# what part of the manmade earth puts you in awe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343 "2003-03-22T11:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343/21 "2003-03-23T17:44:02Z")
There are some cityscapes that i find really amazing. Sydney, San Francisco, Hong Kong and New York come to mind, each for slightly different reasons. I think bridges are amazing, especially the ones that still serve huge cities today despite being built many decades ago. Again, for me Sydney, SF, and NY are the most obvious. I especially admire the Brooklyn Bridge. I mean, this thing is over a century old now and it still looks like an integral part of a 21st century city. Walking across it and looking back at the Manhattan skyline is quite an experience, although i haven’t done this since the WTC came down; no doubt the view is somewhat less impressive nowdays. Another place that i really like is a Roman fort by the name of [Mediobogdum](http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/hardfort.htm), in the English Lake District. The fort was built in the second century C.E., and stands on a promontory overlooking a long green valley. It was one of the most farflung forts in the whole Roman Empire, and on a wet, cold English day it’s easy to imagine how depressing and lonely a posting it would have been for a Roman centurion used to a Mediterranean climate. Added to the beautiful location is the fact the getting to the fort requires driving over about the steepest and most winding pass in all of Britain - Hardknott Pass. When the road is at all damp, it can be hard to climb the hill, and i’ve seen cases where the rear passengers in front-wheel drive cars had to get out so that the driving wheels could get a better grip on the road. I am also really impressed by Stonehenge. I’m sure that places like Angkor Wat and Macchu Pichu would be on my list, but wanted to restrict myself to places that i have actually visited. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343/22 "2003-03-23T17:49:31Z")
The Taj Mahal - it’s like a fractal - the closer you get to this thing, the more intricate and perfect it becomes. Simply jaw-dropping, staggering beauty. The Hong Kong skyline, seen from Kowloon. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur. The Chrysler building, New York. The Gaudi cathedral, Barcelona. This is a controversial one: I was pretty blown away by London’s Millennium Dome. It was way bigger and more elegant than I expected. Finally, [Burj Al Arab](http://www.schepart.ch/mho/Weltreise/Burjalarab.jpg) in Dubai. A 1000-foot skyscraper in the shape of the sail of a dhow. And it’s a **7-star** hotel. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343/23 "2003-03-23T20:49:17Z")
It blows me away on a daily basis that I’m 25 miles from the city of Chicago, but I can see the Sears Tower out the window at my office. Everytime, it just makes me think of how huge and tall that thing is. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343/24 "2003-03-23T21:32:05Z")
I’ve got 3 things I’ve seen and 3 more I’ve not: Have seen: 1. Reno- not on the same scale as Vegas (which I’ve never been to) and probably wouldn’t be as impressive if it weren’t for the “enterance” it made. A buddy of mine in the Navy was in Northern California for cold weather training and then had a few days leave in Reno. He calls me up, says “come to Reno” so another friend and I do. Drive through the Sieras at midnight in February (incredibly beautiful, I must say), there’s a slight rise in the road, as we crest it, there lies the city, lit up at 1:00 AM on Monday…impressive. 2. Sears tower- the sheer size of it is incredible. “Everytime, it just makes me think of how huge and tall that thing is. Amazing.” to quote **interface2x** 3. Ferrari 360 Modena- not quite the same scale as everything else, but, wow. Haven’t seen: 1. Taj Mahal 2. Pyramids 3. Twin Towers- I’ve always been impressed by them. Two symmetrical, featureless buildings rising above everything else. Wish I still had the option to see them. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343/25 "2003-03-24T11:41:53Z")
The most impressive ones i have seen: Great wall of China Forbiden city (Beijing) Sydney Opera House Ones I very much would like to see: Pyramids in Egypt Taj Mahal Kremlin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-manmade-earth-puts-you-in-awe/163343.md?page=1)