#bridge and tunnel brewery

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Disco Elysium

THOUGHT COMPLETE: WOMPTY-DOMPTY DOM CENTRE

BONUSES:

Encyclopedia passives give +10 XP and +2 real -2 Suggestion: Pretentious wanker

SOLUTION:

You're at home, stupid cop, not with the art crowd. You hate them, everyone hates them, even they hate themselves. It's nauseating -- an industry built on sprezzatura and sparkling wine. And, let’s be honest, tax evasion schemes. The Wompty Dompty Dom Centre is the heart of this unholy symbiosis of esthetics and tax optimization, and now that you've internalized it – you can have a piece too!

The rear tyre of a motor carriage adorns these reeds.

Relax, it's not yours. You didn't crash every mc in Revachol. (Hopefully.)

Rust-eaten letters read: "MAZUT."

Looking back at you from the rust-coloured water: you.

A kick drum pulse. The music is coming from somewhere on the ice.

Hm?

A school of fish huddle around the fence post. Then scatter into the dark.

Before you, a drawbridge. It can only be lowered from the other side.

Accidently covered up the bridge by hovering over the cash pickup, whoops.

Full of holes. Could the posts hide... treasure? Look inside.

The posts, as it turns out, all have various rewards in them, including money, medicine, and a bottle of alcohol.

ALCOHOL "POTENT PILSNER"

A sturdy bottle of beer that tastes like piss. Not that you would know how piss tastes like. Just a guess. The label says it's made in Revachol, by Lafayette Potent Brewery.

Heading back slightly to the west of the ice, (or east of the telephone) there's a building.

You feel the shadow of a very large building fall on you.

The sign reads: "Saint Brune 1147."

Dusty pews in the shadows. Many seem to be missing.

An altar shrouded in dark. Or something else like that -- it's too dark to tell.

CHURCH DOORS - Heavy wooden doors more than twice your height stand shut in front of you. The rectangular, sea-worn ornamentation appears in stark contrast to the padlock carelessly drilled into the wood.

Rattle the doors to see if they open.

Inspect the carpentry.

Take a closer look at the padlock.

Inspect the staple.

[Leave.]

CHURCH DOORS - Nothing happens, only the sound of the padlock rattling against the door.

KIM KITSURAGI - "I don't think that's going to work..."

SHIVERS [Medium: Success] - High above, the wind wraps the church in its rush. Cold and wet from the ocean bay, it parts around the massive keel-shaped roof. Like a test tunnel washing both sides, the way it has done for three-hundred-and-forty years. The wind keeps its distance. So should you.

"What is this feeling?"

Back up and look at the door.

SHIVERS -

THERE IS A HOLE IN MY HEART.

KIM KITSURAGI - The lieutenant looks at the padlock. He didn't hear you asking, you were quiet enough.

2. Inspect the carpentry.

CHURCH DOORS - The carving on the door is blocklike and angular, like the church itself. Two large beams shoot downwards, sinking into the wood before they reach the threshold.

Run your hand over a beam.

Back up and look at the door.

CHURCH DOORS - The surface is smooth from the wind, but moist to the touch.

3. Take a closer look at the padlock.

CHURCH DOORS - This cheap-looking padlock is sturdily built. It shackles together a hasp and a staple screwed into the wooden door. The lock is adorned with a yellow sticker.

INTERFACING [Medium: Success] - It'll be easier to break the staple than the lock. Also -- that sticker is interesting, somehow...

4. Look at the sticker.

CHURCH DOORS - You see a yellow circle with two X's and a big curve below them that looks like a mouth. You're pretty sure you haven't seen it before, but what the symbol depicts is clear enough: a smiling dead guy. The curve makes it smile and the X's make it dead.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - There is something blindingly *modern* about this symbol. Its modernness puts to shame everything you've seen before.

What makes it so modern?

"Have you seen this symbol before?" (Point to it.)

Take another look at the boring padlock. For absurdity's sake.

CONCEPTUALIZATION - It's the contrast between the cheery, chemical yellow and the rigor mortis. As if the cheery guy didn't know he was dead or the dead guy didn't care that he was. Either way, you get the sense the forces of *future* are at work here.

INLAND EMPIRE [Challenging: Success] - These forces of future have chosen to depict something that reminds you of... you.

"Have you seen this symbol before?" (Point to it.)

KIM KITSURAGI - He takes off his glasses and uses a blue handkerchief to thoroughly wipe them clean before inspecting the sticker. Then he looks up, pauses, and replies...

"No."

"What does it look like to you?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Looks like a dead man smiling. Suggests... junior delinquency."

"Okay, what is *junior delinquency*?"

"What is suggestive of junior delinquency here?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "For Revachol ZoC, the Moralintern defines junior delinquents as minors between the ages of 10 and 16 who have committed an act in violation of the law..."

"These acts aren't called *crimes* as they would be for adults. Crimes committed by minors are called 'delinquent acts'. This was part of your officer's exams." He puts the handkerchief in his coat pocket.

"What is suggestive of junior delinquency here?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "I haven't seen that sticker before. And I am not a youth."

"I agree -- it's very modern. But does the cheery guy not know he's dead, or does the dead guy not care that he is? What is the source of the irony here?"

Padlock, padlock, padlock!

KIM KITSURAGI - "That level of conceptual thinking is not part of my skill set."

5. Inspect the staple.

CHURCH DOORS - The padlock passes through a staple that's been hastily attached to the wood. Closer inspection reveals that one of the screws is not a screw at all, but a nail. The work has been done recently and is unprofessional, to say the least.

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - Should you want to get through, it might be easier to just pry the whole thing off.

(Turn to the lieutenant.) "This is where Mr. Prybar comes in handy."

Back off.

I just happened to have the prybar equipped from opening containers earlier.

KIM KITSURAGI - He takes a step back. "Maybe we should circle the building first and look for another way. The building has seen enough mistreatment."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - There is a touch of guilt in his voice.

"Should we start with that kick drum coming from the ice? I heard a sound, before."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes. The pulsing bass..." He raises his hand to his ear. "A sure sign of junior delinquency -- somewhere east of here."

6. [Interfacing - Easy 9] Try to peel of the sticker without ripping it.

INTERFACING [Easy: Success] - There's nothing like the sound of a sticker unpeeling. Now it's stuck to your thumb.

Put the sticker *in* your ledger -- after the last entry, where it belongs.

Put the sticker *on* your ledger -- right on the cover!

Shake it off your thumb and throw it in the wind.

INTERFACING - Voilà! Looks very modern.

Secret task complete: Style your paperwork

+10 XP

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - You're part of the future-brigade now. And so is your formerly humdrum ledger. Neon, baby!

Let's not break into a church and check out that sick beat.

6. [Leave.]

It must have taken a lot of patience to do this.

ACELE - A shaggy-looking girl in her late teens or early twenties kneels on the ice with an electronic contraption in her hand. Hearing you approach, she looks up.

"Oh, hello there."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - It's cold out here, but she's not wearing a hat! She must be freezing.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Easy: Success] - Everyone knows drugs make you invulnerable to cold. You bet this one likes to *party*.

"Dear child, it's freezing. Where's your hat?"

"So, you wanna *party*?"

"I have some questions for you."

[Leave.]

ACELE - "Huh?" She looks up at you, distracted.

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Medium: Success] - Maybe she didn't hear you. A little louder.

"I said, you should have a hat on."

ACELE - "So should you."

HALF LIGHT [Medium: Success] - You don't *have* to do anything.

"*I* don't have to do anything. I am the law. *You* have to do what the law says."

"I should -- and I do." (Point at your hat.)

"We're done here." [Leave.]

ACELE - "Real cool..." She looks down at the device, mumbling under her breath.

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Medium: Success] - "Way to abuse that power, man..." she says, thinking you can't hear her.

COMPOSURE [Easy: Success] - She bats away your questions like flies. She's not intimidated by mere police officers.

"And the law says you have to wear a hat in this weather."

"So keep that in mind while I ask some questions."

ACELE - "Tsk..." She lets a quiet *tsk* roll off her tongue. "What kind of law says that?"

[ultimateaclrecovery]

Japan Day 2!

Today was traveling to Kyoto and exploring temples in their northern mountain region

We got to do a lot of hiking in gorgeous fall weather and I loved seeing all of the temples and shrines just fully mixed in with the woods around them.

We got to through a famous maple tunnel on our way there and back and see gorgeous fall colors. The rural streets were also full of beautiful colors and we go to walk along side a pretty river. The river had eating spots in, and in the summer there’s way more including a restaurant that puts up long plans spanning the river so you have dinner above it like a bridge, in addition to the little picnic tables we saw still up.

After we got back to Kyoto and our hotel we got drinks at a craft brewery and udon for dinner

The craft brewery had no face from ghiblis spirited away as their tip jar and I loved it.

Travel diary

Day 2 11/11

Day 2 11/11

Train to Kyoto then mountains. The train we get on is the panoramic train with extra big windows to see all the pretty leaves. On the way there we pass thru the maple tunnel. It’s really pretty even if only some of the leaves have turned yet. I try but am mostly unsuccessful at taking good pictures of it.

We get to the end of the line and walk to the kibune temple. All the shrines in the woods and many many stairs. Anthony paid the temple entrance fee of. We take another trains and a cable car to rope way to the next temple.

At the top of the ropeway we can see over outskirts of Kyoto and the mountains in the distance. We go through a hike in the woods and see more good views. I talk my boyfriend into a selfie in the view. The trees are starting to change color and we enjoy how pretty it is. We walk probably a mile until we hit the entrance to eikan-todo the main temple on the mountain. The ticket gate is closed so we’ll have to find another. The temples are red and brightly painted and there’s a fair number of people around. It’s a weird balance at the temples between tourists and people actually come to use them. I want to get a good look at all of them but also want to be respectful to the people praying and not intrude or gawk at them. Most of the signage is in Japanese with only a couple critical designations in English. We have to look at the map like three times but finally find the entrance with a manned ticket agent to pay our tickets. I pay in cash for mine 1000 yen. We continue to explore the temple and try to find a soba restaurant for lunch that is supposedly up here. We can’t find it and settle for some mochi dumplings as a snack. It’s not very filling but we’ll get more snacks. This proves to be a mistake. After we explore this temple complex we start the hike back to the cable car where we will stop at another site eikan-saito on the way back.

eikan-saito is even more remote and very peaceful. The first building we come to has a beautiful rock garden where the pebbles have been raked in a beautiful pattern. As we continue on the path through the different temples we see a monk sweeping all the little leaves off of the rock path.

We decide to do the big loop through the temples which includes a path along the side of the road. It’s wild to me how many of the places you have to walk are just narrow shoulders along side narrow roads. At least all of the leaves are pretty. We then hike back up to the ropeway and cable car. Somehow in the course of coming down the rope way and cable car I loose my ICCOA card. I had put it in my pocket when I got out my cable car ticket and then it must’ve fallen out. I’m so confused because they were such tight leggings pockets and I’ve never had things fall out of them before. It’s annoying because I had like 2700 yen left and now I’ll have to get a new one and now the bus back ticket will be annoying, but luckily my bf has coins that he lends me for the fare.

The bus ride back is pretty miserable. I really should’ve insisted on more snacks and taken more ibuprofen before we left, but the bus only comes every 30 minutes so we had wanted to catch that one. The bus takes like an hour and a half and I’m cramping and hungry and nauseous the whole time and the bus is crowded we are standing like squished sardines the whole time. And I’m still annoyed at myself for loosing my ic card.

Eventually we make it to the station I want to get food at the first convience store we see but my by wants to go to one lower that will be less crowded and I almost start to cry. But then we go down there and I get a sandwich and pocky. I stray in on the pocky and immediately start to feel better. I get a new ic card putting 5000 yen on it (500 of which is a deposit). We retrieve our luggage and go to our hotel where we eat our sandwiches.

We then grab a drink at a nearby bar called gion that has an Instagram with singing birds. The bar is playing Christmas music already. I get a fun peach ale for 1200 yen. I also tip in the ghibli tip toy which is very fun. Mr no face has teeth which he shows off when his whole head opens up to eat your tip. On the way out a take a video of the singing birds.

We then head out for dinner and get udon. The place has no English and no one there speaks English but between google translate, pointing and my bfs limited Japanese we make through and get delicious udon with pork and green onions. We’re at the bar top so we can watch him cook and the green onions are so massive it’s pretty cool.

After dinner I want to go straight to bed but my boyfriend convinced me to walk around a bit and see the streets. I do love seeing all the narrow streets and all their different store fronts and lanterns about. It is very crowded but fun to way to see the city. And I’m still sound alseep by 9.

[allstartrekgames]

Star Trek (2013)

Original Release: 2013

Developer: Digital Extremes

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Based on the Kelvin Timeline introduced in the 2009 “reboot” film, this is a new adventure starring the crew of the films, with the film’s actors providing voice work. The game is focused on co-op, letting you and a friend play as Kirk and Spock (although you can play singleplayer with the computer handling the other character).

The game is very clearly unfinished, it’s quite buggy with very wonky animations. Luckily, my latest playthrough I only encountered a couple of times where the glitches caused Spock to die, most of it was just odd visual bugs, such as within the first minute where Kirk span around in a circle and hovered up above the bridge.

Despite this clunkiness, I can’t bring myself to hate this game, I really enjoy it a lot. The dialogue between Kirk and Spock keep things moving and the game tries to keep itself fresh with different environments (they do a great job with the “giant industrial brewery” style of the Enterprise interior) and action pieces like skydiving. The combat is quite simple, but entertaining, with a focus on stealth and finding hidden tunnels and vents to sneak into positions to hack turrets.

The plot follows an attack on New Vulcan, where Gorn from another alternate universe have invaded to take a powerful device the Vulcans were working on. These Gorn are very different and you’ll encounter different types with strength and abilities to provide variety of enemies. The Gorn also have a virus that can turn your own crew against you, and the game heavily suggests stunning them instead of killing them – various sections have bonus objectives such as non-lethal or stealth to gain extra XP.

Shooting is a fairly generic cover shooter. I found myself using stun (which only makes enemies dizzy) then punching them to knock them out. There are various weapons to try, but the trusty phaser is usually enough. Some sections encourage stealth, but this is always optional. There are turrets, cameras and doors to hack using simple minigames, and is always risky trying in combat.

While this Star Trek game doesn’t really excel at any particular thing, it’s still a very enjoyable romp with a good story and fun action.

[mollydsails]

October 19 - Third try on this post. Don’t know if other two tries posted. If they did, Sorry. I made a couple of errors in the other posts, so now I can correct them.

Had a pleasant night’s stay in Fishing Bay. Onward to Hampton

8 AM departure for Hampton. Sol A Maya is ahead of Molly D

The wind wasn’t terrible. The seas were choppy but were from our stern (surfing!!) and the sun warmed the cockpit. Many boats were still on the water headed south. We were not alone.

Plenty of company on the water today. The green triangles are commercial ships at anchor. The ships are waiting their turn to enter their destination port or to cross the tunnel to the ocean

Molly D sent up 2 “swear clouds” during our transit. Both times David strung together colorful words aimed at sailboats that had caused Molly D to alter course to avoid a dangerous crossing situation.

During our transit, a “securite” (security) was broadcast alerting mariners to a “dead ship” tow from Norfolk to the ocean. The tow passed by Molly D. The dead ship had one tug boat pulling it (tow line from bow of ship to tug) and another tug was at its stern pushing it.

Dead ship tow

Molly D arrived at the Docks at Downtown Hampton around 2:00. Not bad timing for a 42 mile trip.

Molly D is docked. She is facing what I believe is an athletic facility of the University of Hampton

Looking down the Hampton Docks toward the marina office. The brick structure is a parking garage. The first floor of the garage houses businesses, including the Bull Island Brewery, our go to place for pizza and drinks

Molly D will stay in Hampton 2 nights. She will begin her ICW journey on Monday. Monday’s journey will take us through the Number 7 railroad bridge which is famous for breakdowns. We will also go through the Great Bridge Lock which is always a fun experience. Molly D will end her very long day in Coinjock, NC where the most delicious prime rib dinner will await us.

[ghostsandgetaways]

7 Destinations for a Spooky Summer Vacation

Summer is upon us and many of us will venture out to tropical destinations for some rest and relaxation. Some of us though will look for something a little less tropical and a little more supernatural (but who says you can’t have both?).

Below are 7 destination with plenty of paranormal history to satisfy any paranormal enthusiast. Grab your audio recorder and an EMF meter…………and let’s go!

Haunted Places in Savannah, Georgia:

The Marshall House: This historic hotel served as a hospital during the Civil War and two yellow fever epidemics. Because of its history, it is rumored to be haunted by spirits of Civil War soldiers and yellow fever victims. Guests have reported disembodied voices, shadow figures, flickering lights, and unexplained noises.

Sorrel Weed House: One of the most haunted houses in Savannah, the Sorrel Weed House is said to be visited by multiple spirits, including Matilda Sorrel, a young girl, and a woman that is seen and heard crying. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices and crying, and footsteps.

Bonaventure Cemetery: This picturesque cemetery is not only a popular tourist attraction but also a hotspot for paranormal activity. Established in 1846 and originally known as Evergreen Cemetery, this cemetery has over 100 acres of paranormal potential. Visitors have reported seeing shadow figures, the feeling of being touched, hearing disembodied voices, and finding EVPs in their evidence.

Moon River Brewing Company: The life of this historic building is quite interesting. It all began as a hotel but it also housed this brewery, a bank, a bar, a lumber and coal warehouse, and the United States Post Office. It is believed to be haunted by multiple spirits, including a ghost named Toby and the spirit of James Stark who was killed on the stairs going to the 2nd floor. Visitors have reported the feeling of dread, footsteps, apparitions, and the feeling of being touched and pushed.

Haunted Places in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a city rich in history and folklore. It is also known for its numerous haunted locations that attract paranormal enthusiasts from around the world. Here are some of the most famous haunted places in Edinburgh:

Edinburgh Castle: This iconic fortress is said to be haunted by several ghosts, including hearing phantom bagpipes, a headless drummer and a young phantom piper. Legend says back several centuries ago a tunnel was discovered under castle rock. The opening was small but it was big enough for a child. A young piper boy was sent in and told to play his bagpipes so the people above could track his progress. Everything went fine until the music suddenly stopped. Despite multiple attempts to rescue the boy, no sign of the boy could be found. When there was no longer hope of a rescue, the tunnel was sealed. Since then, people claim to hear the music of the lonely piper boy still waiting to be rescued.

The Real Mary King's Close: This underground network of streets goes back to the 17th century. Ravaged by the plague, this tightly populated area saw death and devastation. It is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl named Annie who became sick and was abandoned by her family. It is said that her family left her to die when they realized she no longer had a chance of recovery. Visitors have reported hearing her voice and laughter, feeling someone tug on their clothing, and hearing the pitter patter of little feet.

Greyfriars Kirkyard: This cemetery is infamous for violent poltergeist activity associated with the tomb of Sir George Mackenzie. The Mackenzie Poltergeist is said to haunt the graveyard, causing unease and fear among visitors. Be sure to check out the memorial for Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier who reportedly guarded his master’s grave for 14 years and was cared for by local police.

South Bridge Vaults: Located beneath the South Bridge, these underground chambers have a chilling reputation for being haunted. Many people suffered from illness and died. The location of your living quarters somewhat matched socioeconomic status…..the lower the level on which you lived, the lower your “station in life.” It is no surprise that disease ran rampant among the poor that lived below the South Bridge due to small cramped living quarters and poor conditions. Visitors have reported hearing whispers, disembodied voices and laughter, and footsteps. Visitors also report the feeling of being touched and shadows wandering about the vaults.

Haunted Places in New Orleans

If you're looking for a city steeped in paranormal history, look no further than New Orleans. This vibrant city is known for its rich culture, delicious cuisine, and of course, its haunted locations. Here are some of the most famous haunted places in New Orleans:

LaLaurie Mansion: This infamous mansion was once home to the evil socialite Madame Delphine LaLaurie, who tortured and killed many slaves in the 1830s. The atrocities she committed were well hidden until a fire broke out and everything was revealed. Firefighters and authorities discovered slaves that were chained and had been horribly mutilated. It is believed their tortured souls still haunt the premises. The mansion is a private residence and not available for tours.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is home to over 700 tombs, and is the final resting place of voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Visitors have reported seeing her spirit and others wandering among the tombs.

The Sultan's Palace: This mysterious mansion in the French Quarter is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Turkish sultan and others who were murdered there one stormy night in the 1836. The morning after the massacre, a man walking down the street came upon the residence and saw blood trickling down the front steps and into the street. Once the authorities were summoned, they discovered dead bodies scattered about. Some had limbs missing, others were flayed open. As they investigated, bodies were found throughout the house and the Sultan was found buried in the courtyard. It is believed he was buried alive and that his spirit still roams the halls. A private residence now, this location is not available for tours.

The Old Ursuline Convent: Built in 1752, this historic building is said to be haunted by the spirits of the French nuns who once lived there. Visitors have reported seeing shadow skulking about, apparitions of nuns, and hearing phantom footsteps and whispers in the halls. There is also a legend that a group of young women known as the Casket Girls brought vampires into the area who then devastated crops and killed people all around town. The Casket Girls lived on the 3rd floor of the convent until the nuns kicked them out and sealed off the 3rd floor.

Haunted Places in Transylvania

Bran Castle: Known as "Dracula's Castle," this iconic and infamous fortress is said to be haunted by the spirit of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. In reality it seems he did not live there but stories continue about ghosts wandering the halls of the castle.

Hoia Baciu Forest: Often called the "Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania," this forest is notorious for unexplained phenomena including ghost sightings and UFO encounters. The forest seems benign when hiking to through it but there is a large circular area in which no trees or plants grow. Only grass grows in that part of the forest and, according to various articles found online about multiple tests run on the soil, it is unknown why nothing grow there.

Corvin Castle: Built in 1440 as a fortress, this glorious castle offers plenty of dungeons and corridors to explore. The towers often held prisoners of war as well as criminals. It is alleged that the castle held a bear pit where prisoners were thrown and mauled to death by wild animals. The spirits that are believed to lurk within the castle said to be those prisoners and criminals. Guests have reported seeing shadows and apparitions, hearing footsteps, and disembodied voices.

Salina Turda: This stunning mine dates back the 1271. As you descend into the depths of this underground salt mine, be on the lookout for the ghostly miners that are said to still working hard in the shadows. their phantom presence felt by visitors.

Haunted Places in Gettysburg

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is known for its rich history and storied past, especially its significant role in the Civil War. The town is also famous for its many reported ghost sightings and haunted locations. Here are some of the most haunted places in Gettysburg:

1. Gettysburg Battlefield: The battlefield is perhaps the most haunted location in Gettysburg, with numerous reports of ghostly apparitions of soldiers still fighting the battle. Visitors have experienced hearing phantom gunshots, drums, and war cries. We tried to investigate on our last trip in April 2024 but it was cold and raining so we will have to go back.

2. Jennie Wade House: Jennie Wade was the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg. Her house, where she was fatally shot, is believed to be haunted by her ghost. The door still has scars and bullet holes in it from the war. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions and hearing unexplained noises in the house.

3. Sachs Covered Bridge: Located just outside Gettysburg, Sachs Covered Bridge is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Civil War soldier. Visitors have reported seeing a figure in old-fashioned clothing walking across the bridge, only to disappear into thin air.

4. Haunted Orphanage in Gettysburg: The haunted orphanage was a place of sorrow and despair for many children during the Civil War. The orphanage was a place in which the children were allegedly not treated well. In fact, it is alleged the children were outright abused and the orphanage now stands as a chilling reminder of its dark past. Visitors have reported hearing voices and cries, as well as encountering shadowy figures wandering about. Some have even felt invisible hands tugging at their clothes or hair, sending shivers down their spines.

Haunted Places in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan is a city with a rich history and vibrant culture, but it also has its fair share of ghostly legends and haunted locations. If you're a paranormal enthusiast looking for a spooky adventure, here are some places in Tokyo that are rumored to be haunted:

1. Aoyama Cemetery: Established in 1872, this cemetery became Japan’s first public cemetery in the 1920s. While many cemeteries have peaceful and serene vibes, Aoyama Cemetery is said to be a hotspot for ghost sightings. Visitors have reported encountering shadow figures wandering among the tombstones, and hearing voices and inexplicable sounds.

2. Tokyo Tower: This iconic landmark is a popular tourist attraction that is rumored to be haunted by a woman who tragically fell to her death from the observation deck. Some visitors claim to have seen her ghost wandering around the tower, looking lost and confused. Reports of paranormal activity also come from the elevator.

3. Akasaka Weekly Mansion: This apartment building is known for its high incidence of paranormal activity, including strange noises, flickering lights, and objects moving on their own. Some residents have even reported being touched or pushed by an unseen entity. There have been a few suicides on the property…..maybe that is why the property is haunted?

4. Okiku's Well: Located in Himeji Castle in Tokyo, this well is said to be haunted by the ghost of Okiku, a servant who was unjustly accused of a crime and thrown into the well to die. There is another story in which Okiku was killed when her employer became enraged over a broken dish. It is believed that her ghost still lingers near the well, seeking justice for her untimely death.

Haunted Places in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, known for its stunning architecture and vibrant culture, is also home to a number of haunted locations that will send shivers down your spine. Explore the eerie side of this enchanting city by visiting:

Poble Nou Cemetery: Be sure to check out the “Kiss of Death” sculpture when you visit this cemetery. This cemetery is said to be haunted by the spirits of those buried here. Visitors have reported hearing voices, seeing shadows darting about, and feeling cold spots as they wander among the tombstones.

Palau de la Musica Catalana: While known for its beautiful music and exquisite architecture, this concert hall is rumored to be haunted by a former musician who tragically died during a performance. Some have claimed to hear phantom melodies echoing through the halls.

Castle of Montjuic: This ancient fortress overlooking the city has a dark and bloody past, including being a site of executions. It has seen plenty of war in its lifetime, and has been taken and lost many times. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions wandering the grounds, a feeling of dread, hearing footsteps, and hearing disembodied voices.

Bar Marsella: One of the oldest bars in Barcelona, Bar Marsella is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a former patron. Bartenders have reported bottles moving inexplicably and hearing disembodied laughter late at night. Some visitors believe they have seen the ghost of Hemingway because he was known to be a frequent patron.

**********

Adding a paranormal twist to your next trip will create unforgettable memories. Pack your bags, muster your courage, and let's embark on a journey through the supernatural side of summer! If you aren’t quite ready to go it alone, please join us on our next haunted trip. Until next time……..make this beautiful day count!

Annette

[stevestonbike]

Half the year dun!

The club did a ride over a large bridge to Delta BC. The destination was a craft brewery. Once again the link between cycling and beer remains strong. The route chosen had some really poor aspects. I knew this way very well and have crossed that bridge many many times. The leader kept looking at his navigation computer. Insert rant here.

It was stupidly windy. Being in a group helped as you just try to draft as much as possible. The group was not tight by which I mean it was hard to stay in the drafting sweet spot. The person in front of me was always yo-yo-ing which is a bit risky and tiring as you have to keep catching up then slowing down. It is an experience thing.

Once over the bridge the group got separated and confused. One of my old droogs had gone ahead to join the next group up. He eventually waited on this corner where we had to duck under a bridge. He was going to take a picture. It was not tricky in itself, but shit happened. I had been through there a few times before. So I went through and down the path. It took me a while to realize that nobody was following me. I stopped and another rider not in the club passed by me and said someone had crashed. Oh Shit.

I turned around and had to backtrack about a klick and found two of my club waiting there. Where is everyone? "Oh there was a flat I think." Then looking at my old droog who was one of these two he had a huge welt on his lower jaw. "WTF happened?" "Oh I ran into a post. This other guy rode past and cut me off." (The same guy who told me there was a crash) Note to good people. If you see a crash, or even might have caused it please stop.

Weird that the rest of the club was back and helping the flat, but my friend had been injured. Note that whenever someone is hurt, even seriously they always say "I'm fine." His bike had been tweaked and his high tech electronic shifting was dead. Single speed. No going back over the bridge for him. I decided to escort him to the original destination as it was dead flat and easy for a wife to come and find him for rescue.

So I got in front of him and "pulled" him to the big red barn. (Call out to BARNSIDE BREWING https://barnsidebrewing.ca/)

He was doing fine on the bike, but it was good that the route was dead flat and we had a bit of tailwind. Eventually we caught and passed one of our club groups. They were slow as we were not up to going fast.

As we got close I suggested he could take the bike shuttle through the tunnel to get back to his car on dead flat roads. There is a shuttle that runs through a tunnel under the Fraser River. I told him he could look up the schedule on line. So that is what he decided to do. He would ride the shuttle, ride back to his car, drop the injured bike at the LBS (Local Bike Shop) then head home to his wife and dog.

Fun fact. When you get home with an injury wives are always angry. "What did you do now!?"

My ride ended with 89km and change. It was a long day within which I got 26 MET hours. I am up to 1700 MET minutes per week average. Pretty damn good for an old geezer.

[brewyork]

Bridge and Tunnel opens new Liberty taproom

The ribbon cutting at Bridge and Tunnel in Liberty earlier this month (photo via Instagram)

Ridgewood, Queens-based Bridge and Tunnel Brewing has opened a second taproom, worlds away from the bustle of Decatur Street. The new space is in Liberty, New York, about a two-hour drive from from closest parts of Queens.

The taproom was years in the making — much like Bridge and Tunnel founder Rich Castagna’s original space and brewery, it was built from the ground up, with lots of salvaged materials giving the space tons of character. You’ll see some familiar touches in Liberty if you’re familiar with the Ridgewood space, like colorful glass panels on the ceiling and chalkboard menus full of 20 tap lines of their own beers.

Bridge and Tunnel Liberty is located at 50 Lake Street in Liberty and is open Saturdays from 1-9pm and Sundays from 1-6pm. The space is kid and dog-friendly.

[feldermanr]

This brewery used to be an island which required a bridge or boat to get access. It was built before automobiles, and horse drawn wagons delivered the beer. The wagons went down into a ditch along the brewery floor allowing the kegs to be rolled onto the wagons. The Dubuque Star Brewery has been a winery for years and only recently started making the original Dubuque Star Beer, and it is delicious. The Shot Tower was built to make shot, or as we know them - bullets) for the Civil War. It later became a fire watch tower for the huge lumberyards, before falling into disrepair. The Daughters of the American Revolution restored, and the City rehabbed it a few decades ago. The road alongside the brewery used to align with the “High Bridge” over to the bluffs above East Dubuque on the Illinois side. The swinging railroad bridge allows river boats to pass on the river, and trains across the bridge and then through a tunnel to the rail yard. Stop down and visit the Native American Circle Council built of stone just past the tower, and the stone was has a wide set of stone steps down to the river. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEr4SQufKc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lichen-thr0pe]

Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Queens

[airmanisr]

Southern Railways – ‘A1X Class’ 0-6-0T - W8 ‘Freshwater’ (46 ‘Newington’, BR No.32646) Terrier running round at Haven Street Station 0n 08/06/2005. © Copyright John Lucas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. by Peter Heelas Via Flickr: The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works. The class has received several nicknames, initially being known as "Rooters" by their south London crews. However, the engines were more famously known as "Terriers" on account of the distinctive 'bark' of the exhaust beat. Originally known as "A" class, these diminutive tank locomotives were designed in 1870 to haul commuter trains on the heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. These included routes from London Bridge to both East and West Croydon, London Victoria to Sutton and the line from Victoria to London Bridge via. Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill, as well as operating on the East London Railway under the Thames through the Thames Tunnel designed by Marc Isambard Brunel. Six locomotives were built for these services during 1872, and were successful due to their high acceleration between the closely spaced station stops and ability to haul reasonably heavy trains. A further 44 were thus built between June 1874 and September 1880 to complement the original six. A1X (Terrier) Class 0-6-0T No.W8 ‘Freshwater’ (46 ‘Newington’, BR. No.32646) designed by William Stroudley, built in 1877 at Brighton Works. Rebuilt to A1X in 1932. Sold to LSWR March 1903. Sold for £900 to Freshwater, Yarmouth and Newport Railway in March 1914. To Southern Railway on 1 September 1923 and BR(S) on Nationalisation. Withdrawn 1963. Sold for £750 to Sadler Railcar Company, Droxford. Sold to Brickwoods Brewery, Portsmouth in May 1966. Displayed on a plinth outside the Hayling Billy pub, Hayling Island until June 1979. Donated by Whitbread (who had taken over Brickwoods) to the Isle of Wight Locomotive Society. Preserved on the Isle of Wight. © Copyright John Lucas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.- taken in preservation at Haven Street Station, IOW on 08/06/2005

[yeats-infection]

hi gen, i'm moving to brooklyn soon and am wondering if you could share some of your favorite things about new york city (or brooklyn specifically), if you have them. i am nervous but trying to get excited!

sure! this is funny because i actually just moved away from brooklyn! but i will share with you some things:

my favorite breweries are threes brewing (gowanus) and grimm (Nearer Bushwick) and bridge and tunnel (Distant Bushwick). if you like beer i would recommend walking to all the breweries that you can walk to from home and trying the stuff that sounds good. this spring i walked to everything i could and filled my backpack with beer and struggled home and then my roommates and i would have epic beer tastings.

any new yorker will tell you this but the NYC bodega situation is superior to any other city in the world. i've never been anywhere else on earth where there is a fully stocked mini supermarket on every corner with everything you could possibly desire available at all hours of the day or night, staffed by incredibly nice people.

NYC actually does have quite nice parks. a secret one that nobody seems to know about is the ridgewood reservoir.

there's a french bakery called l'imprimerie right under the myrtle-wyckoff stop that i miss desperately. probably the best french bread and patisserie in NYC.

take the subway to coney island in the off season and run into the water then have a frozen alcoholic beverage and a corn dog.

the brooklyn flea especially when they have it outside

walking across the williamsburg bridge - far superior to any other bridge... especially if you are up there at night or when it's foggy and rainy and hideous and the city looks like a haunted ruin from a science fiction novel. one of my most beautiful new york memories is going to a show my brother's band played at a house party in the east village then getting a huge plate of beignets from ray's candy store on tompkins square park and walking home across the williamsburg bridge at midnight with kate just drunkenly demolishing them... also recently up near here in middletown NY i met a guy who now owns a funky hot dog spot who claimed that thirty years ago he went to raves on the williamsburg bridge where they would drop acid and climb into these big nets strung between the spires... so you will be encountering a lot of history when you're up there...

some bars/restaurants: achilles heel in greenpoint, bunker vietnamese in bushwick, the johnson's / strange flavor burger shack in bushwick, dinosaur bbq in gowanus, father knows best in bushwick, sally roots in ridgewood, santa panza in bushwick, roberta's in "east williamsburg" is accurately rated especially the pizza they call the "bee's knees," the doner kebab from the turk's inn in bushwick, the three diamond door in bushwick/williamsburg, newtown in "east williamsburg," broken land and paulie gee's slice shop in greenpoint, and the gutter in williamsburg especially on halloween weekend

[handeaux]

17 Curious Facts About Cincinnati's Miami & Erie Canal

Of Course, Daniel Drake Thought Of It

Since he was behind almost every improvement ever contemplated in pioneer Cincinnati, it should surprise no one that Daniel Drake proposed a canal system in his 1815 book, “A Picture of Cincinnati.” Drake was, as usual, ten years ahead of his time, but his proposal closely matched the route ultimately selected when the canal was laid out in 1825.

Just The Facts

The Miami & Erie Canal extended 244 miles from Cincinnati to Toledo. Construction began in 1825 and was completed in 1845, at a total cost of $8,062,680.07. Along the route, the canal crossed 19 aqueducts and employed 106 locks. The last 10 of these locks carried barges from Court Street down to the Ohio River at Cincinnati along a channel now buried under Eggleston Avenue. The peak year for traffic was 1851, after which competition from railroads increased every year. The canal was abandoned in 1913 after a catastrophic flood in Dayton destroyed essential infrastructure.

Up & Down

Along its path, the canal climbed 395 feet upward from Lake Erie to reach its highest level. Known as the Loramie Summit, this plateau extended almost 20 miles between New Bremen to Lockington, north of Piqua, Ohio. From there, the canal descended 513 feet until it reached the Ohio River. The final 100-foot drop ran from Court Street to the Ohio River in Cincinnati.

From Barges To Superhighways

Long stretches of the Miami & Erie Canal are now traversed by automobiles, especially on I-75, U.S. Route 24, and Ohio Route 25. Automobiles were often the third vehicles to follow these routes. As the canal was abandoned, boats usually gave way at first to interurban rail lines in the 1920s and 1930s. Automobiles followed only after the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 funded the construction of interstate highways.

Cincinnati’s Rhine

Without the canal, there would be no Over-the-Rhine. The first references to Cincinnati’s “Little Deutschland” neighborhood as “Over-the-Rhine” appear around the time of the Civil War. Originally a put-down, the city’s German residents came to appreciate the idea that they felt more at home once they crossed over the Canal (the “Rhine”) into familiar territory.

The “Other” Canal

The Miami & Erie Canal was not the only canal serving Cincinnati. The Cincinnati & Whitewater Canal was completed in 1843 and connected Cincinnati to Indiana’s Whitewater Canal near Harrison, Ohio. This short canal was in operation for only 20 years and was converted to a railroad right-of-way after 1862. A tunnel constructed for the Cincinnati & Whitewater canal can still be seen in Cleves.

The Lakes Abide

Some of Ohio’s largest lakes were originally created to ensure a consistent flow of water for the canal. Grand Lake St. Marys was one of these feeders and was the world's largest reservoir when built. Indian Lake, originally a collection of small lakes and wetlands, was converted into a large supply basin for the canal. Along the length of the canal, smaller basins – including LeSourdsville Lake – allowed barges to turn around, dry dock, or exchange cargo.

Holy Water

A couple of local African American churches dunked converts in the Canal. One Northside church performed its rites at a location known then as Baptist Hill. The other congregation baptized a half-mile south of the Bruckmann Brewery, beneath the western slopes of Clifton.

Liquid Gold

Canal transportation was appropriate if you didn’t need cargo in a hurry and if your cargo was unlikely to spoil. Whiskey, in other words, was nearly the perfect canal cargo, and a lot of liquor went up and down the canal. A single barge could carry 500 barrels of whiskey at 50 gallons each. At pre-Prohibition prices averaging $1 a quart retail, that’s a $100,000 boatload.

A Taste Of Venice

The City of Cincinnati celebrated its Centennial in 1888. As part of the festivities, an immense exhibition was staged at Music Hall. For this extravaganza, the 1,248-foot-long “Machinery Hall” was erected along the rear of Music Hall, over the flowing canal. The interior of the hall was decorated in a Venetian theme, accentuated by a fleet of gondolas poled along by singing gondoliers. The Italian boats returned every year into the early 1900s.

A Lock On A Name

Lockland, our suburban neighbor straddling the “Split” on I-75, has nothing to do with security devices requiring a key. A half-dozen Ohio towns contain “Lock” in their names, all reflecting their erstwhile position along the various canals connecting Lake Erie to the Ohio River. At Lockland, I-75 barrels right through the former canal locks.

Ice Is Nice

As an exposed and relatively shallow stream, the canal regularly froze each winter. In the sections near towns and cities, the annual freeze brought out skaters and even horse-drawn sleighs. The frozen canal also generated substantial supplies of commercial ice to icemen issued permits by the State of Ohio. One of the biggest storage facilities was located at LeSourdsville, north of Hamilton, capable of holding a two-year supply of that pre-refrigeration necessity.

Swimming Hole

Every boy in Cincinnati knew the “secret” sign: Two fingers held up in what later became the sign for “peace” meant it was time to go swimming. Every boy in Cincinnati also knew the warning shout, “Cheese it! The Cops!” – a signal to grab your clothes and scatter.

Beware The Naked Man

The canal had barely been excavated when Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance in 1828 outlawing bathing in the waterway. The ordinance began: “Whereas much lewdness and obscenity daily occur from the public and lascivious manner in which men and boys expose themselves in bathing in the Miami canal in the city of Cincinnati . . . ” By the late 1800s, naked men were still in plain view along the local waterways. But nakedness was not the only crime. Even worse, these flagrantly unclothed males were naked on Sunday. Skinny-dippers created an offensive impediment to good folks crossing the Mill Creek bridge on their way to church:

Dangerous Waters

Charles Ludwig’s little book, “Playmates of the Towpath,” published in 1929 by the Cincinnati Times-Star, is filled with anecdotes about parents paddling their sons (and, rarely, daughters) for swimming in the canal. The book is equally packed with stories about swimmers being rescued or drowning. Although seemingly placid and tame, the canal claimed many lives over the years. Drownings were common, but infectious diseases from dysentery to cerebral meningitis spawned in the polluted waters as well.

And Gross, Too

Even those former boys who in their dotage fondly remembered swimming in the Miami & Erie Canal recalled the stench from industrial wastes including grease, acids, and chemical salts; rotting animal carcasses; the occasional corpse; and the contents of the innumerable chamber pots emptied into the stream from tenements along the banks. When a swimmer yelled “floater,” there was no telling what was on the way, but everyone scrambled out of the water.

The Last Boat

Cargo barges had disappeared from the canal by the early 1900s and long-distance passenger service vanished after the 1913 flood demolished some of the upstream locks. It is believed the final excursion boat on the Cincinnati section of the canal hosted a party of “Free Setters,” a society of men dedicated to beer drinking. Fittingly, the 27 July 1917 voyage started at the Gerke Brewery at the Plum Street bend and ended at Bruckmann’s near the Ludlow Viaduct.

[scotianostra]

On October 14th 1859 the new water supply to Glasgow from Loch Katrine was opened.

It always amazes me that the water that does so much for Glasgow is from over 26 miles away, what a great feat of engineering, at a time where most of it would have been by manual labour to put this pipeline in place.

Loch Katrine water works project built and designed by John F Bateman, consists of a Dam at the east end of the loch which was used to raise the natural summer level of Loch Katrine for the first time by some 5 feet with water fed through an aqueduct network by gravity to Glasgow via a holding reservoir at Mugdock, from two 26 mile long aqueducts and 13 miles of tunnel. The aqueduct network cost £468,000 and is in two parts — the first 26 miles long, between Loch Katrine and Mugdock Reservoir north of the city. Some 9 miles of arched aqueduct was built in open cut and 13 miles involved tunnelling through hard rock, while the final 4 miles consists bridges over river valleys. The second part is a 8 miles aqueduct of twin cast iron pipes from Mugdock Reservoir to Glasgow. The 8 feet diameter subterranean tunnels are unlined and have been constructed to a flat gradient of around 10 inches per mile. All the rock boring had to be done by hand as this was before pneumatic tools were available.

By 1883, demand in Glasgow was outstripping supply. Under Parliamentary Acts of 1883 and 1885, authority was obtained to raise the level of Loch Katrine a further 5 feet and a new masonry dam was built just below the original. Another aqueduct was constructed too, increasing the scheme’s capacity to about 70 million gallons of water per day.

The third raising of Loch Katrine took place in 1919-29 when yet another 5 feet was added to the Achray Dam at its eastern end. This allowed the city to use a 18 feet depth of water, which provided nine months storage supply. The dam now has 13 sluices, of which six have gates.

What with all this work that has gone into supplying Glasgow with water, Loch Katrine remains one of the most beautiful bodies of water in Scotland, visitor number estimates range from 180,000 to 250,000 per year.

Pictures can be great but please check out the 6 minute video below to get a better feel for the scale of the work.

Tennents ran a wee campaign on Twitter a couple of years ago that gave Loch Katrine a mention

"Everyday the freshest Scottish water from Loch Katrine winds its way to our brewery and then to your pint... All handily topped up by Scotland’s most plentiful asset - the rain! 🌧 When you think about it, more rain means more Tennent's."

It also means more Whisky! 🥃  🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[nostalgicoldsoul]

Fell in love with the boy at the rock show 🤘🏻 #OneWeek❤️ (at Bridge and Tunnel Brewery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUQIKa8gRm6/?utm_medium=tumblr

[capture-a-trip]

Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is an Indian state located on the northern side of the country. The lofty Himalayas, contented people, and home too many famous hill stations like Kullu, Manali, Shimla, etc. Shown in many movies of Bollywood, this state is a perfect getaway place for everyone whether for youth travellers or family vacation. The Himachal Tour Packages serves the best to everyone and offers its beauty. The life of the people here is vibrant yet full of culture and tradition. The people here possess a very calm mind.

The best time to visit Himachal Pradesh is between April to June and if you want to experience the chilly winters, you are welcome to experience the snowfall starting from Mid-December. The perfect cosy stays in a room with a view of Himalayas are another great experience one should have once in life.  This state borders with Punjab on the southwest, Haryana on the south, Uttarakhand on the southeast, Jammu and Kashmir on the north and with Tibet on the east. Naina Devi is the smallest town and Shimla is the largest town of the state.

Pahadi is the most commonly spoken by the people and Hindi is the state's official language so it won't create a problem for the tourists to get along with the natives of that place. 

Himachal Pradesh is surely a paradise for nature and adventure lovers. If you have not visited this state yet, then you are missing out on something very special. After this blog, we are sure that this state will be going to add the best places to visit in himachal Pradesh in your travel bucket list. 

1. Kullu

Kullu has an abundance of lush greenery, pristine river streams, panoramic views, snow-capped peaks and yes! a lot to do to fulfil your adventure thirst. It is also known as “Valley of Gods.”

Places to visit:

·        Raghunath Temple

·        The Great Himalayan National Park

·        Hanogi Mata Temple

·        Friendship Peak

2. Manali

Manali has gained immense attention in the past 15 years, it is a honeymoon paradise for newlywed and for adventure junkies it is not less than a paradise. 

Places to visit:

·        Solang Valley

·        Rohtang Pass

·        Hadimba Temple

·        Vashisht Baths

·        Chandrakhani Pass

·        Gayatari Temple

       3. Kangra

Kangra is irreplaceable in terms of its beauty. It has its origin back to Vedic times. It encompasses Mcleodganj and Dharamshala within its boundaries. It is a small bustling place of Himachal. 

Places to visit:

·        Brajeshwari Temple

·        Kangra Fort

·        Kareri Lake

·        Baijnath Temple

·        Kangra Art Museum

·        Jwala Devi Temple

·        Chamunda Devi Temple

·        Pragpur Village

      4. Dharamshala

Dharamshala is very famous as it is the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama. The lush pine and deodar forests enhance its beauty and Dhauladhar peak surrounds this place. Dharamshala cricket stadium is the most visited place of this city.

Places to visit:

·        Dharamsala Cricket Ground

·        St John in the Wilderness Church

·        War Memorial

·        Gyuoto Monastery

·        Tea Gardens

·        Triund Dayhike near McLeod Ganj (where the Dalai Lama resides)

·        Tsuglagkhang

·        Bhagsu Falls

·        Tibetan Museum

·        Kangra Art Museum

      5. Kasauli

Kasauli is on the lower edges of Himalayas, it is very cold and has dense forests, it is a paradise for trekkers and campers. It is very popular for well-known health resorts.

Places to visit:

·        Monkey Point

·        Mall Road

·        Sunset Point

·        Timber Trail

·        Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanakji

6. Shimla

The legacy of trip to shimla manali can be felt in its culture, architecture, ambience and churches. It is counted on top places of India for spending summer vacation with family.

Places to visit:

·        Mall Road

·        The Ridge

·        Institute of Advanced Studies

·        Jakhoo Temple

·        Christ Church (the second oldest church in North India)

·        Toy Train to Kalka

 7. Bir Billing

Bir & Billing is the twin towns of Himachal Pradesh. Bir Billing is known for its paragliding spot and is considered one of the best spots in the world for paragliding. Tibetan culture has influenced on this place. It offers many different adventure activities like trekking, mountain biking, angling and camping etc.

Places to visit:

·        Paragliding in Bir Billing

·        Tibetan Colony

·        Chokling Monastery

·        Dharmalaya Institute

·        Tashi Jong Monastery

     8. Dalhousie

Dalhousie is a year-round destination, a tiny tinsel town of Himachal. The town gets its name from its founder Lord Dalhousie and bears the distinct stamp of the British empire. 

Places to visit:

·        Panch Pulla

·        Chamara Lake

·        Satdhara Falls

·        Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

·        St John Church

·        Subhash Baoli Daikund Peak

·        Gandhi Chowk Shopping Plaza

·        Bakrota Hills

     9. Kasol

Kasol is situated alongside Parvati River and in Parvati Valley. It is referred to as the “Little Israel of India.” Kasol has gained a lot of attention because of its breathtakingly beautiful scenery. The place is famous for its trance parties and hippy culture. 

Places to visit:

·        Parvati River

·        Tosh Valley

·        Malana 

 10. Spiti Valley & Lahaul

Spiti valley is the cold desert located in Himachal Pradesh, a must-visit place of India, surrounded by the snowcapped mountains, breathtaking scenery, panoramic valleys and now many of its jaw-dropping treks are becoming so popular among the tourists, not only Indian but also foreigners. The Spiti Valley road trip is full of nature, hills, waterfalls, and the snowcapped mountain is just unmissable part of Lahaul.

Places to visit:

·        Pin Valley

·        Chandratal Lake

·        Suraj Tal Lake

·        Pin Valley National Park 

·        Gue Mummy

·        Key Monastery 

     11. Mcleodganj

Mcleodganj is the residence place of the14th Dalai Lama and home to a large population of Tibetans. It is very famous among international visitors as this place provide Buddhism courses, meditation, yoga, trekking in the Dhauladhar range etc. 

Places to visit:

·        Masroor Temple

·        Bhagsu Falls

·        Guna Devi Temple

·        Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake

·        Sunset Point

·        Indrahar Pass

·        Manikaran

Manikaran is important not only for Sikhs but also for Hindus. Manikaran Gurudwara is very famous in India as it has a natural hot spring. In total Manikaran has 3 hot springs, one is inside of Gurudwara and the other two are a part of private guesthouses.

Places to visit:

·        Sri Guru Nanak Devji Gurudwara

·        The Hot Springs

·        Lord Ramachandra Temple

·        Harinder Mountain

·        Kulant Pith

 Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass was in the news as it gets Atal Tunnel which connects Manali to Leh and it is the world’s longest highway tunnel. Atal Tunnel is a new attraction added recently for the tourists. Chenab and Beas river flows from this region. This pass is a perfectly picturesque place and photographers admire this place a lot.

  Solan Valley

Solan is named after Shoolini Devi, the Hindu goddess. It is famous for its vast mushroom farming and known as the “Mushroom city of India"

·        Places to visit:

·        Shoolini Temple

·        Kuthar Fort

·        Solan Brewery

·        Menri Monastery

·        Children’s Park

·        Majathal Sanctuary

  Khajjiar

Khajjiar is a place to relax, rejuvenate and unwind you in the scenic beauty. Often resembles Switzerland, it is known as “Mini Switzerland of India.”

Places to visit:

·        Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

·        Khajjiar Lake

·        Khajjiar Trek

·        Golden Devi Temple

·        Lord Shiva Statue

·        Tibetan Handicrafts Centre

 Chail

Chail is just 2 hours’ drive away from Shimla, an offbeat destination of Himachal. The School Playground is one of the highest playgrounds in the world and it is managed by the army officials.

Places to visit:

·        Sadhupal Lake

·        Maharaja Palace

·        Chail wildlife sanctuary

·        Palace Hotel

·        Cricket Ground

·        Kali Temple

Kaza

Kaza is a major town of Spiti adjoining Tibetan Border. Kaza is divided into Old Kaza and New Kaza. Old Kaza is a vibrant place to roam around and indulge yourself in shopping as most of the shops are here. New Kaza is linked with an old bridge and here you will feel that you have arrived in a different world.

Places to visit:

·        Ki Monastery

·        Dhankar Monasteries

·        Kibber Village

·        Komic Village

·        Kumzm Pass

·        Chandratal Lake

·        Dhankar Lake

·        Pin Valley National Park

 Kufri

It is a small hill station of Himachal not very far from capital city Shimla. Kufri zoo has rare antelopes, felines and birds. During winter a meandering path through the potato plantations turns into a popular ski track.

Places to visit:

·        Indira Tourist Park

·        Chini Bungalow

·        Kufri Fun World

Chamba

Mesmerizing views, open blue skies and lush green valley, the Chamba is a very well-known city of Himachal and Chamba Valley trek is a must to visit.

Places to visit:

·        Manimahesh Lake

·        Laxmi Narayan Temple

·        Khajjiar Lake

·        Chamera Dam

·        Bhalei Mata Temple

Palampur

In Palampur you can witness the colonial architecture and its tea plantation; paddy fields give you the vibe that you are roaming in any of the sets of Bollywood movies.

Places to visit:

·        Palampur Tea Gardens

·        Saurabh Van Vihar

·        Tashi Jong Buddhist Monastery

·        Sobha Singh Art Gallery

·        Wah Tea Estate

Capture A Trip is offering incredible Shimla Manali Tour Packages on visiting popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh with best deals on holiday tour packages.  

Book a trip with us! 

[thelaurynpetrie]

“Last Call Laughs” at Bridge & Tunnel Brewery last night. Thanks so much to Massimo Di Giovanni for the photos.