2010-07-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Windmills of Zaanse Schans, Holland

Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk in the municipality of Zaanstad in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It has a collection of well-preserved historic windmills and houses. Zaanse Schans is one of the popular tourist attractions of the region and an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage. The neighbourhood is a popular tourist location with approximately 900,000 visitors every year.

The windmills were built after 1574.

贊斯安斯（Zaanse Schans），是荷蘭西北的北荷蘭省贊代克市附近的一個小村。贊斯安斯有「荷蘭風車博物館」之稱，收羅保存完好的荷蘭古式風車和房屋，荷蘭一個著名的旅遊景點。

References sources : wikipedia

P499 - Japan - Osaka Castle

2010-07-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Osaka Castle, Osaka City, Japan

Osaka Castle (大坂城) is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
Originally called Ozakajō, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers.

The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) contain thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government, including the Toyokuni Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The castle is open to the public, and is easily accessible from Osakajōkōen Station on the JR West Osaka Loop Line. It is a popular spot during festival seasons, and especially during the cherry blossom bloom (hanami), when the sprawling castle grounds are covered with food vendors and taiko drummers. The large indoor arena Osaka-jo Hall is also located within the grounds of the castle park.

大阪城，位於日本大阪市中央區（古屬攝津國東成郡）的大阪城公園內，為大阪名勝之一，和名古屋城、熊本城並列日本歷史上的三名城，別名「金城」或「錦城」。

在桃山時代是豐臣秀吉的居城。後來德川家康以兩次大坂之役（冬之陣、夏之陣）消滅了豐臣家，此後大坂城成為德川幕府控制西日本大名的重要據點。

References sources : wikipedia

P498 - Spain - Windmill in Majorca

2010-07-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Windmill in Majorca, Spain

Majorca (Spanish and Catalan: Mallorca) is the largest island of Spain. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Islands archipelago. The name derives from Latin insula maior, "larger island"; later Maiorica.

The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera.

Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and Minorca, the island is a popular tourist destination. In Germany, the United Kingdom and to a lesser extent, Ireland, where package tourism to the island started in May 1952, Majorca has remained a popular destination.

馬略卡（西班牙語：Mallorca）是西班牙的巴利阿里群島的最大島嶼，是著名的旅遊點和觀鳥去處。中世紀以瓷器著名（意大利花飾瓷器），多古羅馬、腓尼基和迦太基遺址。其首府帕爾馬同時是整個自治區的首府。

References sources : wikipedia

P497 - Germany - Allianz Arena in Munich

2010-07-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Allianz Arena, a football stadium in Munich, Germany

The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern München and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005/06 season. Both clubs had previously played their home games at the Munich Olympic Stadium since 1972, where FC Bayern München played all of their games and TSV 1860 München most of their games.

The large financial services provider, Allianz purchased the rights to name the stadium for 30 years. During the 2006 World Cup it was known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich.
The stadium will be the venue for the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final.

安聯竞技場（Allianz Arena，因冠名權售予德國的安聯保險公司而命名）是一座位於慕尼黑北部的专业足球場，2005年4月正式啟用，由2005/06球季開始成為拜仁慕尼黑及慕尼黑1860的新主場，兩間球會離開了於1972年使用的慕尼黑奧林匹克體育場。球場也是2006年世界盃揭幕戰的比賽場地，並舉行3場分組賽賽事，1場複賽賽事及1場準決賽賽事。球場由位于瑞士巴塞尔的“赫佐格和德默隆事务所”（Herzog & de Meuron）和德国汉堡的“冯·格康事务所”（Meinhard von Gerkan, Volkwin Marg and their partners，简称GMP）联合設計。

安聯竞技場可容納66,000人，內有3間日間托兒所，1間球迷精品店及1間總面積達6,500平方米的餐廳，在球場旁邊有一個全歐洲最大的停車場，可以能容納10,500輛汽車。

球場一共花費3.4億歐元建造，外形呈一個大車軑，表面由橢圓形半透明外殼組成，可以按需要將不同顏色的燈光投射其上，例如當拜仁慕尼黑队進行主场比賽會呈現紅色，慕尼黑1860進行主场比賽时會呈現蓝色。在夜間球場的外觀會變化萬千。

安聯球場是2006年世界杯的舉辦場地之一，不過在2006年世界盃期間，因安联不是世界杯的一级赞助商，因此國際足協不允許其名字出現在球場的名稱上，安聯竞技場遂以慕尼黑世界盃球場的名字出現在世界盃中。而此球场在舉行歐洲足協的比賽時會改稱慕尼黑球場（Fussball Arena München）。此外，安聯球場還會是2011-12賽季歐洲冠軍聯賽決賽的舉辦地。

References sources : wikipedia

P496 - Greece - Firá, Santorini

2010-07-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Firá, Santorini, Greece

Firá is the modern capital of the Greek Aegean island, Santorini. It is a traditional settlement. "Firá", actually, is a different pronunciation of "Thira", the ancient name of the island itself.

Fira is a town of white-washed houses built on the edge of the 400 m high caldera on the western edge of the semi-circular island of Thera. The two main museums of interest are the Santorini Archeological Museum, 30 m east of the cable car entrance, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera at the southeast corner of the White Orthodox Cathedral (with the Greek name meaning Metamorphosis), built on the site of the Ypapanti Church, destroyed in the 1956 earthquake.

Access to Fira is mainly by roads on its eastern side, climbing from its port via the Z-shaped footpath on foot or on donkeys, or by riding the steep cable car from its lower terminal by the port. The central square of Fira is called Plateia Theotokopoulou, with a bus and taxi station, banks and pharmacies.

The narrow paths, lined with all kinds of souvenir shops, jewelry shops, and restaurants linking the upper cable car terminal and the central square, are packed with tourists during the Summer seasons.

The view from Fira is magnificent, with a nice panoramic view of the 18 km long caldera from southern Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos, plus the volcanic island Nea Kameni at the center with Thirassia Island in the distant west on blue Aegean water. Big cruise ships can usually be seen anchoring in the small harbor between Nea Kameni and Fira.

费拉是希腊爱琴海岛屿圣托里尼岛的首府。这是一个传统的居民点。费拉其实是该岛古代名称锡拉的不同发音。

费拉是一座白色房屋的小镇，修建在半圆形的锡拉岛西部边缘400米高的火山边缘。镇上主要有两个博物馆。一个是圣托里尼考古博物馆，在缆车入口以东30米，锡拉史前博物馆位于白色东正教大教堂的东南角，修建在毁于1956年地震的 Ypapanti 教堂遗址上。

前往费拉主要是经由其东侧的道路，从港口步行或骑驴经过Z字形的小径攀登而上，或直接从港口搭乘缆车。费拉的中心广场称为Plateia Theotokopoulou, 有巴士及的士站，银行和药店。

狭窄的小路，两边是各种纪念品店、珠宝店、餐厅，连接缆车站和中心广场，在夏季满是游客。

费拉的景色相当壮观，能看到18公里长火山的漂亮全景，从南端的阿克罗蒂里角到北端的尼古拉角，加上中间的火山岛尼亚卡美尼，西部的忒拉西亚岛，以及蓝色的爱琴海海水。时常可以看到大游轮停泊在尼亚卡美尼和费拉之间的小港口。

References sources : wikipedia

P495 - Spain - Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre

2010-07-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Bullring of Bilbao, Biscay, Spain

Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay, Spain. The city has 353,168 inhabitants (2007) and is the most financially and industrially active part of Greater Bilbao, the zone in which almost half of the Basque Country’s population lives. Greater Bilbao’s 953,152 inhabitants are spread along the length of the Nervión River, whose banks are home also to numerous businesses and factories, which during the industrial revolution brought heightened prosperity to the region.

A major seaport and industrial centre, the city is located on the Estuary of Bilbao, the city's suburbs extending to the Bay of Biscay. The population of the city of Bilbao proper was 353,168 in 2007. The population of the urban area of Greater Bilbao ( the conurbation) was 953,152 as of 2007 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 950,155 as of 2007 estimates, ranking as the fifth-largest metropolitan area of Spain. As of 2008, the mayor of Bilbao is Iñaki Azkuna.

畢爾包（西班牙語：Bilbao）位於西班牙北部，是巴斯克自治區最大的城市，也是比斯開省的首府。
西班牙足球甲級聯賽中著名的足球俱樂部畢爾包競技即位於該市。

References sources : wikipedia

P494 - Russia - The Church of SS Peter and Paul

2010-07-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Church of SS Peter and Paul of the Great Palace, The Upper Garden, Peterhof, Russia(UNESCO WHS)

Petergof or Peterhof (Dutch/German for "Peter's Court"), known as Petrodvorets (Петродворец) from 1944 to 1992, is a municipal town within Petrodvortsovy District of the federal city of Saint Petersburg, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland.

The town hosts one of two campuses of Saint Petersburg State University. A series of palaces and gardens, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great, and sometimes called the "Russian Versailles", is also situated there. The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

彼得宮城（俄文：Петерго́ф）是俄羅斯聖彼得堡下轄的一個城市，位於市中心以西，面臨芬蘭灣。2002年人口64,791人。

以噴泉景觀著名的彼得宮位於本市。

References sources : wikipedia

P493 - Spain - The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, Barcelona

2010-07-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, Barcelona, Spain

The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia (in Catalan, La Seu, the bishop's "seat" or cathedra) is the Gothic cathedral seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. (Though sometimes inaccurately so called, the famous Sagrada Família is not a cathedral). The cathedral was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloisters enclosing the Well of the Geese (Fuente de las Ocas) were completed about 1450. The neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that is common to Catalan churches in the 19th century.
The cathedral was constructed over the crypt of a former Visigothic chapel, dedicated to Saint James, which was the proprietary church of the Viscounts of Barcelona, one of whom, Mir Gerberto, sold it in 1058 to bishop Guisleberto. Its site faced the Roman forum of Barcelona.

It is a hall church, vaulted over five aisles, the outer two divided into chapels. The transept is truncated. The east end is a chevet of nine radiating chapels connected by an ambulatory. The high altar is raised, allowing a clear view into the crypt.

The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona, a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in Barcelona. One story is that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street (according to tradition, the one now called 'Baixada de Santa Eulalia'). The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral's crypt.

巴塞罗那圣埃乌拉利亚主教座堂（Catedral de Santa Eulalia de Barcelona）是西班牙巴塞罗那哥特区的一座哥特式建筑，天主教巴塞罗那总教区的主教座堂。这座主教座堂兴建于13到15世纪，主要工程在14世纪完成。环绕鹅井（Fuente de las Ocas）的回廊完成于1450年。新哥特式的立面修建于19世纪。

References sources : wikipedia

P492 - Dubai - Burj Al Arab

2010-06-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Burj Al Arab (Arab Sail), a luxury hotel located in Dubai

The Burj Al Arab (known as "Arab Sail") is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the third tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a ship.

阿拉伯塔，也被稱為帆船飯店或音譯為柏瓷飯店，是一幢位於阿拉伯聯合大公國迪拜的豪華飯店，全高321米，它矗立於離沙灘岸邊280公尺遠的波斯灣內的人工島上，僅由一條彎曲的道路連結陸地。曾是世界上最高的飯店建築，最近高度已被平壤在建的柳京饭店（330米）和同在迪拜的玫瑰大厦（333米）超过。

飯店始建於1994年，并於1999年12月對外開放。其外型酷似單桅三角帆船(一種阿拉伯船)，並特意安置於不會讓建築陰影覆蓋海灘的位置。飯店的頂部設有一個由建築的邊緣伸出的懸臂樑結構的停機坪。

References sources : wikipedia

P491 - Dubai - Burj Khalifa

2010-06-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Burj Khalifa ("Khalifa Tower"), known as Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m (2,717 ft). Construction began on 21 September 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009. The building officially opened on 4 January 2010. The building is part of the 2 km2 (490-acre) flagship development called Downtown Burj Khalifa at the "First Interchange" along Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai's main business district.

The tower's architecture and engineering were performed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill of Chicago. Adrian Smith, who started his own firm in 2006, was the chief architect, and Bill Baker was the chief structural engineer for the project. The primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea, who also built the Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers. Major subcontractors included Belgian group Besix and Arabtec from the UAE. Turner Construction Company was chosen as the construction project manager. Under UAE law, the Contractor and the Engineer of Record, Hyder Consulting, is jointly and severally liable for the performance of Burj Khalifa.
The total cost for the Burj Khalifa project was about US$1.5 billion; and for the entire new "Downtown Dubai", US$20 billion. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, the Chairman of Emaar Properties, speaking at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 8th World Congress, said in March 2009 that the price of office space at Burj Khalifa had reached US$4,000 per sq ft (over US$43,000 per m2) and that the Armani Residences, also in Burj Khalifa, were selling for US$3,500 per sq ft (over US$37,500 per m2).

The project's completion coincided with a worldwide economic slump and overbuilding, and it has been described as "the latest ... in [a] string of monuments to architectural vacancy." With Dubai itself mired in a deep financial crisis that forced it to seek repeated billion-dollar bailouts from its oil-rich neighbor Abu Dhabi, the opening ceremony and surprise renaming of the tower to Burj Khalifa, after UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been viewed by observers as an "attempt to boost confidence in Dubai by showing who is backing Dubai".

哈里發塔，原稱為杜拜塔，是位於阿拉伯聯合大公國的杜拜境內的摩天大樓，於2004年9月21日動工，總建築師是芝加哥建築事務所史基莫耳-歐文斯-梅瑞爾（Skidmore, Owings and Merrill，SOM）的亞德里恩·史密斯（Adrian Smith）。是目前世界第一高樓與建築，從2007年初開始已有玻璃帷幕安裝，而金屬外牆也於2007年6月開始施裝，2010年1月4日造價15億美元的哈里發塔建造完工正式啟用，哈里發塔高度為828公尺（2,717英尺），樓層總數169層樓。

References sources : wikipedia

P490 - Spain - Sagrada Família, Barcelona

2010-06-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (UNESCO WHS)

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan name; Spanish: Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia; "Expiatory Church of the Holy Family"), often simply called the Sagrada Família, is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. A portion of the building's interior is scheduled to open for public worship and tours by September 2010.

Considered the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), the project's vast scale and idiosyncratic design have made it one of Barcelona's (and Spain's) top tourist attractions for many years. The church is to be consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on November 7, 2010, during his visit to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona.

神聖家族教堂（簡稱聖家堂，全名神聖家族贖罪教堂 - Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família）是西班牙巴塞羅那的一個教堂，從1882年修建，因為是贖罪教堂，資金的來源主要靠捐款，捐款的多少直接影響到工程進度的快慢，所以至今還未完工，是世界上唯一一個，還未完工就被列為世界遺產的建築物。這個教堂不是大主教做弥撒的地方，所以不是大教堂，只是個設計特別的教堂而已，而且，雖然已建了126年還未完工，但和德國耗時600年才建好的科隆大教堂比起來，根本算不上「世界上耗時最長的工程」。

神聖家族教堂的建築屬於西班牙「加泰隆現代主義Catalan Modernisme」（屬於新藝術運動，與二十世紀初的現代主義Modernism並不相同）建築，1882年動工時，由Josep Maria Bocabella領導的Asociación Josefina y del Templo宗教團體出錢，由建築師Francesc de Paula del Villar開始興建，一年後，建築師Francesc de Paula del Villar因設計的教堂成本太高，和宗教團體意見不合，辭職而去，才由年僅31歲的安東尼·高第接手。高第接手後，聖壇地下室已在建造中，無法修改設計圖，所以他按照第一任建築師Francesc de Paula del Villar的設計圖建完聖壇地下室，然後把整個教堂重新設計，把Francesc de Paula del Villar原先設計的新哥德式教堂改為加泰隆現代主義建築。高第一生43年的心血都花在這個教堂的設計上，1925年後還乾脆搬到教堂的工地去住，全心全意設計教堂，直到1926年他遇車禍死亡為止，一直不斷的研究教堂的結構設計，去世時留下了許多寶貴的資料、設計稿和模型，但是在西班牙內戰時被毀壞，而工程也停頓到1954年才再次動工。

這個教堂的設計帶有強烈的自然色彩，高第以很多動植物的形態為藍本來設計教堂，更以《聖經》中的各個場景在整個建築中如同圖畫一樣逐幅展現，使這個教堂成為每個來訪者都可以讀到的一本教義問答書。

這個教堂有東、西、南三個門面：「誕生門面」、「受難門面」和「榮耀門面」。每個門面都會建有四座鐘塔，共計十二座，分別代表耶穌的十二個門徒。除此之外，建築的中央另有六座高塔，其中四座代表聖經四福音作者，馬太、馬可、路加以及約翰，一座代表聖母瑪利亞，一座代表耶穌基督。所以整個聖家堂的設計當中總共將建造十八座高塔。代表門徒的十二座高塔的高度介於98.4米和117米，代表福音作者的四座高塔高達120米，代表聖母瑪利亞的高塔高達120米，代表耶穌基督的高塔高達170米。

大部分的設計都未在高第生前真正建成。聖壇地下室建於1889 - 1892年，「誕生門面」建於1892 - 1930年，高第去世於1926年，「受難門面」建於1954 - 1977年，偏殿和中殿建於1978 - 2000年，「榮耀門面」還在建造當中，教堂中間的六座高塔還沒開始建造。

現在已建好、可以參觀的是「誕生門面」和「受難門面」。「誕生門面」以基督的誕生為題，牆上的雕塑展現了由童貞瑪利亞懷胎到基督長成的故事，因是歡迎慶祝基督誕生，以歡喜愉悅的雕塑為主。「受難門面」以基督的死亡為題，高第為了表現受難的痛苦，設計了有棱有角的現代線條，雕刻家Josep M. Subirachs按照高第留下的圖稿刻出了由最後的晚餐到基督被釘十架，到基督升天的故事。

從高第以後，現在的建築師Jordi Bonet已是第四代了，目前，三個門面已建好「誕生門面」和「受難門面」，十八座高塔已建好「誕生門面」的四座鐘塔和「受難門面」的四座鐘塔，還差十座高塔，整個建築完成了將近50%，預計還要二、三十年才會完工。

References sources : wikipedia

P489 - Spain - Casa Milà, Barcelona

2010-06-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Casa Milà, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (UNESCO WHS)

Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (Catalan for 'The Quarry'), is a building designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built during the years 1906–1910, being considered officially completed in 1912. It is located at 92, Passeig de Gràcia (passeig is Catalan for promenade) in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

It was built for the married couple, Rosario Segimon and Pere Milà. Rosario Segimon was the wealthy widow of José Guardiola, an Indiano, a term applied locally to the Catalans returning from the American colonies with tremendous wealth. Her second husband, Pere Milà, was a developer who was criticized for his flamboyant lifestyle and ridiculed by the contemporary residents of Barcelona, when they joked about his love of money and opulence, wondering if he was not rather more interested in "the widow’s guardiola" (piggy bank), than in "Guardiola’s widow".

The design by Gaudi was not followed in some aspects. The local government objected to some aspects of the project, fined the owners for many infractions of building codes, ordered the demolition of aspects exceeding the height standard for the city, and refused to approve the installation of a huge sculpture atop the building—described as "the Virgin"—but said by Gijs van Hensbergen in his biography of Gaudi, to represent the primeval earth goddess, Gaia.
Casa Milà was in poor condition in the early 1980s. It had been painted a dreary brown and many of its interior color schemes had been abandoned or allowed to deteriorate, but it has since been restored and many of the original colors revived.

The building is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí". The building is now owned by Caixa Catalunya.

米拉之家（Casa Milà，經常被稱為La Pedrera（加泰羅尼亞語，意為「採石場」））是著名的西班牙現代主義建築師安東尼·高第的作品之一，坐落在西班牙的巴塞隆納市區裡的Eixample 擴建區、格拉西亞大道（Passeig de Gràcia）上。這棟建築是建於1906年至1912年間，當時是富豪米拉先生（Pere Milà）因非常欣賞高第為巴特由先生設計的巴特由之家CASA BATLLÓ ，為了和富孀 Roser Segimon 結婚，而請高第設計的。聯合國教科文組織在1984年將包括米拉之家在內的幾個高第設計的建築列入世界遺產中。

References sources : wikipedia

P488 - Spain - The Crystal Palace at Buen Retiro Park

2010-06-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Crystal Palace at Buen Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain

The Jardines del Buen Retiro or Parque del Buen Retiro (literally "Gardens" or "Park of the Pleasant Retreat"), or simply El Retiro, the "Lungs of Madrid", is the main park of the city of Madrid, capital of Spain.

The Palacio de Cristal ("Crystal Palace"), a glass pavilion inspired by The Crystal Palace in London, undoubtedly the gardens' most extraordinary building.

丽池公园（Jardines del Buen Retiro，或Parque del Buen Retiro）是西班牙首都马德里最著名的公园。

丽池公园面积达1.4km²，位于市中心的东部边缘，毗邻阿尔卡拉门，距离普拉多博物馆也颇近。公园内充满了美丽的雕塑与纪念碑，长廊，有平静的湖泊，玫瑰园，水晶宫。

References sources : wikipedia

P487 - Austria - The Votive Church in Vienna

2010-06-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

The Votive Church, Vienna, Austria

The Votive Church in Vienna, Austria, is one of the most important neo-Gothic religious architectural sites in the world.

沃蒂夫教堂（Votivkirche）是奥地利首都维也纳的一座罗马天主教教堂，位于Alsergrund区，戒指路外侧，毗邻维也纳大学，长85米，宽55米，新哥特式风格。

这座教堂在二战中严重受损，战后进行了广泛修理。

References sources : wikipedia

P486 - Spain - The New Cathedral of Salamanca

2010-06-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

The New Cathedral of Salamanca, Spain (UNESCO WHS)

The New Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral Nueva) is, together with the Old Cathedral, one of the two cathedrals of of Salamanca, Spain. It was constructed between the 16th in and 18th centuries in two styles: late Gothic and Baroque. Building began in 1513 and the cathedral was consecrated in 1733. It was commissioned by Ferdinand V of Castile of Spain. It was declared a national monument by royal decree in 1887.

薩拉曼卡新主教座堂(西班牙文：Catedral Nueva)是一座羅馬天主教的主教座堂，位於西班牙薩拉曼卡，與薩拉曼卡舊主教座堂毗鄰。這座建築興建於16世紀到18世紀，兼具哥德式和巴洛克式兩種風格。這座主教座堂由西班牙斐迪南五世下令，始建於1513年，在1733年祝聖。1887年國王下詔宣布為國家古迹。

References sources : wikipedia

P485 - Canada - Centre Block on Parliament Hill,Ottawa

2010-06-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Centre Block, the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Centre Block is the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario, containing the Commons and Senate chambers, as well as the offices of a number of Members of Parliament and Senators, as well as senior administration for both legislative houses. It is also the location of several ceremonial spaces, such as the Hall of Honour, the Memorial Chamber, and Confederation Hall.

Built in the Gothic Revival style, the present Centre Block is the second incarnation of the building, after the first was destroyed by fire in 1916; all that remains of the original building is the Library of Parliament, at the rear of the Centre Block. Though construction began immediately after the blaze, sculpting work on the interior continued through the 1970s. One of the most recognizable buildings in Canada, the Centre Block is depicted on the Canadian $10 bill (the Library of Parliament), $20 bill (the main entrance), and the $50 bill (the Peace Tower).

渥太华（Ottawa）是加拿大的首都，全国第四大城市，面积4,662平方公里，位于安大略省东南部，渥太华河南岸，多伦多以东400公里，蒙特利尔以西190公里。现有100多万人口，大概有3万多华人。渥太华亦被华人简称为渥京。

加拿大与美国、澳大利亚等国不同，没有将首都城市设为联邦直辖的行政区，但是渥太华的土地管理和城市规划是由国家首都委员会负责。

雄伟的国会大厦(Parliament Building)位于加拿大首都渥太华的国会山上(Parliament Hill),是渥太华乃至整个加拿大的象征。国会大厦由三栋哥特式的建筑组成，分中央区、东区与西区，是目前加拿大政府及参议院的所在地。

国会大厦初期建于1859年，但不幸这栋壮观的大厦毁于1916年的一场大火中。之后新的国会大厦又在原地按照同样的样式重建，并于1922年完工。

国会大厦中央耸立着著名的和平塔(Peace Tower),和平塔高达90米，被誉为世界上最精致的哥特式建筑，也是国会大厦中最高的建筑。和平塔包括一座4.88米的四面钟以及53个铃铛组成的定期演奏的钟琴。

References sources : wikipedia

P484 - Poland - Poznań City Hall and old market square

2010-05-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Poznań City Hall and old market square, Poznań, Poland

The Poznań City Hall is a structure in Poznań, located in Poznań's Old Market Square that was used as the city's administration building until 1939. The Hall faces east towards the Warta River. Its characteristic loggia is ornately decorated.

波兹南市政厅（波兰语：Ratusz）是波兹南的一座建筑，位于市中心的旧市集广场，面向东方，1939年以前一直是该市的行政大楼。其特点是装饰华丽的拱廊。目前市政厅用于开设波兹南历史博物馆，是波兹南国家博物馆的一个分馆。

波兹南市政厅内的壁画表现阿基米德、维特鲁威、维吉尔、荷马、查士丁尼一世、贺拉斯、斯巴达克以及哈尔摩狄奥斯和阿里斯托革顿等古代世界著名人物。拱廊则有成对代表耐心、谨慎、慈善、正义、信心、盼望、勇气、节制等美德的女性形象。最后一对是古代的两个著名的妇女：柳克丽霞（矛穿过乳房）和克娄巴特拉（蛇缠绕在双臂）。

阁楼上陈列有从雅盖沃和雅德维加到西吉斯蒙德二世的雅盖洛王朝统治者名单。在阁楼中间有一个小塔，上面的时钟由两只山羊控制.每天中午12时，两只山羊会撞头12下。

References sources : wikipedia

P483 - Spain - Park Güell, Barcelona

2010-05-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Park Güell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (UNESCO WHS)

Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí".

桂尔公园位于巴塞羅那，这里也是欣赏高迪建筑作品的好地方，原来是有60幢房舍的花园住宅，但其中只有2幢落成，此外还有不少高迪的其它作品，如巨大的瓷砖洞穴建筑物，以及奇特的阶梯和喷泉等。

References sources : wikipedia

P482 - France - Alsace

2010-05-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Alsace, France

Alsace is the fourth-smallest of the 26 regions of France in land area (8,280 km²), and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the sixth-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km² (total population in 2006: 1,815,488; January 1, 2008 estimate: 1,836,000). Alsace is located on France's eastern border and on the west bank of the upper Rhine adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. The political, economic and cultural capital as well as largest city of Alsace is Strasbourg. Due to that city being the seat of dozens of international organizations and bodies, Alsace is politically one of the most important regions in the European Union.

阿尔萨斯是法国东部一个地区的名称，它被莱茵河南北分开成两个部份：北部的下莱茵省和南部的上莱茵省。在17世纪以前属于神圣罗马帝国的领土，以说德语的居民为主，后成为哈布斯堡家族统治的领地，三十年战争后根据威斯特法伦和约割让给法国（首府斯特拉斯堡到路易十四时代才被法国吞并）。长时期里当地居民不断抵制法国统治者强加于他们的语言与习俗。它和洛林都在普法战争后割让给普鲁士，一战结束后属法国领土，二战初期重归纳粹德国，至二战结束再次被法国夺回。阿尔萨斯和洛琳一样都是德国白酒的著名产地，当地生产的白酒都以德国命名方式命名。

References sources : wikipedia

P481 - Portugal -The typical rabelo boat, Douro river

2010-05-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

The typical rabelo boat, Vila Nova de Gaia, Douro river, Porto, Portugal (UNESCO WHS)

Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River.
The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total population of 288,749 inhabitants, and is the most populous municipality in Norte Region. Gaia together with Porto and other 12 municipalities makes up the commonly designated Porto Metropolitan Area.

It is also well known for its "lodges" (locally known as "caves") where the world famous Port wine is stored and aged. The lodges have become a major tourist attraction.

加亚新城（葡萄牙语：Villa Nova de Gaia）是位于葡萄牙北部大区杜罗河畔的一座城市，人口约18万。
著名的波特酒主要藏于加亚新城的酒窑中，这也是该市的主要旅游景点。

References sources : wikipedia

P480 - Portugal - Lamego

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Lamego, Portugal

Santuário Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in Lamego. The 18th century twin-towered church is located at the top of 14 staircases with 611 steps on Monte de Santo Estêvao.

Every September thousands of pilgrims congregate here, many looking for a cures to their various ailments

拉梅戈是葡萄牙的一个城市。全市拥有大约27054名居民。

References sources : www.travel-in-portugal.com

P479 - UK - St Paul's Cathedral, London

2010-05-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK

St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is generally reckoned to be London's fifth St Paul's Cathedral, all having been built on the same site since 604 A.D. The cathedral is one of London's most famous and most recognisable sights. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world, St Peter's Basilica in Rome being higher. The Monument to the Great Fire of London, also designed by Wren and the tallest doric column in the world, would fit inside the cathedral's interior.

聖保羅座堂（英語：St Paul's Cathedral；另譯為聖保羅大教堂），是英國聖公會倫敦教區的主教座堂，坐落於英國倫敦市，巴洛克風格建築的代表，以其壯觀的圓形屋頂而聞名。現存建築建於17世紀。

References sources : wikipedia

P478 - Portugal - Almourol Castle in Almourol island

2010-05-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Almourol Castle, Almourol island, Portugal

The Almourol Castle is situated in the small Almourol island, a rocky island, in the middle of the Tagus river (rio Tejo), in Praia do Ribatejo, a parish in Vila Nova de Barquinha, Central Portugal. The castle was a Knights Templar stronghold used during the Reconquista.

Almourol城堡位于中葡萄牙Almourol岩石岛屿上。

References sources : wikipedia

P477 - Romania - The boy in Maramures costume

2010-05-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

The boy dressed in Maramures costume, Maramures, Romania

Maramureş is a geographical, historical and ethno-cultural region in northern Transylvania, along the upper Tisza River; it covers the Maramureş Depression and the surrounding mountains that form part of the northeastern Carpathians.

The territory in its southern section is now part of Maramureş County in northern Romania; its northern section is part of Zakarpattia Oblast of western Ukraine.

Alternatively, the name Maramureş is used for the Maramureş County of Romania, which contains the southern section of the former historical region and also small parts of the interbellic Satu Mare County and Sălaj County.

小孩穿著馬拉穆列什傳統服裝。

馬拉穆列什縣 (羅馬尼亞語:Judeţul Maramureş)是羅馬尼亞西北部的一個縣。北鄰烏克蘭。面積6,304 平方公里，人口510,110 (2002年)。首府巴亞馬雷。

References sources : wikipedia

P476 - Argentina - The Perito Moreno Glacier

2010-04-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz province, Argentine Patagonia, Argentina

The Perito Moreno Glacier (50°29′S 73°03′WCoordinates: 50°29′S 73°03′W) is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia.

The 250 km2 (97 sq mi) ice formation, and 30 km (19 mi) in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This icefield is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.

莫雷諾冰川是位於阿根廷聖克魯斯省洛拉西亞雷斯國家公園（Los Glaciares National Park）的冰川。這裡是阿根廷巴塔哥尼亞其中一個最熱門的旅遊地點。

莫雷諾冰川的成冰帶有250平方公里，長30公里，是位於安地斯山脈南巴塔哥尼亞冰原48個冰川之一。這裡的冰原是世界第三大的淡水儲備。

References sources : wikipedia