Wherever you travel, one of things that it almost always on the list of the things to see in a city will be a historic bridge. Obviously, bridges serve an important function to allow people to cross rivers or large crevasses safely. Over time, though, they became places to display art and statues or were dedicated to honor famous citizens of a city. We have seen many fascinating bridges over the years and it would be hard for us to choose a favorite. Whether it is the height of the bridge in Ronda, the uniqueness of Ponte Vecchio in Florence, or the artwork of the Charles Bridge in Prague, they are all beautiful in their own way. The beauty of bridges isn’t isolated to Europe as we have seen many interesting bridges in the US as well in places like Chicago and Pittsburgh. What is the most interesting bridge that you have seen?
Ronda, SpainView of the Chain Bridge from Castle Hill in BudapestCologne, GermanyBridge to Jade IslandMedieval Bridge in Nuremberg, GermanyBridge with Restaurant in Bratislava, SlovakiaChicago, IllinoisPonte Vecchio in Florence, ItalyYellow Bridges in PittsburghCharles Bridge in PragueBridge in La Paz, BoliviaBridge on a Mountain Trail
There is probably no more creative art exhibition touring the world right now than that of the Immersive Van Gogh Experience. If you haven’t personally gone to the exhibit, you’ve likely heard of it and probably heard people raving about the experience. We weren’t completely sure of what to expect, but all we knew was that it was supposed to be like you were literally inside of one of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous paintings, but the actual experience is something even more unique. The artwork seems to come alive as it surrounds you on the walls and floors while you are mesmerized by the ever-changing images.
People Enjoying the Immersive Van Gogh ExperienceVisually StunningVery Colorful
At some points of the exhibition, you would watch sketches slowly transform to finished paintings. At other times, you would watch as the skies and fields of flowers and plants swirled as if the painting had come to life. Unlike going to a museum where you walk around the giant halls in order to see the different paintings, here you stay in a single spot and watch as the artwork transforms all around you. Even if you aren’t the type of person who likes to go and see the artwork of famous artists, you will likely enjoy this experience as it is so unique.
Truly Setting the MoodArtwork on the Floors as Well as the WallsDark and Brooding Artwork
The exhibition has been so popular worldwide that there is already a different exhibition that has started to premier featuring the art of Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist. The Immersive Van Gogh Experience sold out months in advance, so we were glad that we purchased our tickets well in advance. When purchasing a ticket, you will pick an available hour window for you to enjoy the experience. The show itself lasts about 40 minutes, so you don’t necessarily need to arrive at the exact hour or stay for the entire hour that you are allotted. It was definitely something that we truly enjoyed.
Feeling the MovementFascinatingSo Many Different Images
We saw many fascinating things during our trip to Vietnam, but one of the things that we found interesting were the different caves that we explored. We went to caves in the Ninh BinhPprovince as well in Halong Bay. Some of them were caves where we went through the cave by boats or canoes as well as others where we walked through the caves. Each one of them was a unique experience in their own ways and it was it was interesting not just from a geological perspective, but from a cultural perspective as well. There are other caves that can be explored, but these are the ones that we visited during our time in Vietnam.
Going Through a CaveRowing with Their Feet in Vietnam
Tam Coc Cave – One of the more popular day tours from Hanoi is to go to the Ninh Binh Province, especially to do the Tam Coc caves (which actually means three caves). There are a couple of styles of boats that will take you along the Ngo Dong River, but the ones where the oarsman rows with their feet are different from anything else that we’ve done. The caves themselves are quite interesting as they have been carved out by the river and they actually create tunnels that take you under the mountain by boat.
The Second Chamber, “Serene Castle”Contrasting Formations
Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave – Of the many fascinating places that we visited during our Halong Bay tour, seeing Sung Sot or Surprise Cave was certainly unique. There are many caves throughout the region, although most of the other ones that we visited were on the water. Surprise Cave is completely different as it is more of what we would consider to be a cavern with large ceilings, stalagmites, and stalactites. It is another very popular location, so the earlier in the day that you can arrive, the better off you will be.
Exiting Huong Tich CaveChua Trong Inside the Cave
Huang Tich Cave – Perfume Pagoda is a complex of Buddhist temples located about a couple of hours outside of Hanoi in Vietnam. At the heart of the complex is Huong Tich Cave and within the cave is Chua Trong or the Inner Temple. During the festival time, from late January through early March, thousands of people visit the temple and the 2.5 km (1.5 mile) path that takes you up to the cave is lined with vendor stalls selling food, gifts, and objects to use as an offering. In order to reach the Perfume Pagoda complex, you need to take an almost hour-long boat ride (less if you take a motorized boat) through the beautiful countryside.
Amazing Views of the Ninh Binh ProvinceThe Lower Viewing Point
Mua Cave – A visit to Mua Cave in the Ninh Binh Province isn’t only about seeing the cave, many of other caves that we saw were more impressive, but it is all about climbing the over 540 stairs to see the incredible views of the countryside. To be clear, the steps are steep and uneven throughout much of the ascent to the top, so bring plenty of water and take your time. Despite the effort to reach the summit, the views along the way as well as when you reach the top are well worth the muscle pain. At the base of the mountain is a beautiful park with statues of horses and a fountain. It is a perfect place to sit in the shade and unwind after completing the long climb up the staircase.
Entering the CaveMonkeys Walking Along the Shore
Luan Cave – Another popular excursion when doing a cruise on Halong Bay is to explore Luan Cave (Hang Luan). You can either go by rowboat or by kayak depending on your preference, but either way it is an enjoyable experience. After passing through the cave, you enter an isolated inlet with stunning cliffs and turquoise water. Near the mouth of the cave, you will likely find several monkeys who climb across the rocky shore hoping for some treats from the many tourists who visit.
Boats Going One After Another Through the Caves of Ninh Binh ProvinceTiger Cave
There are obviously many unique places to see during a visit to Vietnam, but if you take the time to get out of the cities and go to these interesting caves, you will be well rewarded. Seeing them was certainly a highlight of our two-week trip to this wonderful country.
