Pantheon in Rome, Italy

Head towards the square, Piazza della Rotonda, and you'll see a magnificent structure before you. The Pantheon was a former Roman temple, and now a church in the heart of Rome, Italy.

Travel, CityYafen LiangAugust 16, 2017travel, city, rome, italy, pantheon, piazza del rotonda, roman, roman architecture, roman ruins, rome single postComment

Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

The Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi is a fountain in the Trevi district of Rome, Italy. It's really hard to capture the magnitude and details of this piece in pictures. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was supposed to sketch and build the fountain but his sketches did not come to fruition, though some of his ideas served as inspiration for today's piece.

Travel, CityYafen LiangAugust 9, 2017travel, city, rome, italy, trevi fountain, trevi, fountain, bernini, salvi, bracci, rome single postComment

One World Trade Center in New York City, New York

The World Trade Center is in essence the hub of American capitalism, whether that is a good or bad thing. When there were the two Twin Towers, the New York skyline was a bit different and the World Trade Center was a bustling place. Thousands of people went to work each day in those buildings. I remember going as a child to the top and staring at the views of the Hudson River and the people like ants below me.

Soho in New York City, New York

Soho is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, an shortened version for South of Houston Street. This hip neighborhood is just above Chinatown and packed full of artists' galleries, tall expensive loft apartments, vibrant restaurants, and high end shopping.

Fort Fincastle in Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 on Bennet's Hill, the highest point on the island, to watch for pirates. The shape itself is very unique, resembling a paddle-wheel steamer, circular except for a triangular tip. With expansive 360 degree views, you can easily spot your cruise ship or the Atlantis resort in Paradise Island which is presumably how most of you will find your way to this island.

The Queen's Staircase in Nassau, Bahamas

The Queen's Staircase has a somber history to it. Also referred to as the 66 steps, it leads up to Fort Fincastle. In the late 1700s, approximately six hundred slaves carved the staircase out of limestone rock. A direct route was needed to the fort in case of attack. It was named for Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch of England from 1837 to 1901, who signed the declaration to abolish slavery.

Travel, CityYafen LiangJuly 13, 2017travel, city, nassau, bahamas, queen's staircase, history, historical, fort fincastle, fort, nassau single postComment

Downtown in Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau stands as the capital and commercial center of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. About seventy percent of the Bahamian population resides here. Nassau, formerly known as Charles Town, was founded in 1670 by British settlers. At one time, the colony became a pirate haven and this history is well documented in the Pirate Museum in downtown.

Medieval City in Perouges, France

It's the middle of January and part of my grad school's abroad program itinerary is to visit Perouges. A medieval walled town just north of Lyon. The oblong town traces its roots back to 8th century, according to locals, and was home to artisans, bakers, weavers, farmers, and the nobility. It was a stop along the way for nobles getting to Paris, the heart of the nation.

Travel, CityYafen LiangJuly 9, 2017travel, city, medieval city, perouges, france, lyon, paris, cobblestone, lyon single post day 3Comment

Kennedy Space Center in Port Canaveral, Florida

The Kennedy Space Center in Port Canaveral, Florida is an educational theme park geared towards rocket enthusiasts. The rocket garden near the entrance pays homage to their functional brothers who launch into space from Port Canaveral. The Space Center is the tourist arm of a working launch facility.