Santiago, Chile

Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile. Santiago is one of Latin America's most modern metropolitan areas. Some call Santiago an Alpha World City. Santiago is a major shopping area. Santiago Metro is an underground train system that speeds around to get people to where they need to go. Santiago is headquarters to many important companies and is a regional financial centre.

When I came here I went on the Santiago Metro which was really fun. After I got off I went shopping in one the dozens of malls. When I left there, I went hiking and climbed up one of the mountains that over looked Santiago. I have a lot of fun. The shopping was the best part.

http://www.chile-travel.com/santiago.htm

Callanan MIddle School Des Moines, Iowa

Callanan Middle School was the last stop in My Trip Around the World. Callanan was built in 1927. In the 1930's the famous WPA Murals, under the direction of Grant Wood, were painted for the walls of Callanan. The south mural "Nation at Work" was painted by George Grooms in 1936. The north mural "Nation at Play" was by Glen Chamberlain in 1937.

Callanan Middle School teaches many skills you will need to know. I like to go here because I have to and I enjoy it usually. Callanan is a good school. I go to Callanan Middle School almost every day.

http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/schools/2callanan/Daily%20Announcements.htm

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is the capitol of Mexico. It is a very large and old city. The Zocalo is Latin Americas main square and over 13 acres large. The National Museum of Anthropology is one of the world's great museums. It is 100,000 square feet. Mexico City has 150 museums!

When I went to Mexico City I went to the National Museum of Anthropology first because I heard it had many cool things displayed. After I went to the museum, I went to Latin Americas main square, Zocalo. I also watched people dance some Latin dances. I had fun in Mexico City.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City

Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo has a problem with polluted air and the noise pollution. Montevideo is Uruguay's capitol city and is the largest city. In the middle of downtown is the Mausoleo de Artigas. A 30- ton statue of the Country Hero Guiseppe Ganbld. The National Historic Museum consists of several Ciudad Vieja houses. This is where the first president lived.

When I came here I looked over one of the many sky- scrapers (not the my picture on the blog), and took some pictures. I went to the National Historic Museum and learned a lot about the Ciudad Vieja houses. I heard a lot of cars honking but over all it was fun.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294323-Montevideo-Vacations.html

Punta Arenas, Chile

There is a main square in Punta Arenas called Munoz Gamero. You do not have to pay taxes when shopping. A famous monument in Punta Arenas is the Shepherds Monument, in the monument there is a horse, a dog, and a sheep. There are many kinds of penguins and other kinds of birds in Punta Arenas. The city is one of the most important urban centers in the Magellan's Region.

While I was in Punta Arenas I went to the Navel and Maritime Museum and looked and many of the displays. Which was made up of objects from ships that came to Chile. I took lots of pictures of the penguins that were around. I went shopping and didn't pay any taxes. I would like to go back soon.

http://www.interpatagonia.com/puntaarenas/index_i.html

Vinson Massif, Antarctica

Mt. Vinson is the highest point and is one of the seven summits in Antarctica. Supplies can be brought to the base camp by sled. The temperature can drop to 20 to 30 degrees below zero. Antarctica is the only continent that is almost completely submerged beneath ice.

While I was here I was very cold. I felt like my toes were going to fall off. We didn't stay here long, but while I was here I saw some penguins and other arctic animals. The Vinson Massif is a very deserted place. I had to get to place to place by a sled.

www.mountainmadness.com

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego is located in the southern tip of South America. In the Tierra del Fuego there is a forest called the Patagonian Forest with Lenga and Guindo trees in it. Also in the forest are many ferns and moss. There is a lake called Black Lagoon because it's very dark colored due to the presence of peat.

I went camping in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. I camped near a lake called Lake Roca. I went to the sea shore and there were gorges and beaches that were full of white consequences. There are Black Eyebrowed Albatrosses. I enjoyed the Tierra del Fuego.

http://www.patagonia_argentina.com/

Capetown, South Africa

Capetown has a national park within it's city limits. In the park is the country's most famous botanical garden called Kirstenbosch. People can go on the Rotair Cable Car for a panoramic view of Table Bay. There is an aquarium called Two Oceans Aquarium and it has over 300 species of marine life. The Helderberg mountain range offers hiking and walking trails with lots of bird watching.

I went to see the Giraffe House which is in the city where you can see giraffe, hippos, rhinos, and buffaloes. It was very cool. I went to go sit on one of the beaches and watch the waves roll in. I had a good time.

I went to the Giraffe House and saw many extremely tall giraffes and I took a lot of pictures. It was fun to see them in their native land. When I went to the Two Oceans Aquarium it was very interesting because of all the different fish and species of marine life. I enjoyed it.

http://www.cape-town.info/

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia was the next stop. Sydney is the capitol of the state of New South Wales. Sydney is a city of diverse culture. The largest IMAX cinema screen in the world is located here. Also located in Sydney is the Sydney Aquarium. It has sharks, tropical fish, living coral, and glass tunnels to walk in.

The first thing I did was go to the Sydney Aquaruim. I saw mant different kinds of sharks and fish. After that I went to the Sydney Opera House and watched an amazing opera. I enjoyed Sydney very much.

www.business.nsw.gov.au

Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia was the next stop. Jakarta is the fastest growing city in the world. The population is well over 10 million and continues to grow at the rate of 200,000 each year. Through out Jakarta Bay there are 120 tropical islands and coral reefs.

I went to Sea World which is a giant aquarium that has over 4,000 fish and over 300 species of sharks. It was very cool. I went to a recreational resort tht faces the Jakarta Bay. It is called the Fantasyland ausement park. You could easily stay all day and not see everything.

www.travel.yahoo.com

Mt. Everest

Mt. Everest was my next stop. Mt. Everest formed about 60 million years ago! Sunrise on the some of the peaks are seen from an advantage point called Namche Bazaar. The Dudh Kosi (Milk River), courses around the mountain. Many people have tried to reach the peak of Mt. Everest but have failed and have died. Only a few people have made it to the top.

I stood at the base of the mountain and could not see the top as it was cloudy. I met someone who had spun the Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Wheels en route to Phak Ding. The woman said it was very special and showed me pictures she had taken with her cell phone. There were also remembrance chortens erected over the years as memorials to climbers who have died.

www.mteverest.net

Moscow, Russia

Moscow is one of Russia's legendary cities and is the largest metropolis. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. The city park are full of flowering trees with colorful leaves. St Basil's Cathedral is the masterpiece and wonder of the 16th Century. From Gorky Parkland Sparrow Hills you can enjoy a 30k panoramic view of Moscow.

I went shopping and realized the prices were very expensive so all I bought was a postcard of the cathedral. I went by one of the orthodox churches and it was very big and pretty, I stood in line to pray. It was very cold and the women were wearing scarves and men fur hats.

http://www.moscowcity.com/

Big Ben, London England

This was the next place I stopped on my trip. The Clock Tower was built between 1843 and 1858. It is 316 feet high. You can go into the Clock Tower and you can also go to the London Eye for the best view of Big Ben. Big Ben is the largest clock found in Great Britian and one of the largest in the world. The Westminster Abbe is .2 miles from the clock tower and I walked there after I left Big Ben.

I rode the ferris wheel close to the square where Big Ben is and I could see the Big Ben Clock from the top of the ride. I went over and sat down across the street and heard the clock chimes and it was loud and majestic in sound. I took so many pictures, and loved being in England.

www.aviewoncities.com/london/bigben

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Rome, Italy

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was my next stop. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built between 1173 and 1358. The tower is 185 feet high (8 stories high). It weighs 14,700 metric tons. The tower was an expiriment from Gallaleo. The tower is a bell tower in the italian city of Pisa.

When I came here I went to the cathedral and took many pictures of the leaning Tower of Pisa. I noticed the tower was leaning to the East. I ate lots of traditional Italian food and liked the noodle dishes.

www.wikepedi.org/wik/learning_tower_of_pisa

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, Egypt is the next place I went to. Cairo is near The Great Pyramids of Giza. There are ancient tombs, temples, and Christian churches all around Cairo. Cairo is known as the Triumphant City and is officially known as Quahirah.

When I went to Cairo I went to the Cairo Opera House. The opera house was built in 1988. I also looked at the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. I took many pictures. I also bought some exotic spices from the merchants on the streets.

www.touregypt.net/cairo/

Monrovia, Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia is the next stop in my trip around the world. Monrovia is the largest city on Liberia. Monrovia is major port area. There are many beaches in Monrovia, a nice place to sit down on one of the beaches and relax.

Monrovia is the financial hub or the country.
When I was here I spent most of my time sitting on the beaches. It was cloudy most of the days while I was here. I took many pictures on the beaches.
www.liberia.thinkquest.org

Manaus, Brazil

Manaus, Brazil is the next stop on My Around the World Trip. When you wake up in the morning you sometimes would like be at one of the public markets to buy many fruits from the Amazon. There are sometimes water craft parades with many boats. It is called the Processao de Sao Pedro.

I liked the Processao de Sao Pedro when the boats all went shooting by. After I got done watching the boats, I went to a museum called the Natural Science Museum. It was a Japanese- Brazilian museum with many kinds of different stuffed fish and insects.

www.gosouthamenca.about.com

Lima, Peru

Lima, Peru was the next place to go to on my trip. There are many festivals here all year around. One of the festivals is the Lord of the Miracles, which is in honor of a patron saint of Lima. The people in Lima have many parades. One with a float dedicated to Jesus. There are people who dance and sing during the parades and the festivals.

I loved to go and watch one of the parades and one of the festivals. I learned many traits about the culture in Lima, Peru. I also liked to go to a museum called The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, because I would like to go see all the pottery and textiles from all around ancient Peru.

http://www.peru-travel-adventures.com/

Havana, Cuba

Havana, Cuba is the next place I'm going to on my trip. I want to see the Havana Jazz Festival. The Havana Jazz Festival is an internationally renowned event that attracts many people. Performances take place all around the city. I would love to see all the costumes and the different Jazz styles. The Havana Jazz Festival was created in 1978.

Havana, Cuba is the largest city in Cuba. There are about 2.4 million people. Havana is the most populated city in the Caribbean. Within Havana are many popular coffee areas. Havana is one of the world's top coffee shop spots.

http://en.wikepedia.org/wik/havana

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is the next stop of My Trip Around the World. The statue is made of copper. It was originally bronze but turned green because it was exposed to oxygen. The statue is 151 ft (46 m) tall. The statue had been made and put together in 1886. The Statue of Liberty is located on an island off the coast of Long Island.
I would like to go and climb to the very top of the statue and look out from the crown. I would be very scared because I'm afraid of heights. I would see a lot of New York City. I would take many pictures from the view at the top. I would take one picture that looked like I was as big as the statue itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty

Niagra Falls

Niagara Falls is the fourth place on my around the world trip. The Niagara Falls is on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. People can go on a boat and get a view of the falls from the bottom. Some people have tried to fall over the falls in some kind of vehicle, like a barrel, box, or even in no vehicle at all! There was one man who tried to fall off the falls in no vehicle and lived, but soon after he slipped on an orange peel and died.

I have been to Niagara Falls once before and it was very cool. The falls are very pretty. I would like to go on one of the boat rides around the bottom. I would like to sit in front and feel the spray of the water as it falls. I would take many pictures. I would like to come 2 times, at night and during the day.

http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/

Washinton D.C.

The next place I'm going on my around the world trip is Washington D.C. I'm planning to go on a tour around the main floor of the White House, and maybe even see the president himself! I would like to see where President Abraham Lincoln stayed in the White House. I think it would be very cool if I met the president's dog, Bo!

The president at the current moment is Barack Obama. He lives at the White House with his family, including their dog Bo. Bo is a Portuguese water dog. The White House has been home to many presidents. The nation's capitol is located in the middle of the District of Columbia. Many important people come here to discus many important things like the economy, health care, illegal immigrants, and many more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.

1918 40th Place Des Moines, Iowa

1918 40th Place is where I live. It is painted white and gray. In the front lawn we have a young tree and in the back two rather large trees. I have lived here for almost 8 years. My house is the 4th house from the corner. We live next to a Dahl's store and an ice cream place called Snookies.

I love my house and I want to live here for a long time. I live here with my dog, Sikou and my 2 cats, Diamond and Jessie James. There are 2 people on the street that go to my school, Callanan Middle School. They are Karly P. and Kalleigh K. I love my house very much.

The Iowa State Capital Building

I'm going on a world trip through 24 different

areas. I'm starting at Des Moines, Iowa at the capitol building. I have lived in Iowa since my life began. I live in Beaverdale, which is a part of Des Moines. I live next to one of the first Dahl's.

I would go here to take a tour through the main floor of the capitol, go through one of the underground paths to get to another building, and maybe talk to some people who work there.

The capitol has a bit of history behind it. In 1902, renovations installed electrical lighting, elevators, and a telephone system. However, a workman started a fire that destroyed a lot of the capitol, so they had to redo it. The capitol is the only capitol with 5 domes in the country. The Iowa State Capitol grounds are covered in monuments about the Civil War, and other historic monuments. During the Civil War, soldiers from Iowa died the most.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Capitol

My Trip Around the World

I'm going to go on a trip to places all over the world! I'm going to all 7 continents. I have to pack many things like money, a passport, a camera, a suitcase with lots of clothes in it, cell phone, laptop, and a journal so I can write what I did each day. Packing will take awhile but I'm going to hurry so I can start my trip early. I'm going to take a lot of pictures until my camera is full. I'm going to meet lots of different of people and I'm going to hear many different languages. I'm going to enjoy my trip a lot.

Annie's Trip to Maine

I'm Annie and I went to Maine this summer. I go to Maine every year because my mom grew up there. We drove one year from Des Monies, Iowa with my mom and dog Sikou (C-Koo). We drove through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine for five days. One night I got food poisoning and it wasn't fun. I felt like I was puking out my guts. On the way we saw swimming snakes, open roads, and a lot of wind turbines. When we finally were there we met up with my grandparents in a small cabin on the side of a lake that they had built when my mom was about 4 or 5. we stayed out there for a week. We went kayaking with my mom and Sikou, we swam in the lake, Green Lake, and when Sikou got wet, he looked like a wet mop because he was all white and is really fluffy. We stopped by one of my moms good friends, and we brought Sikou, which wasn't a good idea, and put him in a fence at my moms friends house. They had a small dog and Sikou isn't good with other dogs. So we left to go out to eat leaving Sikou in the fence. When we got back he was gone. He had dug under the fence. We called a whole bunch of people in the area and somebody found him. They poor guy had "done his business" all over himself. So we had to hose him down. After all this we had to go back. We were sad but we had to go home sometime. So we said goodbye to my grandparents and we headed back. It was good to be back home. Our cats were happy to see us and we were happy to see them. That was my vacation to Maine.