Puebla and Cholula
Colonial cities, the world’s largest pyramid and an active volcano in sight (Mexico)
Tag: ruins
Oaxaca
Old town in Oaxaca de Juárez, ruins of Monte Alban, excursion to Mitla and Hierve el Agua (Mexico)
Chiapas
Mayan ruins in Palenque, view on the Sumidero Canyon, colonial city of San Cristóbal de las Casas (Mexico)
Yucatán
White beaches with turquoise sea, grand Mayan ruins, colourful colonial towns and the fascinating cenotes (Mexico).
San Agustín
Pre-Columbian steles in San Augustin (Colombia): grimaces with pointed teeth and magnificent headdresses
Three night buses away…
From Ecuador to Northern Peru: Stop in Trujillo on the long way to Huaraz
Masada
At the ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea (Israel)
Jerash
Roman ruins in northern Jordan
Petra
Fascinating ruins from antiquity in an equally fascinating landscape in Jordan
Damascus
The “white city” with the Umayyad mosque and excursions to the Deir Mar Musa monastery and the Roman ruins in Bosra
Palmyra
Ancient ruins in the Syrian desert
Hama and Apamea
Huge water wheels and Roman columns
Ani
Ruins of the ancient Armenian city in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey)
Persepolis and Shiraz
Winding bazaars in Shiraz and the ruins of the ancient Persians in Persepolis (Iran)
The Ziggurat of Choga Zanbil
As you know, in the Mesopotamian plain, human civilisation rose from the mud that the rivers Euphrates and Tigris yielded for this purpose. Now the present time is not very suitable for visiting the ruins of Babylon or Ur, which are situated in Iraq. However, on the edge of this plain, not far from the … Continue reading “The Ziggurat of Choga Zanbil”
Takht-e Soleiman
Antique ruins at a strange karst spring
Nemrut
A strange royal tomb from antiquity in Anatolia (Turkey)
Chiapas…Tikal…Gracias…
¡Zapata vive! The occupation of the colourful colonial town of San Cristobal de la Casa in Chiapas (Mexico) on 1 January 1994 was the start of the EZLN rebellion. Today, Zapatista dolls and Subcomandante Marcos shirts can be bought on every corner here, because the guerrillas had finally conquered the hearts of the left in … Continue reading “Chiapas…Tikal…Gracias…”
Xian
For around 2000 years, Xian was the capital of China regardless of the ruling dynasties. Accordingly, the city and its surroundings are full of ancient temples, gates and tombs. One of the most interesting buildings is the Great Mosque, it looks like a Chinese temple, the minaret like a pagoda. But the main reason to … Continue reading “Xian”
Trekking the Great Wall of China
More or less wild sections of the Great Wall with mountainous ups and downs between Huanghua and Mutianyu
Borobodur
Fascinating temple at the foot of Mount Merapi, not far from Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
Sukhothai
The charming 15th century ruins of this town (and of Si Satchanalai, another one a little further north) are set in a large park that blends into the green of the surrounding hills. As you would expect, it’s all about Buddhist temples and monasteries, stupas of all shapes, sitting, standing, walking Buddhas…. The kingdom of … Continue reading “Sukhothai”
Angkor Wat
Angkor: hundreds of temples from the 9th to 16th centuries are scattered across the plain here, Angkor Wat is only the best known and largest. Depending on the whim of the respective ruler, they are dedicated either to Buddha or Hindu gods, but in any case to the god-king at the same time. In most … Continue reading “Angkor Wat”
Hampi
Wonderful temples in a wonderful landscape (South India)