China is full of iconic scenery that has been backdrop to many films such as the Three Natural Bridges, Hongcun Village, and the water town of Xitang. The area around Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, includes such scenery and outstanding … Continued
During 2019, I was fortunate enough to have one of my brothers and my sister and niece come visit me in Beijing. Both of their visits were lots of fun. I took them to many of the sights I’ve written … Continued
The Great Wall of China spanned more than 5,000 miles consisting of spurs and other features including gates, fortresses, and one bridge (more about that in the next post). During the Ming dynasty, people entered China from the northeast through … Continued
Beijing’s Historic Christian Cemetery Hidden away in plain sight under some old trees and large hedges in the middle of the Beijing Administrative College campus lie the graves of several Jesuit priests and missionaries, including Matteo Ricci and Ferdinand Verbiest. … Continued
Beijing Sights Old Foreign Legation Quarter After I visited the Beijing Ancient Observatory, Southeast Corner Tower, and Ming Dynasty Wall Park, I walked through the old Foreign Legation Quarter. I particularly wanted to see a couple of historic churches in … Continued
The southeast corner of the ancient Ming Dynasty city wall is the only place where wall still remains other than the few gates lining the perimeter like Deshengmen. There is also a fantastic Southeast Corner Tower still intact. Southeast Corner … Continued
I walked a mere 20 minutes from my apartment to find these treasures in the neighborhood around Deshengmen. Beijing’s city walls once had a series of massive gates at various points for entry. In the early and mid-20th century, they … Continued
Much of the wild land in and around Cape Town, South Africa, is part of Table Mountain National Park. This includes the stretch of nature down to the tips of land known as the Cape of Good Hope and Cape … Continued
Cape Town is a beautiful city! It is where the South Africans go for vacation, and was a joy to explore. As my final stop in South Africa, it was an exclamation point! My hotel was in Green Point, so … Continued
My great grandfather took the train when moving from Pretoria to the Cape Colony in 1913. His route included a few days’ stop in Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Then, it was the long journey to the southwest corner of the African … Continued