The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About The Eiffel Tower appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>It Wasn’t Meant to Be Permanent
The Eiffel Tower was originally constructed as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World Fair. Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the masterpiece, had planned for it to stand for only 20 years. However, its value as a radiotelegraph station and the public’s growing fascination with the structure led to its preservation well beyond the intended timeframe.
It Moves!
It might be hard to believe, but the Eiffel Tower is not as rigid as it appears. In fact, the iron structure can sway in the wind. On a windy day, the top of the tower can move up to 6 inches due to its flexible design. The iron also expands and contracts with temperature changes, causing the height of the tower to vary by up to 6 inches throughout the year.
Secret Apartment
Gustave Eiffel designed a private apartment for himself at the top of the tower. In his time, this cozy little space, complete with furniture and wallpapers, was the envy of many Parisians.
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]]>The post Odd Facts You Didn’t Know About Transoceanic Flights appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Flying across an ocean is pretty normal now, but there are some things about the process most people still don’t know! Here are some of the most interesting “secrets.”
Pilot Rest Areas
The crew that flies the plane—including the pilot and first officers—have a special space with a bed and often a TV above the first rows of the passenger cabin in which they can lie down, relax, and sleep. Since they share flying duties over the length of the flight, they are afforded some time to rest so they aren’t intensely focused for hours on end.
Planes Follow Fixed “Tracks”
When traveling over land, airplanes are routed by air traffic controllers so they do not collide or enter the flight path of other planes. Air traffic control does not exist over oceans, however, which means planes must fly a pre-assigned fixed path over this uncontrolled territory while crossing an ocean to avoid any chance of a collision.
Free Alcohol is the Norm
In an interesting note for passengers who travel transoceanic, free alcohol in all cabins is the norm and completely commonplace while flying on these long journeys. While some passengers probably don’t know or are too timid to ask, flight attendants will happily serve you a beer or wine along with your meal.
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]]>The post Why Most Cruise Ships Are White appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
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“ ___________________________________________________#leinenlosfürzuversicht #cruiseship #meerweh #aidasol #aidamomenteThe main reason for this is the temperature. Cruises are typically popular in warmer parts of the world, so painting the ship white helps keep it cooler. The same thing applies to most commercial airplanes, too. Another reason is that white ships look elegant, clean, and expensive, which attracts the customers.
This doesn’t mean that all the ships are white. There are colorful ships today, and in the past they were mostly dark. Around the 1930s, people experimented with shades of green, and red has been popular for ships in the 1980s.
Some ships today are used as a canvas for artists to decorate, so it’s not unusual to see cruise ships with amazing artwork on them.
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]]>The post Interesting Facts About Qutub Minar You Should Know Before Visiting appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Impressive Record
Standing tall at 73 meters, Qutub Minar is the tallest minaret in the world made entirely of brick. Alauddin Khalji commissioned a tower twice as high back in the 14th century, but these plans didn’t come to fruition after his death.
Reaching the Top
There are 379 stairs inside this stunning tower, leading to the top, but this area is closed to the public after a terrible accident that took dozens of lives in 1981.
Slow Progress
Qutub Minar was built in several different stages, and that’s the reason why it’s little tilted to one side. Firoz Shah Tughlaq was in charge of building the top story after it was destroyed by the lightning.
Entire Complex
The tall victory tower isn’t the only thing you’ll get to see while visiting Qutub Minar since it’s surrounded by an entire historic complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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]]>The post Fun Fact You Probably Don’t Know About Rialto Bridge in Venice appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>The Rialto Bridge is one of the most beautiful attractions of this Italian city, and here’s a couple of things you should know about it before finally getting to see it with your own eyes.
The Very First
Four beautiful bridges are spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, but this one was the first to come and it’s been around much longer than most people think.
| FASHION & TRAVEL (@oliwia_n)Many Changes
The Rialto Bridge was originally constructed in the 12th century as a pontoon bridge, before being transformed into a wooden bridge in 1255, and replaced with a stone bridge in 1591.
Fall From Grace
The history of this iconic bridge is full of collapses, and the most memorable one took place in 1444 when Rialto crumbled down under the weight of people watching a boat parade.
Right Architect
Once the authorities decided to rebuild the bridge in stone, many famous architects and artists of the time were offered the project, including Michelangelo. Rialto was eventually designed by Antonio da Ponte, and it went on to become one of the biggest symbols of Venice.
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]]>The post Things You Didn’t Know About The Famous Schönbrunn Palace appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>1. Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence, and it was designed by two famous architects of its time: Johann Bernhard Fisher and Nicolaus Pacassi.
2. The German word “Schönbrunn” means “beautiful spring.”
3. The Palace has 1,441 rooms, a few of them very famous.
4. Like for example the 40m long and almost 10m wide Great Gallery, which was used for balls, receptions and as a banqueting hall.
5. The Mirrors Room was the place where the six-year-old Mozart gave his first concert to Empress Maria Theresa.
6. There are also rooms named after colors, such as the Yellow Room and the Walnut Room.
(@globeusestrotteuses)7. At the Schönbrunn Palace there is an astonishing garden with beautiful fountains, and a zoo which was founded in 1752, making it the oldest zoo in the world.
8. After the Habsburg Monarchy fell, the Palace was turned into a museum, and after WWII it served as offices for the British army. In 1955 it was turned into a museum once again.
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]]>The post Interesting Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Big Ben appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Real Name
Referring to this attraction as Big Ben is actually inaccurate. The official name of this structure was the Clock Tower until it was renamed to Elizabeth Tower in 2012, in honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Legendary Nickname
Big Ben is actually the endearing nickname of the tower’s biggest bell. Most people believe it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation. Others insists this famous building owes its nickname to heavyweight champion Benjamin Caunt.
Magical Penny
Whenever Big Ben is running fast, it can be adjusted with a surprisingly trivial object – a single penny. Adding a penny to the pendulum can slow up the time by 0.4 seconds per day.
(@london_ct)Limited Visits
Visiting Big Ban is easier said than done. As of 2010, only residents of the UK are allowed to take a tour with a special permission. Unfortunately, all the tours have been suspended until at least 2021 due to renovations, but you can at least enjoy the view.
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]]>The post 7 Fun Facts About The St. Basil’s Cathedral appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Saint Basil Cathedral’s full name is the Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat. But we’re going to stick to just Saint Basil. Here are 7 fun facts about the ice-cream-looking building.
TRAVEL GIRL (@nextination)1. It was built in the 16th century, from 1555 to 1561, to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan.
2. The builders of Saint Basil’s cathedral were blinded so that “a structure so beautiful could never be built again.” Or so the legend says.
3. It consists of 9 chapels built on a single foundation.
4. The remains of Saint Basil the Blessed lie in a silver casket.
5. In the 1970s, a secret wooden spiral staircase was discovered within one of the walls.
6. There was talk about demolishing the cathedral because it hindered Stalin’s plans for mass parades in the Red Square.
7. In 1929, all the bronze bells were removed and melted down, except one. And according to bell ringer Alexei Konovalov, it has preserved the sound of the 16th century.
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]]>The post 6 Facts About Brisbane You Should Know Before Heading There For A Holiday appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>1. The Aborigines called Brisbane the city of Meanjin which means “place shaped like a spake.”
2. During World War II, after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th, 1941, Brisbane became the busiest submarine port in the world. Many US boats were diverted to this Australian city.
3. Brisbane has 283 days of sunshine and the temperature in winter rarely goes below 18 °C.
4. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in 1928 was the first man who flew across the Pacific Ocean. The journey ended in 83 hours and 38 minutes when he landed in Brisbane.
5. Brisbane is surrounded by misty blue hills and is known for its scenic beauty.
6. The capital of Queensland has an underground opera circuit with intimate performances. It has a capacity of 120 and it makes for a cozy experience.
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