Showing posts with label cities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cities. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Gondolas of Venice, Italy


Gondolas of Venice, Italy.


The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were once the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. It is similar to punting, except it uses an oar to propel it instead of a pole. Their primary role, however, is to carry tourists on rides at established prices














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Friday, December 17, 2010

Shanxi



Shansi is a province in thenorthern part of the People's Republic of China. Its one-character abbreviation is  (pinyin: Jìn), after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period.



































The name Shanxi literally means "mountain's west", which refers to the province's location west of the Taihang Mountains Shanxi borders Hebei to the east, Henan to the south, Shaanxi to the west, and Inner Mongolia to the north. The capital of the province is Taiyuan.