Category Archives: Architecture The expanse of the Roman Empire always astonishes me. From Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall in Great Britain, to the southern reaches of what is now Egypt; from the Atlantic Ocean to territories west of the Mediterranean – at its largest, the Empire ruled over 5 million square kilometres (almost 2 million square miles). But […]  The ancient Nabatean/Nabataean city of Petra is an absolute marvel. UNESCO-World Heritage Listed for its “Outstanding Universal Value” and chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the capital city that the Nabateans cut into the steep pink cliffs of iron-laden sandstone is extraordinarily beautiful. The city is believed to have been […]  The guide books will tell you it takes 45 minutes to walk down from Machu Picchu into the town of Aguas Calientes. They don’t tell you how long it takes to walk up, because trekkers normally come down through the Sun Gate and non-trekkers normal bus up the winding hill. Unfortunately, the year we walked […]  There is something ineffably sad about an abandoned city or town. Ibra is one of the oldest cities in Oman, and home to some of the biggest tribes in the country. It grew rich because of its location on the major trade route between Muscat, Sur and Zanzibar, becoming a centre of trade, religion, education, […]  The Sultanate of Oman is a land of forts and castles. Sitting at the southeastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, this Middle Eastern country has always been a centre of regional trade. As early as 120 AD, a branch of Nabataean Arabs arrived in the vast desert interior. By the 1600s, the Omani Sultanate was […] |
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