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/