My, That's an Impressive Monument!

I'm a big fan of statues--there's just something amazing about being immortalized throughout time (or at least until the stone/marble/wood/bronze/other material crumbles or is destroyed) and the creators of these monuments always do an excellent job. Here are a few of the ones that any traveler should see, assuming it's not snowing too much and you can leave your local airport.

Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Rio gets everything, don't they? The Olympics (2016), a World Cup (2014), a song by Duran Duran, and possibly the most impressive statue in the world, at least in my opinion. It's positioned in a similar way to the Statue of Liberty, but this symbol of Christianity just seems so welcoming, and seeing it overlook the harbor is just amazing.

Lincoln Monument (Washington, D.C.)

This one gets bonus points because it's right next to the National Mall as well as the Reflecting Pool, so you get three places in one. Obviously the U.S. capital would give some dap to our previous leaders, and while Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt also have nice memorials, Lincoln's takes the cake.

Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia)

What is it about being by a harbor (or in this case, harbour) that makes a place that much more impressive? I don't know, but the Sydney Opera House is probably one of the most distinctive pieces of architecture, and it serves as a multipurpose performing center too. So if opera's not your thing, you can still enjoy the magnificent work of its designer, the Danish Jørn Utzon. Really I just wanted an excuse to use a "ø."

Great Wall (Beijing, China)

Sure, it was used to keep out unwanted intruders, but what's more incredible is just how LONG this structure is! It stretches in either direction for as far as the eye can see. A gondola ride to the part of the wall that's walkable gives you an eagle-eye view of the scenery, and it really makes you feel tiny in the midst of its massiveness. I recommend not trying to run up the steps because it's quite exhausting at that altitude, but hey, if you only visit it once, go wild!

Colossus of Rhodes

This statue only lasted 56 years before being destroyed in 226 BC, and it wasn't even positioned like that, with one leg on each side, straddling the Rhodesian harbor. But come on, how awesome does that look?

This Day in History
1895- The world's first commercial movie is screened at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe. The brothers showed a series of short scenes from everyday French life and charged admission for the first time.