Subject: But does it have magic there?
Author:
Posted on: 2017-03-30 15:29:00 UTC
No? *yawn*
(I kid, I would like to see it, too—but if I listed all the castles I wanted to visit, I'd basically just link a list of "castles in the UK". Family history or fandom history? It's a tough pick.)
Real place, I mean - heaven knows if we allow fictional places everyone will have a list as long as their arm. :D As well it should be! But this is about places that are physically accessible on Earth. (Include pictures! Pictures make everything better. If you stick them up on Photobucket or some other image host you can show them directly in your post with <img src="Image URL here"/>)
Can I pick two? I'm picking two.
My first choice would Nome, Alaska. I've wanted to visit the state, and a childhood obsession with Balto left a special place in my heart for Nome.
The real reason I want to visit Alaska, though, is the Northern Lights. They fascinate me. So beautiful, so otherworldly. They're about the closest thing Earth has to magic. I've always wanted to see them, and I suspect I always will. I could probably see them just as well, if not better, from somewhere like Fairbanks, but Nome is an adventure, and it would mean fulfilling a childhood dream.
My second choice would be Fingal's Cave in Scotland. Scotland has always been another curious travel obsession of mine, and the of Staffa is particularly interesting because it actually belonged to my distant family. I like caves, I love Scotland, and I love somewhat obscure family history, how could I resist?
Well, obviously, the first place on my list of dream destinations is Japan. The week I spent in Tokyo last year was one of the best weeks of my life, and I want to go there again. (Check the "spring break trip" tag on my Tumblr if you wanna see pictures.) I also told my dad I'd take him with me next time I got to go; my mom came on the first trip, so it's only fair.
I'd also like to see a handful of places in the Middle East, but sadly those will have to wait until I know I'll be safe as an American in those places.
France would be awesome. I know all the cool stuff and most of the population is in Paris, but honestly I'd be happy if I got to visit any part of the country. Now if only I spoke French...
I remember, I once had to do an assessment for my Ancient History class, where we had to choose any sort of site, and do a powerpoint on it. I chose Skara Brae, in Orkney:
And I've wanted to go to Orkney - Orkney in general - ever since. So windy and cold, they don't get much trees there, and their mythology and folklore is so bloody fascinating. Just - anywhere, look anywhere on this here site: http://www.orkneyjar.com/
There's a certain old-fairy sort've mystique to it all (bit of influence from the Celts and such,) but with an added focus on the wild seas and waters that surround the islands. Lots of selkies and mermaids and such, but it's the Finfolk that entice me the most - mysterious, nomadic, amphibious sorcerer-types, unparalleled in boating, blamed for various mysterious disappearances. Some rowing silhouette, dark under the moonlight, vaguely human but you know it isn't. Also:
The Old Man of Hoy! 
The Ring of Brodgar! 
Puffin Island, the legendary Orkney island that is famous for looking exactly like a puffin with a fish in its mouth!
I, er. I also feel like I should probably see my own fancy sites, too, so, ah. Here's Uluru! 
It's a rock!
Actually, there area about a billion places I'd love to go in the real world, given the chance. I suppose the top of the list would be Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
(Side note: If I weren't an overly excitable twerp I'd've found much nicer, smaller images for this, but, as it is, I think they do the place justice. But I'd be lucky to have the patience of a five-year-old, so these'll just have to do. :P)
I'm a huge fan of symbolic detail, and so while Rosslyn Chapel is hugely high on that list as well, I was asked to pick a place which, frankly, is a smidge unfair. But I probably made that clear in the title, so, erm. Moving on.
The idea of a city of temples is just immensely appealing to me, and I'm a huge fan of the imagery of the vedas of Hinduism, though I don't count myself a member of the religion.
It's just an interesting place, and not all that commonly mentioned.
Also--hS! Petra's a brilliant choice. I've been twice, actually, and I can tell you it's as gorgeous as it seems. While the treasury itself is obviously gated off, in the totally-not-Canyon-of-the-Crescent-Moon valley leading up to it, you've got tons of places to crawl around in leading up to it that were also built by the Nabataeans and make use of the same architectural style.
The colours in the exposed sandstone in the last picture have even more contrast in one of the smaller shrines I found.
On top of that, the rock formations themselves are beautiful, with weird, Lovecraftian shapes to them that are eerily beautiful. It feels like it's full of secrets, and it would, strategically, make a lovely place to hide out with enough resources.
If the walk seems a bit much, there are also people selling carriage, horse, and camel rides, setting up their own small enterprises on-site.
I'd have to say the most curious thing about the place is the fact that the treasury itself, both times I visited, was surrounded by cats. All over the place.
So, erm, forgive the travel infomercial, but I just really, really like Petra and I thought you might appreciate more thoughts on the place.
Ahem.
I remember reading or watching something about Angkor Wat that was really fascinating at the time... but I've completely forgotten what. Something about water management, maybe? It's certainly gorgeous.
I always appreciate details; people talking more is one of my long-term goals. :)
hS
Aaand remember about as much as you do. :(
From what I recall, the one I saw was specifically about the fall of Angkor Wat, which came about because of a combination of overconfidence and complexity addiction in the development of their water management system.
(Historical tangent below:)
According to the Elgoog the Great and Powerful, the Khmers built a series of reservoirs to prepare for the natural dry season, and connected them to the entire region. They relied on storing and the natural water they usually got in the rainy season with reservoirs to prepare for the dry season. They actually overdid it, changing the water content of soil of the whole region, but most scholars say that wasn't the cause of what followed.
What followed, it seems, was one of the biggest droughts Cambodia as a whole has ever seen to this day.
Given that they'd built their city to prep for a rainy season that never came, the empire eventually had to relocate their nobles, and bureaucratic difficulties ensued.
(Huh. Who'd've thought I'd seen the same documentaries as the Kurgan. Small world, this. :P)
There are so many places I'd love to go, most of them in the UK. I guess, if I had to pick one...
Stirling Castle, in Scotland. 
Robert the Bruce is my many, many times great-uncle and he once laid siege to this castle, which I think is way cool. Not to mention, it's a pretty building. Apparently the place has been besieged no less than eight times, and it's also seen a number of monarchs crowned there. So yeah, since Hogwarts is out of the question, I'd like to visit this castle instead. :)
At least, the set isn't - it's Gloucester cathedral. They do open days. Hell, they do weddings - which I may have mentioned to you before, thinking about it. Something for the lottery win, maybe. =]
No? *yawn*
(I kid, I would like to see it, too—but if I listed all the castles I wanted to visit, I'd basically just link a list of "castles in the UK". Family history or fandom history? It's a tough pick.)
The 46 miserichords in Gloucester Cathedral include mythological themes - I spotted a mermaid and a dragon, both of which I believe count as magic in Harry Potter.
hS
Details of the miracles performed by saints and suchlike, I mean.
Their big-name tomb is Edward II, so no interesting relics or anything.
But! They apparently have the earliest image of golf in one of their stained-glass windows.
So there's that.
hS
Maybe London or Paris. But I'm an actor and you can't make it without being in LA so...
Since I'm a Basic Bob, my first answer would be London or Rome (two places I *really* want to spend some more time in!), with Athens and Louisiana being the next two...
But if we're talking one specific landmark we have on our bucket list, for me it has to be the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
... you have to visit the far end of the Causeway, too, over in Scotland.
hS
I might have mentioned that one for myself, but I was lucky enough to be able to visit during my honeymoon. If you go, I hope you're lucky enough to have a tour guide or someone who tells you the story of Finn MacCool while you're there. ^_^
~Neshomeh
I don't really have specific dreams like that. Partly because I sort of passively want it all. ^_^; So I'm gonna cheat. Behold, CNN's Seven Natural Wonders of the World. If I had to pick just one... uh... the Northern Lights, I guess. I'd like to visit Alaska sometime. (Sweden or Norway, too, but Alaska is maybe a bit more feasible for me.)
That's a good start. There's also, um, pretty much everything on this site, which is kind of janky and doesn't have nearly enough pictures, but still.
I've actually been to Yellowstone National Park! It's really incredible. A lot of it smells like overcooked eggs, but it's so worth it. Oh, and Niagara Falls, too! The surroundings are a bit too tourist-trappy for my liking, at least on the New York side, but the falls are still awesome.
~Neshomeh
Alaska is a beautiful state. Some days I look out by back yard, gaze up at the mountains towering above, and I think about just how lucky I am to live here. Though, if it's the Northern Lights are what you want to see, you'll have to come for the winter, and a lot of the cool, tourist things to do are closed, on account of three feet of snow and ice accumulation. However, you have far better chances of seeing Denali! And I have to admit, Alaska with a coating of snow on it is just breathtaking.
Come up! Say hi! I can show you around my city, even give you some tips on where to go and how to do it/get there.
Theoretically we live far enough north that they'll occasionally reach us, but pfft yeah right not in a million years.
hS
These day's it's known as Benin City, but Edo was once the capital of the Empire of Benin (most of which is now in modern-day Nigeria, none of which is in modern-day Benin). A prosperous, mighty, and well-organized African empire is, you'll all be shocked to note, right up my street; I'm not sure whether it'd be more learning experience or pilgrimage, or if there's even a difference.
