Atlas Obscura: DYI Temples, Castles, Cathedrals
Posted September 30, 2009 , comments closedFor those of you anxiously awaiting this next installment of wonder-inspiring, off-the-beaten-path places that don’t make it into traditional guidebooks. This week’s Atlas Obscura theme is self-built temples (in Italy), castles (in the U.S.) and cathedrals (in Spain)!
Temple of Damanhur, Italy
Detail of a stained-glass windown at Temple of Damanhur
The Temple of Damanhur has come to be known as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Beneath a suburban house in northern Italy lies a massive underground temple built entirely in secret by a group of non-architects, working around the clock for 15 years.
Dug out of the rock without building or excavation plans, the Temple of Damanhur is a massive underground temple winding for “over 8,500 cubic metres on five different levels, connected to one another by hundreds of metres of corridor.”
And somewhat unbelievably, its creation was all overseen by a middle-aged, former insurance broker…
Bishop’s Castle, Colorado USA
They say a man’s house is his castle, and for Jim Bishop, this couldn’t be more true. A frontier spirit, when Jim decided it was time for him and his wife to get a house, he figured he would build it himself. What started as a one-room stone cottage in Colorado would soon grow to astounding proportions: Bishop’s Castle may be the largest one-man architecture project in the world.
Bishop’s Castle, Colorado
Today, Bishop’s Castle reaches over 16 stories high, has three large cathedral windows, wrought-iron walkways and a steel fire-breathing dragon. Jim Bishop is 63 and is still building. It is unlikely he will stop anytime soon.
Don Justo’s Self Built Cathedral
Don Justo in his self-built cathedral
Finally, the last of our self-built projects — though by no means the last of the self built projects, many more can be seen on the Atlas Outsider Architecture page — is a cathedral that can rival the great cathedrals of Rome, with one notable difference.
This one was built by a single, determined man.
It is, at its simplest, an ex-monk’s act of faith. After eight years in a Trappist order — and just prior to taking his vows — Don Justo Gallego Martinez was obliged to leave, considerably weakened by tuberculosis.
Out of the order but wanting to do right by God, Don Justo began laying the foundations of a great cathedral, without formal permission or permits and with his own hands on a plot of land bequeathed to him by his parents.
Today the frame of a large building, with a 40-meter-tall dome modeled on St. Peter’s in Rome, towers over the town of Mejorada del Campo, about 20km outside Madrid. Like the cathedrals of old, it will not reach completion during the lifetime of its 81-year-old architect.
What will happen to the building after Martinez’s death remains an open question. No one has yet stepped up to take over the project.
-The Atlas Obscura Team
5 Great Itineraries in Asia for 5 Different Theme Trips
Posted , comments closedAsia is as broad and varied as a continent should be, so how does one plan to go around such a vast area? There is the banana pancake trial; where veering off the lonely planet recommendation is unheard of. But how about some themed trips instead to see the real Asia?So what is Asia known for? Well the food for one; have you ever struggled to find a Chinese take away? Thought not. UFC and other mixed martial arts tournaments dominates interest in combat these days, but a lot of martial arts originate from ancient Asian traditions so we have a martial art itinerary for you too. We will also look at how colonisation influenced Asia to what it is today and wars occurred in Asia. To top things off we will be using the vast land space to get away from it all with a very adventurous itinerary.
Food
What better theme to start off with than a sampling of some of the more notable culinary examples of the region?
- China – The real home of Chinese food. Everybody has a favourite dish; sweet and sour, black bean, ginger dipping, stir-fry, dim sum, soups, noodles, rice, steamed bun, dumplings, there is thousands of combinations, and you don’t have enough time to try them all.
- Japan – There is much more to Japanese food then sushi. Other popular dishes include Domburi, Onigiri, Yakizakana, Ramen, Yakisoba, Oden,Chanko Nabe, Nikujaga, Yudofu, Omuraisu, and Tsukemomo amongst many others, Google them to surprise yourself!
- Malaysia – I have a Malaysian friend who I asked what the Malaysians don’t eat, he replied ‘rocks’; everything that moves or grows is eaten. “We’d eat the clouds if we could catch them” he said. Satay is the national snack – dipping small meat kebabs into a peanut sauce.
- India – Like Japanese food, Indian food is often stereotyped to spicy curry and poppadom. The sheer amount of spices is what makes Indian food as varied as it is. In Northern India you can find dairy based food and flat-bread; Southern India brings the reliance on rice, coconuts and vegetable stews to the table; Eastern India is where you go for your sweet desserts and Western India tends to mix a lot of these combinations up.
- Laos – Yes, whilst you can get deep fried bat here, the French colonisation had a big influence on Laos cuisine, so you can enjoy a freshly baked baguette with melted garlic on with your crunchy bat.
Colonies
Thailand is the only Asian country to not be under control as a Colony, and thus there is a few options here to see external influence on a country. We have already seen how it can affect food, but it can also influence building structure, language, law, culture and even the way people think, prime examples to visit are:
- The French in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos from 1858 to 1954.
- The British in Malaysia and Singapore from 1786 to 1957.
- The Japanese in Korea 1910 to 1945.
- The Spanish in The Philippines from 1565 to 1898.
- The Britain in India between 1765 and 1857.
War History
With such a large amount of colonisation, you can guess that Asia has had its fair amount of wars over the years making a significant impact in the history books.
- The forgotten war between North Korea and South Korea ending in stalemate which divided the 2 countries is still present today and tension on both sides can be seen at the border between the countries.
- The Vietnam war in Vietnam was fought with Viet Cong underground tunnels that you can visit to get a taste of what life was like in wartime Vietnam.
- World War II in Japan saw the only use of nuclear weapons in history in sobering Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the scars are still there today for visitors to see.
- In the 12th Century, one country reigned over nearly all of Asia: Mongolia. See the history of the invasions into China and beyond in museums across the region.
- Even further back in time you can find war and fighting references on the Angkor temples in Cambodia on which this is the only recorded history of that period.
Self Defense
With war comes self defence. Martial arts has spanned hundreds of years in different forms and Asia produces the majority of them such as:
- Tae Kwon Do is a martial art biased towards kicking and sports competition in South Korea.
- Muay Thai boxing in Thailand utilises the sharp quick attacks from knees, elbows and shins.
- Eskrima is the Filipino form of stick and sword fighting.
- Karate, Judo, Ninjutsu, Jujitsu and Sumo Wrestling were all made famous by Japan.
- Kung Fu was made famous and brought martial arts popularity to the world by Bruce Lee and originates from the monks in China.
Epic Trips
So far the itineraries have been quite heavily about war, colonisation and fighting, so it’s time to get away from it all with an epic Asian trip.
- Walk, run, motorcycle, unicycle or whatever you choose to move yourself down the Great Wall of China, it’s still going to take a while to do any significant percentage of the longest man made structure in the world.
- Borneo Island hosts a huge and unique jungle. Trekking through catching glimpses of the wildlife, flora and fauna would be a good decision as long as you can avoid the mosquitoes.
- Cycle through and over the Himalayas mountains including the worlds highest Mount Everest for a breath of fresh air and spectacular views.
- Follow the trial of Genghis Khan by riding a horse through the nomadic region of Mongolia.
- Sail and dive around the entire Asian coast. Some of the most beautiful and interesting. scenery can be seen from and under the sea bed.
Do you have a better way to theme your trip around Asia?
Horrible History: Edinburgh’s Dark Past
Posted , comments closedOK, it’s confession time. I know that tourist boards want to promote the positive and – honestly – I really do love all the good things. But sometimes I just feel in need of something a little…darker.
Fortunately, we’re in Edinburgh. Now this is a city which has (it seems) more than its fair share of rogues and gruesome tales. So Simon and I take a deep breath and head up to the Royal Mile for the start of the Ghost Hunter tour (“A 5-Star Scare Factor”).
Edinburgh Castle At Night - Spooky!
The Royal Mile: Queensberry Rules
The Royal Mile is the heart of the Old Town, stretching from the Castle to Holyrood Park. Today it is home to the Law Courts, to shops and restaurants and (during August) to Festival venues. But back in 1707, it was the scene of the terrible tale of our first ghost.
The Royal Mile
On May 1st 1707, the Act of Union was signed, uniting the Parliaments of England and Scotland. In Scotland, the driving force behind the Act was James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry. Fêted in London, Queensberry was much less popular in Edinburgh.
But Queensberry had greater worries than unpopularity. Queensberry House, his mansion opposite Holyrood Park, held a dark secret. His heir, the young Marquess, was widely rumoured to be insane. He lived at Queensberry House under lock and key.
Legend has it that on the day that the Act was signed, the Marquess broke free from his rooms. He escaped into the kitchens and killed a young lad who worked there. Some Scottish critics described this act as “judgement on the Duke for his odious share in the Union”. The young boy’s ghost haunted Queensberry House and the buildings that replaced it.
What, even up to the 21st Century? Well, if any ghost haunts the site today, it may well be Queensberry himself turning in his grave. 300 years after the Union, in a neat twist of fate, the site is now occupied by the Scottish Parliament.
Wynding Down
Edinburgh Old Town isn’t just grand houses, royalty and aristocracy. Middle and working-class families lived here too, in the lanes and alleys (wynds) that lead off the Royal Mile. By the 18th Century, this was one of Europe’s most densely populated areas. The back streets were so narrow that the only way to build was up – as much as 14 storeys. People lived in very close quarters, and more than a few ghost stories emerged from these back streets.
Edinburgh Old Town
We are taken to Borthwick Close (because neighbouring Bell’s Wynd is “too haunted”). We hear a story of middle-class folk: a pair of lovers murdered in their bed by a jealous husband. The house was haunted by a pair of burning red eyes, but it was a decade before a curious neighbour discovered the bodies.
Borthwick Close is now restored and the buildings are clean and tidy. But the close is steep and narrow. In a space this small, there can still be few secrets. Even on a summer’s night, with sounds of street performers coming from the Royal Mile, the wynds are dark, damp and not a little spooky.
What Lies Beneath
We carry on down the cobbled streets towards the South Bridge, passing the über-hip Missoni Hotel on the way. The guide bravely leads us down a dark flight of steps into the Edinburgh Vaults. This is a cold, damp network of rooms, 4 storeys below ground level.
Once inside the vaults, there is no noise apart from the sound of our group and no light apart from that afforded by flickering candles. I’m a stalwart realist and even I think that this place is creepy!
Edinburgh Castle
The Vaults have an odd history. Dug out in the late 18th Century to support the new shopping centres on the South Bridge, they provided storage and workshops for the businesses above. But they flooded regularly and were abandoned by their legitimate occupants. It wasn’t long before they were occupied by a new set of people: the homeless, the destitute and the downright illegal. For nearly 100 years, the Vaults were a byword for horror. By the end of the 19th Century, they were sealed up and not rediscovered until the 1980s.
It isn’t too hard to imagine ghosts in these vaults. Our lady guide tells us tales of a few benign spirits: a young boy who appears to latch onto blonde women, a crouching figure by the entrance to one of the rooms.
The less benign ghouls are here too: the Hellfire Club, who used the Vaults as a location for gambling, drinking and other nefarious activities. Then there’s Mr Boots who follows groups around and has told many visitors to “GET OUT!”.
Oddly, for such a dark venue, photography is encouraged. As she explains:
“Unexpected things sometimes turn up in photographs”.
Tonight, I’m relieved to say that we have no appearances. Or so I think. When we leave the Vaults at the end of the tour, Simon turns to me and says:
“I’m sure I felt somebody blowing on the back of my neck when we were down there”.
Yikes.
Princes Street Gardens: Good and Evil
The next morning, we take a stroll through the neatly trimmed lawns and well-kept flower beds of the Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is on one side, with shops and road works (soon to be a tram network, but don’t ask an Edinburgh resident about THAT unless you’ve got a spare hour). On the other side, cliffs rise straight up to the castle and the Old Town.
Firth of Forth and Fife
So are the gardens all that they seem? Well, not quite. They used to be home to the Nor’ Loch, a “filthy and offensive bog” which was a repository for rubbish, detritus and much, much worse.
17th Century Europe had something of a witch obsession. Witches were hunted down, tried and then burned at the stake. Edinburgh took its part in this witch hunt: potential candidates were subjected to trial by ducking in the Nor’ Loch and, if they floated, were found guilty and sentenced to death. If they drowned, they were found not guilty (but, obviously, were also dead).
A century passed, and the Nor’ Loch was drained as the area was converted to gardens. Hundreds of human bones were found –those poor unfortunate non-witches. By the 19th Century, Robert Louis Stephenson described the gardens as “full of girls and idle men, steeping themselves in sunshine”.
We stroll idly through the gardens ourselves, enjoying the sunshine. Then we walk up to St Andrew Square to the twin temples of the Royal Bank of Scotland (finance) and Harvey Nichols (retail). We carry on down towards Queen Street, admiring the views up to the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife. Now we’re walking amongst the neat Georgian terraces of Edinburgh New Town. Nothing untoward could possibly happen behind these tall front doors.
Could it?
-Louise Heal
Planning a trip to Edinburgh? Browse Viator’s Edinburgh Tours, Sightseeing & Things to do, from walking & biking tours to Loch Ness and Stirling Castle day trips from Edinburgh and more, or enjoy multi-day trips to the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye to further discover the beautiful countryside. Want more scary tours? Check our Edinburgh Dungeon and our Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh for further thrills. If you are a Dan Brown’s fan, our Da Vinci Code and Scottish Borders tour is for you!
Unusual Things to Do While on Vacation
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Going on a vacation with your family? Traveling into a place that you are not familiar with to spend the holidays? Then you have to make sure that you have to come out of your shell and put on your adventure cap. When traveling for a vacation your intention is to enjoy and have a good time, unfortunately, there are times when you do not enjoy your vacation because of doing the same old thing whenever you go on such vacation. Doing the same routines like staying at your hotel room and taking pictures at different scenic spots can get real old. So how can you turn around an otherwise boring vacation? Well start shedding your boring vacation techniques and put on your sense for adventure. First thing that you have to do is to get out of your hotel room and explore the sights, you did not travel all the way there to appreciate your hotel room. Once you are out ask guidance from the hotel receptionist on the best spots that you can go to, or better yet why not grab a map and find the spots yourself. The latter is preferred than the former because of the fact that losing your way in an unfamiliar place is part of the adventure, just remember to ask for directions when you completely lost your way and your map is no help at all. Once you find your way explore the different sites not just by taking photos and appreciating its scenic view, you have to, this time, find a way to explore the sights up close and personal. For example, if you want to appreciate the river and its white water then you have to try white water rafting, many vacation spots offer this kind of extreme sport for a reasonable price so what’s there to stop you from trying it out? Or maybe you would like to enjoy the scenic route of a hiking trail, then maybe there is a certain area that offers more than a hiking trail by offering adventure activities. Maybe you can explore the forest from above using a zip line, this is a fun activity that gives you a feeling of adventure while taking great photos from above for your souvenir. Or maybe you would like to bring out your family’s competitive spirit, instead of staying at your hotel room and play board games why not go out and play competitive games like paintball? Paintball is a fun multiplayer game that allows you compete with one another or play together as a team, this is also a fun way of enjoying the scenery or the sights in a competitive and fun way. After all the exploring and fun before you head back to your hotel it would complete your vacation if you try and relax by looking for a perfect spot to watch the sunset, ending your day with a relaxing scenery will always keep you energized and ready for the next adventure the following morning.
Boston, USA Vacation Rentals
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The American city of Boston is a great place to spend an enjoyable vacation. As the capital of the state of Massachusetts, this exciting city offers a wealth of museums, parks, shops, restaurants, sports, entertainment and more! What’s more, Boston has a great selection of holiday rentals, so it’s an ideal destination for a self catering vacation for all the family. If you want to learn some culture during your vacation, be sure to check out at least some of the interesting museums in the city. There’s Boston Fire Museum, The Commonwealth Museum, Museum of African American History, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science and so much more! If you have got kids with you, then be sure to head to the Boston Children’s Museum, which has plenty to keep the youngsters occupied during their visit here. There’s also a walking tour called The Freedom Trail, which gives visitors the opportunity to see 16 historic sites on a 2.5 mile trail. It’s definitely worth doing during your stay in Boston and you can choose whether you want to do a self-guided tour or you can take advantage of one of the guided tours available. Make sure that you wear a comfortable pair of shoes if you do this walking tour. Other things you can do during your stay in Boston include having a ride on a Swan Boat in the lagoon at Boston Public Garden. It’s a relaxing way to spend your holiday. Boston Public Garden itself is also a great place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you like boats, it’s also worth taking a sightseeing cruise while on holiday in Boston. This will give you the chance to see the city from a different view and there are a variety of cruises that you can join, depending on what you want to see. Or if you prefer to see Boston from a great height, you should pay a visit to the Bunker Hill Monument, which is 221 feet in height. There are 294 steps that you can climb to the top of this monument – if you are feeling fit! But if you do make the effort to climb the monument, you will be glad that you did, as there is an amazing view from the top. Boston is also a great place for shopping and wining and dining. There are many areas that you can go shopping, as well as eating out. While you are in the area, be sure to visit of one Boston’s markets. For example, there’s the SoWa Open Market and Haymarket, which are ideal locations to buy and stock up on some provisions for your self catering holiday. You will never go hungry in Boston, as there is a great range of restaurants where you can eat, when you don’t want to dine indoors at your holiday rental. Boston is a great holiday destination for everyone. This American city is ideal for a family vacation, a sightseeing trip or a relaxing break – and it’s perfect for holiday rentals.