Jiangnan, China

We will fly to Shanghai tonight. I will continue my blog upon our return.

Our Best Experiences Together 5 : Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Climbing the tower was an experience in itself. As we made our way up the narrow spiral staircase, we could actually feel the unevenness of the steps beneath our feet. The effect of the tower's famous lean seemed to shift from one side to the other as we circled our way upwards. https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2022/12/leaning-tower-of-pisa.html

Our timed entry to the Leaning Tower was at 4 pm

The Best Places to Visit 5 : Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)

The Square of Miracles consists of four great medieval buildings: the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Cathedral, Pisa Baptistery, and the Camposanto Monumentale (cemetery). The entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

June 2004

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2010/07/piazza-del-duomo.html

October 2022

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-square-of-miracles.html

We first visited the square during our first trip to Italy in June 2004. We returned with our children 18 years later, as we wanted them to see and experience for themselves what we believe is one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

Where to eat in London : Fish and Chips at Toff's

Fish and chips is one of England’s most iconic traditional foods. They became popular during the 19th century, particularly among the working class. Traditionally, cod or haddock is coated in batter and deep-fried, then served with thick-cut chips, salt and vinegar. It is the taste of my student days in England: affordable, simple and satisfying, with memories attached to every bite. By “chips,” I mean finger-sized chips, not French fries. If you’ve tried fish and chips in the UK, you’ll know what I mean. 

I think Toff's of Muswell Hill is the best chippy in London. However, you do have to make an effort to get here. It is quite a distance from central London. You need to take the tube followed by a bus and the journey can take about an hour. But if you love a good traditional fish and chips, I think it is well worth the trip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8IuYoaOm6g

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2017/01/toffs-of-muswell-hill.html

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2022/11/toffs-of-muswell-hill.html 

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2024/03/toffs-in-muswell-hill.html

Our Best Experiences Together 4 : Inside the Pyramids

We were able to visit more pyramids on our second trip to Egypt. We have now been inside the pyramids of Khafre, Djoser, the Red Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, Meidum and Teti. Our most memorable experiences were at the Bent Pyramid and the  Meidum Pyramid. At both, we managed to complete the full interior route, making our way through narrow and steep passages to reach the chambers deep within. It gave us the rare opportunity to experience the pyramids from the inside, rather than simply admiring these remarkable monuments from the outside.

Pyramid of Teti

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/pyramid-of-teti.html

The Bent Pyramid

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/03/bent-pyramid-2.html 

The Red Pyramid

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/search?q=red+pyramid

Pyramid of Meidum

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/pyramid-of-meidum-2.html

Step Pyramid of Djoser

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/step-pyramid-of-djoser.html

The Best Places to Visit 4 : Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are among the most extraordinary surviving monuments of ancient Egypt. They were constructed during Egypt's Old Kingdom around 2600–2500 BC, as royal funerary complexes. The three great pyramids were built for three generations of pharaohs: Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. 

The best view of the pyramids is from the Panoramic Viewpoint, where six pyramids can be seen lined up in a row across the desert.

Panoramic View Point

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/panorama-view-point-giza.html

Pyramid of Menkaure

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-menkaure.html

Pyramid of Khafre

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-khafre.html

Pyramid of Khufu

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-khufu.html

The Great Sphinx of Giza

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-great-sphinx-of-giza.html

Even though we have visited several other pyramids in Egypt, we still think the Pyramids of Giza are one of the best places to visit. The other pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid, Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid and Meidum Pyramid, are farther away from Cairo and are more off the beaten path. They tend to stand rather isolated in the desert.

Giza, on the other hand, feels like an entire ancient complex. Surrounding the three great pyramids are several smaller pyramids, tombs and temples, together with the famous Great Sphinx of Giza. There is simply so much to see in one place.

However, if your main interest is to experience the inside of a pyramid, some of the lesser-visited pyramids are well worth making the extra journey for.

Our Best Experiences Together 3 : The Switzerland's Panoramic Trains

Switzerland's panoramic trains are famous for their spectacular scenic journeys. Despite their names, they are not really an “express” train, they are deliberately slow so that passengers can enjoy the magnificent Alpine scenery.

When we were in Switzerland in April 2023, we had the opportunity to experience three of these famous scenic journeys. As the journeys were covered by our First Class Swiss Travel Pass, we only had to pay for our seat reservations.

We started with the Gotthard Panorama Express, which consists of two parts. The journey began in Lucerne with a scenic steamboat ride across Lake Lucerne to Fluelen. From Fluelen, we continued by train across the historic Gotthard route to Lugano. Next, we took the Bernina Express from Lugano to Chur. This journey also consists of two parts. For the first leg, we travelled by the Bernina Express Bus from Lugano to Tirano in Italy. From Tirano, we boarded the Bernina Express train for the spectacular journey across the Bernina Pass and through the Swiss Alps to Chur. Lastly, we took the Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt, through the spectacular Swiss Alps.

Gotthard Panorama Express

Lake Lucerne

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/05/gotthard-panorama-express.html

Fluelen to Lugano

Bernina Express

Lugano to Tirano

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/06/bernina-express.html

Tirano to Chur

Chur to Zermatt

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/06/glacier-express.html

Stop at Natschen Station