Iceland - Colorful Landmannalaugar
Foto: The White House (bron: Roy Tennant (www.freelargephotos.com))
United States - The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, with the exception of George Washington, who died before it was completed. Its strategic location near the National Mall was selected in 1790 by President Washington together with the French-born planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who designed the overall layout of the new federal capital. During the early years of the republic, George Washington temporarily resided in the Presidential House in Philadelphia while the new capital was still under development. To select a permanent executive residence, a design competition was launched, attracting nine submissions from architects. The winning design was created by Irish-born architect James Hoban. His neoclassical concept was strongly influenced by European architectural traditions and is widely believed to have been inspired by Dublin’s Leinster House. Originally, the building was known as the “President’s Palace,” reflecting the style of European royal residences. However, over time, the simpler name “White House” became commonly used due to its distinctive white-painted sandstone exterior. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially adopted “White House” as the building’s formal name. Over the years, the White House has been expanded and renovated multiple times, adding new wings, security features, and modern facilities while preserving its historic core. Today, it remains both a powerful political symbol and an internationally recognised landmark representing the United States government and its executive leadership.
Empire State Building
United States - Anyone visiting New York for the first time cannot ignore the Empire State Building. This skyscraper on the corner of 34th Street and 5th Avenue towers over the Big Apple. Entering the building at street level, I realize that it also houses regular office ...
Gambling in Las Vegas
United States - We drive to Las Vegas via the highway. On both sides, a dry desert landscape stretches out, with small bushes dotting the sandy rocky ground. By late afternoon, the Las Vegas skyline appears. It is strange that such a large city exists in the middle of ...
Grand Canyon
United States - When we arrive at the viewpoint, we look down into the depths of the Grand Canyon. Wow! One and a half kilometers below, the river flows through the gorge. We take the park’s shuttle bus to the west side, where the sunset views are best. The last rays ...
Key West in Florida
United States - Key West is an island in the Florida Straits. It is the southernmost point of the Florida Keys, about 150 km from Cuba. The island measures roughly 6.4 km long and 3.2 km wide. One of its main attractions is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner ...
Monument Valley
United States - Monument Valley is perhaps the most striking example of the overwhelming beauty of the desert landscape in the American Southwest. The silhouette of the solitary red rocks, surrounded by a vast, empty plain, has served as a backdrop for dozens of films ...
The Hawaiian Islands
United States - The islands are volcanic in origin, located on a so-called hotspot where magma rises from the Earth’s interior as lava. As the crust moves over the hotspot, a chain of islands formed from west to east, with the oldest, extinct volcanoes in the west ...
The Statue of Liberty in New York
United States - The Statue of Liberty is a monument located in New York Harbor. It stands as a symbol of welcome—not just for tourists but also for Americans themselves. The statue is 93 meters tall and weighs 225 tons. The nose is 1 meter long, the eyes have a circumference ...
Wandering around Chicago
United States - Today, I have the whole day to explore Chicago. It's Saturday, the Saturday before Labor Day. That means it's extra busy—pleasantly busy. The weather is beautiful as we leave our hotel. Our first mission is to officially complete Route 66. Just like ...
Yellowstone National Park
United States - Yellowstone is one of the world’s most important sites for studying and appreciating the evolutionary history of the Earth. The park has an unparalleled collection of surface geothermal activity worldwide, thousands of hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, ...