Top of the World in Baltimore, Maryland

On May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland4 Comments

As we continue to get acquainted with our new location and finish the process of moving in, we decided to take some time this weekend to be tourists in our new city. One of the things that we did was to go to the observation deck of the World Trade Center near Inner Harbor that is called “The Top of the World”. This is the type of thing that we would do anytime that we visited a city, regardless of where we are in the world, as these observation decks provide amazing views. In addition to the views, the deck also provides quite a bit of history regarding the city and information on many of the famous citizens that have lived there.

Looking Out Towards Our Neighborhood Off in the Distance

Like many cities located on the eastern coast of the United States, Baltimore has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years to the birth of the nation. Clearly it has evolved over time into the modern city that it is today. Inner Harbor is just a short distance from the city center of Baltimore, so the views from the observation deck include both views of the harbor as well of the city center. One of the things that we found interesting was that we could see the landmark of the local brewery in Baltimore, National Bohemian (Natty Boh), which is located near our new location, so we could almost see our new home from the deck.

There are many recognizable landmarks that can be seen from the deck, including the baseball stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play named Camden Yards. In addition to the navy and commercial ships that can be seen in the harbor, there are also several ships that are part of the living classrooms in Baltimore that people can tour that can be seen from the deck. It was definitely an enjoyable way to spend some time getting acquainted to Baltimore. It was also a clear and sunny day, which made the views even better.

One of the Many Plaques in the Observation Deck

Watching the Sunrises in Africa

On August 20, 2021August 20, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Africa, Kenya, Tanzania2 Comments

We have said many times that we are not really morning people and therefore don’t often see sunrises during our travels. Our time in Africa was quite different as we had to be up at sunrise in order to see the different wildlife while they were still active. As it turned out, the animals seemed to be active throughout the day, but some animals were not as easy to see during the heat of the day. We saw many gorgeous sunsets during our trip, but the sunrises were often just as spectacular. We especially enjoyed watching the sunrise during our balloon ride in Maasai Mara, which gave us a different perspective. Several of the sunrises that we saw were during our drive from one national park to another, so we did the best to take the photograph through the window of our vehicle. Here a few of the sunrises that we saw while we were in Tanzania and Kenya.

Brilliant Sunrise Leaving Amboseli National Park

Iconic Skylines and Cityscapes Around the World

On June 21, 2021June 21, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn BloggingLeave a comment

Traveling the world, there are places that you visit where the view of the skyline is entrenched in your memory. As soon as you see it in a picture or in a movie, you immediately know exactly where you are. It is amazing how the simple image of a cityscape can suddenly transport your mind back to a location and the sights, sounds, and even aromas are almost tangible in your mind. It helps that almost every major city has a location with an observation deck that allows you to get high above the city in order to see it in all of its grandeur. Whether viewing Paris from the Eiffel Tower or looking out at the skyscrapers of New York City from the top of the Empire State Building, the views will forever take you back to that moment when you first visited the city.

Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock in New York City

View from Piazzale de Michelangelo in Florence

How can one not see the Duomo in Florence and not immediately be transported to that amazing city. One glimpse of the Parliament Building in Budapest and you will find yourself standing on the walls of the Buda Castle District. Sometimes it is the view of the towers of a gothic cathedral like in Cologne and other times it is the uniqueness of the city landscape like seeing the canals of Amsterdam. Regardless of what it is that draws your eyes, these iconic views can bring back that sense of awe that you first experienced when visiting a location.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris from the Eiffel Tower

There are other times when it isn’t just the city, but the surrounding area that makes a cityscape iconic. Whether it is the ruggedness of a city sprawling on the hillsides like those of La Paz, the lush jungles surrounding Panama City, Panama, or even the peaks of Colorado looming over the city of Denver, these views make each location unique. Just like we can never pick a favorite travel location, we can also never pick a favorite skyline. Each are special in their own ways and will always remind us of our visit when we see their images on the screen.