The Europe to Gulf rail line progresses as pieces of track come together to form a network linking the Gulf to the North Atlantic. However, organizational problems in Saudi Arabia may delay the project for a long while. Saudi Arabia is central to the revival of the railways and the government is moving forward with three huge rail plans costing US$25 billion.
The Saudi Landbridge project, which will link the east and west coasts of the kingdom, is key to the revival of Saudi Arabia’s railways. The Saudi Landbridge will cut through the Arabian Peninsula. Two equally large projects will join the landbridge. 2,400 km of track must be built to create the north-south mineral railways and the Harriman railway scheme will carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour between the two holy sites of Mecca and Medina and the Red Sea port of Jeddah
If you must see only one museum in Lisbon make it this one. Housed in a 16th century convent, this place pays homage to one of Portugal’s most famous exports the azulejo (tile). The exhibits cover everything, from the azulejo’s beginnings in the Ottoman empire to the present. Star attractions include a 36m panel depicting a pre-earthquake Lisbon and a gold-bedecked baroque chapel. The cafe also ge...
Sitting atop a high hill overlooking the National Mall and the wide avenues of the city beyond, the Capitol (built in 1793) is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. It houses the legislative branch of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A 285 ft cast iron dome is topped by a bronze statue called the Statue of Freedom. Sev...
The Schanzengraben is a canal that connects Lake Zurich to the Limmat, through the western end of central Zurich. The canal was dug beginning in 1642 as a part of a new set of defensive fortifications necessitated by the Thirty Years War. It was actually a moat, and the bridges across were wooden so they could easily be burned in times of trouble. Originally, it ran along what is...
Istiklal Avenue is Istanbul's answer to the Champs Elysees in Paris or Fifth Avenue in New York. It's home to the city's best shopping, fine dining, and beautiful architecture. Just about every major international fashion label has an outlet here. Day and night, Istiklal Avenue is always crowded. The city's best night life is located here too. Istiklal Avenue's western...