New York

New York is one of the most amazing cities in the world, and is (in my mind) the best holiday destination in the United States. The city is probably the most metropolitan in the world, but it has so much to do that it is truly fantastic. If your thing is restaurants, there is no restaurant better than the Jekyll and Hyde restaurant. Not only is the food great, the atmosphere is excellent and you do get the odd scare there too. If you're more into sight-seeing, there's so much to see. The Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Central Park, Statue of Liberty and so much more.

California

Opposed to New York, California actually has a lot more to do. Probably because it is a full state, while NYC is just a city (though that is often forgotten by foreign tourists). If your thing is cinema, heading to Los Angeles and Hollywood is a must, where you can see the glitz and the glamour of the movie industry. If you're into history and a laid back city, San Francisco is the place to go. San Jose is also worth visiting if you can find the time.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas truly is a gambler's paradise, but that isn't all it is. Sure, Vegas is heaven to most gamblers, but it also has a lot to offer the everyday tourist. While they might get dragged into the casinos, there is a lot more to do. There are dozens of golf courses littered around the city, and the fact that such a thriving city could be built in the middle of a desert is a testament to human ingenuity. But, if you're just looking for gambling, this is the place to go.

Boston

I remember travelling to Boston about 6 or 7 years ago. I was going to visit a friend, and when I arrived, I was astounded. It was my first time in the US, and the buildings were the first thing to amaze me. The sheer height, we didn't have anything like that back home in Ireland. There is a lot to do in Boston though besides staring at tall buildings and drinking lemonade, such as visiting the Prudential Centre or the Institute of Contemporary Art. Something else which I enjoyed was the DUCK tour, which gave me an amazing insight into the city.

Chicago

Home of the Cubs, deep dish pizza and the Sears Tower, Chicago is the place to be. Well, visit. Chicago is just a great place to be. Like New York and Boston, Chicago has real seasons, so it is also great for snow in the winter if you're from an area where it doesn't snow (cough, Ireland, cough). Chicago also has a great theatre district, so it's perfect for theatre buffs too.

Now, some Force followers have found that place, guided by those hints and synchronizing with the Force that flows with an unknown intensity and are willing to tell all Jedi so they can benefit too of this knowledge.

An Amazing Force Reservoir

Check most of the maps of the world, Spain is in the middle. Templars moved there and then disappeared. They found a place where, as I have told before, Force is extremely intense. This place is located in the middle of the Canyon of the River Lobos, a beautiful, peaceful and special place. Almost hidden in Soria (Spain) it has only two entrances, protected and controlled by two villages: Ucero and San Leonardo de Yagüe. Approximately in the middle of the Canyon, the reservoir is located. There Templars built a small church named to Saint Bartholomew, but it's clear that the building only focuses the Force from the reservoir, that's inside the Cave. Watched down up while entering, the image is like returning to a womb. Also, there is a Psychological Panic Wall that only blind or hypersensitive to Force people can trespass easily. Inside, it's told and are slight hints about; Templars meditated and explored the Force. Nowadays, this place is a Natural Park of Spain, so its environment is protected and maybe a must visit. Not much time ago, when Force was just called “Energy”, complex and deep research showed that the flow was really intense, like a spring or a river that spreads that “Energy” around the world. It's stupid to say that Spain is the centre of the world, because there are many other places where Force flows almost this intense too, but in Europe, there are very little places where this happens, just like Stonehenge. Here is an image of this gorgeous place: . Now let's talk about the two entrances to the canyon.

Ucero: The Lighthouse of the Canyon

Ucero, if you add to the beginning of the word an “L”, you get the word “Lucero”, that means beautiful star or light, it's the closest village to the Canyon, also, has the shortest way to the force spring. Walk around its streets and discover an obvious Templar origin, their symbols are all around, and an impressive castle on top of the cliffs guarding the Canyon and all accesses to it. If you walk close to the river, there in the park, you'll find Force running in the crystalline waters, where trouts swim and water lilies dance sweetly. Dusk and down are amazing everyday, the high calcite walls burn with colours and energy, boosting Force to the nearby villages, woods and fields. The access to the Canyon is done aside the Park House, then walk around 2 Km to the spring, following the river Lobos, clear waters, beautiful wood and an great calm to meditate and obtain a close relation with Force and own abilities.

San Leonardo de Yagüe: The Backdoor of the Canyon

This big village, almost a city, controls the access to the holiest entrance to the canyon, but in a way that don't give that impression of control. You can go both ways to Ucero or Santa Maria de las Hoyas, that is, to the Park House or the Seven Eyes Bridge. If you roam around the streets, you'll find at least 2 fonts with the Templars cross and if you are good viewer, the shape of its castle will show you that cross again, and inside the main church other symbols that they used. It can be said that St. Leonardo is the face that Templars showed to the world so they couldn't be identified. There is not much Force around, but when you lead to the Canyon following river Navaleno, its presence is increased, then when you reach the river Lobos and the Bridge, Force turns into an hypnotic feeling that force eyes and feet to follow the longest way into, around 8 km through the Canyon. In summer the river Lobos don't carry water at view but, down some meters below ground, it flows strong and its water is one of the purest water in the world.

Santa Maria de las Hoyas: The Secret Connection with the Reservoir

If you ever read Parsifal, you'll find the description of the castle where Grail was kept very accurate when you visit this village, following the road past the Seven Eyes Bridge, or from Ucero through a rural road where in the early morning you can find wild life like rabbits or deers. Maybe at first eye the village doesn't seem big or full of symbols, maybe because most of the buildings have been rebuilt; but don't worry, even if the castle is a bunch of rocks almost unidentifiable, or the river Lobos is invisible the energy that flows from it is amazing as the underground waters of the river comes straight from the Force spring, walk around the wood of pines back of the village till you find a hidden prairie, maybe you can find there some young men of the village practicing motocross, and their noise won't disturb the peace of the place, or if you are really lucky, you'll find there a Jedi woman, meditating, or practising archery or sword fighting, the only one around in miles, she'll love to chat with you about whatever you want. Not far from that prairie there is a font where many people goes because of its water, no wonder why, this water comes from the river Lobos and calms thirst and soul. Walking on the other side, where the castle or the small church are, there are lot of caves, fossils, and great place to meditate and watch the skies at night clearly. About these caves, called Hoyas (holes), there are some amazing ones, many of them has a lot of energy and are hints of Templars and Iberics (a tribe that shared Spain with Celts). It's told that inside the hill where the castle is lies a lake deep inside, and no one has reached it ever but few special persons… it may sound as a legend but considering the kind of terrain and some studies, that would be very possible…but from years and years nobody has seen it.

Advice

If you're thinking of visiting these places be sure what you want, be brave and your relation with Force will be stronger. Maybe that Jedi woman I can't remember her name now will offer to show those places, organise activities that makes better your relation with nature and Force, I saw her few times and she has smiles, patience, knowledge and an interesting life.

May the force be with you all.

Rosedale Suspension Bridge

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A short 5 minute drive east of Drumheller on Highway 10, is the town of Rosedale. Not much of a town, but there is a nice treed picnic area, and a Suspension Bridge, which is a free tourist attraction. The Bridge is suspended over the Red Deer River, but isn't so high, or so wobbly to be intimidating to people of all ages. On the other side of the river is a very prehistoric looking area, but we must remember that although the land looks inhospitable, millions of years ago it was actually very lush. When the dinosaurs trod on this part of the earth, it did not resemble the desert it is today. Also, remember that it is a desert, do not stick your hands in holes, or places you cannot see. In this part of Canada, there are scorpions, black widow spiders, and rattle snakes.

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

You must drive off Highway 10 for a short distance south, to find this Guinness Record Book title holder, for "The Most Bridges in the Shortest Distance". Again this area is surrounded by the alien landscape that the area is so well known for. In fact, even if it were not for these other attractions, the landscape alone is worth the trip.

The Hoodoos

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About 15 minutes east of Drumheller, again on Highway 10, just beyond Rosedale, is an interesting geological feature, referred to as "The Hoodoos". These odd looking structures were formed when erosion removed softer bits of sandstone leaving some areas untouched due to the fact that they had harder stones protecting the sandstone beneath.

The whole area is fascinating, other worldly in appearance, and frequently used in movies about outer space. Unfortunately the Hoodoos have been somewhat destroyed by tourists who have carved their names into them, climbed on them, and basically tried to gain their 15 minutes of fame by destroying a feature that took thousands of years to form.

Other Information

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You may have noticed that I only referred to a few outdoor things, in reality there are plenty more things to see and do in the area, including the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, which is a wonderful museum for anyone interested in Dinosaurs. The city of Drumheller itself also has wonderful indoor, and outdoor points of interest, which I will talk about in other articles. This article was to feature a few of the sights and sites, outside the city, and basically outside. I hope you enjoy your trip to the Badlands region of Alberta, remember to bring your camera, sunscreen, and water bottle.

Top 10 Sights

The Duomo

Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo or Cathedral, is the very heart of Florence, dominating the city with its massive dome. The dome, designed by Brunelleschi was the largest of its time, completed in 1436 without the use of scaffolding. The Duomo is clad in Multi-coloured marble and is visible all over the city - towering over the neighbouring buildings, or glimpsed looming at the end of a narrow medieval street. If you have the energy, climb the 463 steps to the top and enjoy magnificent views.

Baptistry Doors

There are 3 sets of beautiful and artistically important baptistery doors, the most significant being the east doors commissioned by Ghiberti in 1401, and depicting scenes from the New Testament. Seven leading artists of the time entered a competition to create the doors, and some of these examples are regarded as the first products of the Renaissance. Michelangelo named these doors "The Gate of Paradise". However, the ones in place are copies; the originals can be seen in Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (just behind the Duomo).

Ponte Vecchio

This famous bridge, literally the "Old Bridge", was built in 1345, and is the oldest in Florence. It has always accommodated workshops of one kind or another, though by 1600, the butchers, tanners and blacksmiths, who polluted the river with their offal and waste and caused a choking stench over the city, were evicted. The shops were renovated and rebuilt, and leased to the inoffensive jewellery trade. To this day, the bridge is lined with pretty shops selling modern, classic and antique jewellery to suit every budget. The bridge escaped the bombs of WW2, some say as a direct result of an order from Hitler, while others say the bomber pilot approached the bridge at sunset and could not bear to destroy such an ancient and beautiful structure. So he dropped his bombs elsewhere, out of harms way.

Galleria dell'Accademia

This is the Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1563, and the first European school to teach the techniques of drawing, painting and sculpture. Many of Michaelangelo's important works can be found in the Accademia, including a statue of St Matthew and the "Four Prisoners", dramatically depicting muscular figures struggling to escape from blocks

of stone. The most dominant work is the "David", Michaelangelo's magnificent, massive, nude classical statue of David, the biblical hero who killed Goliath. David, sculpted in marble in 1504, has recently been beautifully restored.

Palazzo Pitti

Started in 1457 for the banker Luca Pitti, this enormous building was intended to show the powerful Medici banking family that it had a worthy rival. Ironically, ongoing building costs bankrupted the Pitti heirs and the palace was bought by the Medicis who made it their main residence. The rooms are lavishly decorated and, today, exhibit many treasures from the Medici collections. The Renaissance style Boboli Gardens, are laid out behind the palace.

Uffizi Gallery

Originally a suite of offices for Duke Cosimo1, this is probably the oldest art gallery in the world. From about 1580, Cosimo's heirs began to use the building to exhibit art treasures belonging to the Medici family. Today, the gallery is laid out in such a way to guide the visitor through the development of Florentine art from the Gothic period to the High Renaissance, and beyond. A number of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures are also displayed.

Church of Sante Croce

Legend tells us that St Francis founded this church himself. The current building, started around 1294 to replace an older construction, is the biggest Franciscan church in the world. The beautiful, austere Gothic structure contains the tombs of several famous Florentines, including Michaelangelo and Galileo. There are also sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils.

Piazza della Signoria

This unique, spacious square is enhanced by the majestic Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall (1322), and the Loggia dei Lanzi (1382), a graceful, airy loggia, housing famous statues by Cellini and Giambologna and ancient Roman statues of priestesses. Further sculptures in this unique square include an heraldic lion by Donatello, the spectacular Neptune Fountain by Ammannanti, Giambologna's statue of Cosimo 1 on horseback and a copy of Michaelangelo's David, all dating from the 1500's..

Piazza Michelangelo

The piazza is situated on a hill slightly south east of the city centre. It dates from 1860 and is home to copies of Michaelangelo's famous statues. There are far reaching views over the rooftops, spires, towers and domes of Florence, the largest being the rich, red dome of the Duomo itself. Beyond, lie the misty purple hills of Fiesole.

San Lorenzo Market

This outdoor market has an excellent selection of good quality and reasonably priced goods, such as leather gloves, jackets, belts and bags of all descriptions; scarves, pashminas and ties; painted trays; costume jewellery and Florentine souvenirs of every type.

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Bargello

Superb collection of beautiful Renaissance sculpture, including works by Michaelangelo, Donatello, Giambologna, Cellini and others.

Medici Tombs

 Adorned with some of Michaelangelo's finest works.

Casa Buonarotti

Michaelangelo's house for a short time, housing some of his personal belongings and works.

Palazzo Davanzati

Typical home of a wealthy Florentine family of the 1500's.

Church of Santo Spirito

 Augustinian church dating from 1250, with beautiful colonnaded aisles.

Church of San Lorenzo

 Parish church of the Medici family.

Church of Santa Maria Novella

 Gothic church housing important artworks.

Convent of San Marco

Beautiful, simple setting for a superb collection of devotional frescoes by Fra Angelico.

Brancacci Chapel

Frescoes depicting the life of St Peter, commissioned around 1424.

Mercato Centrale

Big, covered food market tucked away in the depths of the San Lorenzo market.

We've planned this trip for a while now, and it was already time to make the move. My cousins' Ford Fusion, was perfect to go such distance. It was his brand-new car, red, and very sophisticated. We also had a police radar, because if we were getting there on scheduled time, we had to speed every now and then to make up for the awfully inevitable traffics that I-95 was famous for.

Now that we were ready, suitcases thrown in the trunk, and blankets and pillows in the back seats, my cousin flew in head first inside in the passenger seat. Delilah and Kate, the two women in my life, my girlfriend and my best friend were finally ready to jump in. Obviously, everyone was sleepy. But the driver, that would be me, had a very enormous disadvantage. I had to stay awake the whole time, or all of us would put an end to the press' silly season.

It was time to go now, but not quite in the direction we were supposed to. Feeling as drowsy as I was, I drove to Dunkin Donuts and got two cups of coffee so I'd keep awake. Looking in the rear-view mirror, the only thing I saw of those girls was their heads. They were all covered up in their blankets, sleeping as soundless. It was late winter, and still chilly in Florida. I looked over and so was George, his head cocked, leaning against he window, and was sleeping, but not as soundless as the girls. However, we had a schedule to keep, and I was ready to hit the road.

11:13AM

After making a couple of restroom stops, we finally made it to Georgia. Florida is not as scenic as the other states, nevertheless, some interesting things had caught our eyes here and there. For instance, it was kind of like tradition to count up all the accidents we'd see, and how many cars are pulled over by the cops. So far, the score was 4:7. Another things that caught our attention was the Fuller Warren Bridge, since we went over the Acosta bridge instead which was more parallel than perpendicular to the Fuller Warren. This is where we had stopped for our second bathroom break, in the heart of Jacksonville.