Archive for August, 2007
Carcassonne Castle, France: Fortress Ruined & Reborn
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007Legend tells how Carcassonne got its name: Charlemagne was besieging the city. The citizens were starving and near surrender. Then a clever lady, Madame Carcas, had an idea. The citizens stuffed a fat pig with the last grain and heaved it over the wall. The besieging army, amazed and frustrated, went home. Madame Carcas then rang, or sonned, the bells in celebration. Charlemagne was defeated, the city was saved, and Carcassonne got its name, all at one stroke.
Globe Theatre, London: Return of the Bard
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007The Globe had a glorious but short career. Here many of Shakespeare’s plays made their debut. The Globe was built in 1601 in a part of London full of pickpockets and prostitutes. It was a popular theater, but in 1624, a prop cannon misfired during Henry VIII and burned the theater to the ground.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco: The Steel Harp
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007It’s 1937. America is in the depths of the Great Depression. People need hope, they need food, they need jobs. San Francisco needs a tourist landmark. The Golden Gate Bridge is the answer. On May 27, President Roosevelt pushed the button, traffic began to flow, and it’s still flowing 2 billion vehicles later.