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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 3:09:25 GMT -5
June 16th, 2013 - Brussels, BelgiumThe insanely cool Atomium: 7 Facts About Brussels:1) It serves as the capital of Belgium. With over 166,000 residents, it is the 5th largest city in the small nation (the metro area is home to over 1.8 million, the largest in the country). 2) The famous statue Manneken Pis originates from here. 3) Once a Dutch-speaking city, French is now the most spoken language in Brussels. Both languages are used on road signs and other servies. 4) Tourists are urged to try the Brussels waffles, which are not to be confused with the North American favorite Belgian waffles. 5) While the European Union does not have an official capital, Brussels pretty much plays the part. Many of its key buildings are located here, including the European Parliament, Council, and Commission. NATO is also based here. 6) Temperature-wise, it has your typical European climate. The warmest month of the year is July, where average highs top out at 73F (23C). The coldest month of January sees highs topping out at 42F (6C). Precipitation-wise, it is a very rainy city due to its location. It is said to average 200 days of rain per year. 7) Brussels has a large number of non-Belgian residents, though most of them are assimilated.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 16, 2013 12:07:23 GMT -5
Brussels would be an interesting city to visit, surprised it's that small though! As the capital of a major European country, I expected it to be much bigger, though its metro size makes up for it. I'd imagine Belgium's role at the crossroads between several major European countries (it borders France, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) is why several key European institutions are based there. Of course the Atomium has to be their marquee landmark.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2013 1:49:05 GMT -5
June 17th, 2013 - Little Rock, Arkansas, United StatesThe inspiration for the city name: The pedestrian bridge with the funniest name ever: The Arkansas State Capitol Building: 7 Facts About Little Rock:1) With a population of around 193,000, Arkansas' capital is also its most populous city. 2) The city is perhaps best known for the Little Rock Nine, nine black children who were enrolled into an all-white school in the segregated days of 1957. It is widely considered to be one of the key events in the Civil Rights movement. Today the city stands as one: 49% white, 42% black. 3) It was here that those sweet, tasty brown n' serve rolls were invented in the 1930s. 4) Little Rock was named after an actual rock. A stone outcropping along the Arkansas River came to be known as "the little rock" to differentiate it from a larger rock downriver. 5) In 2011, Forbes magazine named it the 2nd cleanest city in the US. Only McAllen, Texas ranked higher. 6) It is here that the "cheese dog" was invented in 1956. That's a hot dog with cheese encased in the center. It was try #2 for the Finkbeiner Meat Packing Co., who had previously tried the "chili dog"...the same concept but with chili in the center. That item was not successful. 7) Jerry Jones, Derek Fisher, Amy Lee and the Clinton family all hail from Little Rock.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 18, 2013 1:53:54 GMT -5
Little Rock sounds like the kind of place that I'd stop by if I were on a cross-country road trip, especially as it's centrally located in Arkansas and both the capital and largest city.
LOL @ the "big dam bridge"!
Of course, the Clinton Presidential Center would likely be a place I'd visit there, given that they're the home of a former president.
Had no idea they had such a prominent role in the civil rights movement, but it does make sense.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2013 13:48:33 GMT -5
June 19th, 2013 - Charlotte, North Carolina, United StatesThe impressive Duke Energy Center: 7 Facts About Charlotte:1) It is home to 775,000 residents, making it the most populous city in North Carolina and the 17th most populous in the entire United States. 2) It is considered by some of the the "capital" of stock car racing. Many of NASCAR's key offices are located here, as well as the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Charlotte Motor Speedway, located outside the city, hosts the world's longest race: the 600-mile Coca Cola 600. 3) During the Revolutionary War, British forces held Charlotte for two and a half weeks. They left after having to deal with pesky attacks by the locals, and they referred to the city as a “veritable nest of hornets." 4) The city is home to the Panthers of the NFL, who joined the league in 1995 as an expansion team. It is also home to the Bobcats of the NBA, who plan on changing their name to the Hornets in the near future (the original Hornets were in the Charlotte from 1988–2002 before relocating to New Orleans. They have now renamed themselves The Pelicans). 5) The University of North Carolina has a campus here. 6) It is considered to be one of the least "walkable" cities in the entire nation. 7) K-Ci & JoJo, Richard Petty, Joe Gibbs, Ric Flair and Brooklyn Decker are just some of the notable people who hail from Charlotte.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 20, 2013 0:18:53 GMT -5
Charlotte's skyline is more impressive than I thought it would be!
Of course, it seems to be one of the largest banking centres in the USA so I'd imagine it would be wealthier than average. It would definitely be an essential city for a NASCAR race, as you mentioned, though their football stadium also looks pretty cool!
They also have the Carowinds theme park, which also spills over the border into South Carolina and would be fascinating for that fact alone!
Wouldn't mind visiting Charlotte someday, seems like it's got a lot to offer - one of the Southern cities that has the most to do!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 14:31:50 GMT -5
June 20th, 2013 - Dresden, GermanyThe historic Dresden Castle: The Dresden Frauenkirche, one of Germany's finest churches: Inside of the church: In 1945, about 90% of the city was destroyed in a controversial Allied bombing: An area known as Restaurant Row: 7 Facts About Dresden:1) With a population approaching 525,000, it is the 11th most populous city in Germany. It is the largest city and capital of Germany's Saxony region. 2) The area was originally a Slavic settlement in the late 1100s. While Germanic peoples would move into the area soon enough, it still finds itself close to the Slavic areas of Europe, being just miles away from the Czech border. 3) An impressive 63% of the city consists of forests and other vegetation, making it one of the greenest cities in all of Europe. 4) It is located in a region known during the Cold War as "the valley of the clueless." This is because the surrounding mountains blocked West German TV signals, leaving the people of Dresden with nothing to watch but Socialist propaganda. 5) The city fell victim to one of the most controversial Allied attacks of World War II. A 1945 bombing killed 25,000 residents and left 90% of the city's buildings in ruins. 6) It is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites to actually lose its status! In the late 2000s a highway bridge was built about one mile away from the city's historic center, causing UNESCO to make the decision. The only other place to lose its status was a place in Oman where they reduced the size of their Oryx Antelope Sanctuary (don't ask me how that works). 7) One of Volkswagen's key factories is located in Dresden. It primarily produces their Phaeton line of luxury cars.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 21, 2013 23:16:26 GMT -5
Dresden sounds quite fascinating... especially the story of the Frauenkirche.
It was one of the structures to be destroyed during the World War II bombing, but they didn't give up on it... making sure they catalogued all the rubble from the explosion. However, due to being behind the Cold War in East Germany, they couldn't get the funds to rebuild it.
However, once Germany was reunited, Dresden was finally able to rebuild the Frauenkirche as it was back then, and so it towers over their skyline once more.
Apparently the legendary Johann Sebastian Bach once played on their church organ back in the 18th century as well!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2013 15:22:23 GMT -5
June 24th, 2013 - Salt Lake City, Utah, United StatesThe Salt Lake Temple: The "Salt Palace," former home of the Utah Jazz: The Salt Lake City Public Library, considered by many to be the best in the nation: Inside: The Utah State Capitol Building: Inside: EnergySolutions Arena, the current home of the Utah Jazz: During a game: 7 Facts About Salt Lake City:1) With a population of around 189,000, this capital city currently ranks as the most populous city in the largely rural state of Utah. The metro area is home to around 1,175,000 residents. 2) Most streets in Salt Lake City run north-south or east-west. The city was purposefully designed this way. 3) The city hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002, and made a bid to host them again in 2018. 4) The world's first Kentucky Fried Chicken location was opened here in 1952. 5) You want to know about a strange law that is likely never enforced? Salt Lake City has a law that forbids carrying an unwrapped ukulele on the street. 6) The city experiences cool winters and hot summers. Average nights during December and January dip down to 22F (-6C), while the typical July day tops out at 93F (34C). 7) It is home to one "Big Four" sports team: the Utah Jazz of the NBA. The team famously played the Chicago Bulls in both the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, losing both times. The team was originally founded in 1974 in New Orleans (hence the name), but moved 5 years later.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 25, 2013 13:11:15 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind stopping by Salt Lake City sometime... the scenery there is incredible, especially the way it overlooks the mountains!
I'd likely use it as my base for exploring the Utah mountains and the recreational activities around it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 13:32:48 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind stopping by Salt Lake City sometime... the scenery there is incredible, especially the way it overlooks the mountains! I'd likely use it as my base for exploring the Utah mountains and the recreational activities around it. I agree...there are so many national parks and things of that nature in Utah, that alone is a good reason to visit. I've always wanted to see the salt flats to the west of the city, driving on I-80. Speaking of interstates, I've always found it strange that there is no direct interstate route between Salt Lake City and Denver.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 14:04:59 GMT -5
June 25th, 2013 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaThe always-reliable Town Clock has been keeping the time since 1803: The small but charming Halifax Boardwalk: Sambro Island Light, North America's oldest Lighthouse, dates back to 1758. It is located outside the city: This kid isn't impressed with the skyline: 7 Facts About Halifax:1) With a population closing in on 300,000, Halifax is the largest city in the region known as Atlantic Canada. It also serves as the capital of Nova Scotia. 2) In 1917, a French cargo ship loaded with explosives collided with a Norwegian ship, resulting in what at the time was the world's largest man-made explosion (it would have this distinction until the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945). The Halifax Explosion, as it came to be known, claimed a staggering 2,000 lives. 3) Halifax is closer to Dublin, Ireland than it is to Victoria, British Columbia. 4) It has cold, wet winters and mild summers. Average highs range from 32F (0C) in January to 73F (23C) in July and August. It averages 171 days of precipitation per year. 5) It is one of the cheapest cities in Canada to buy a house. 6) Halifax had many "firsts" for the North American continent. These included its first naval dockyard, post office and zoo. 7) It has the highest ratio of educational facilities to population in North America, giving it a reputation as one of the continent's smartest cities.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 26, 2013 23:21:18 GMT -5
Halifax seems to be one of those cities that is defined by its coastal geography... and it really makes for some stunning views! Definitely has a good skyline overlooking the water!
I wouldn't mind going there sometime... I've never been to the Atlantic provinces of Canada, and being the largest city in the area, would be a good place to start. Had no idea that Canada itself was wider than the Atlantic Ocean at that point... just shows how big Canada is!
It's cool you chose two pictures of the same corner from different angles at different times of day too!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2013 2:09:47 GMT -5
It's amazing that Proboards went through all of this trouble to upgrade, yet still doesn't have the auto-save feature that other forums have had since some time around 2010.
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Post by FreakyFlyBry on Jun 27, 2013 2:18:35 GMT -5
Did you lose a long post you were about to write up? If so, I'm so sorry
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