When people think of Greece, they are really thinking about the island of Santorini, with its iconic white buildings, lovely black sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. The island offers first class accommodations and gourmet restaurants and the chance to hike up a volcano on the Fira trail and capture the spectacular sunset.
The island is rapidly becoming a destination for weddings and families, and travelers from all over the world.
Fantasy: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in known all over the world for its unintentional “lean”. This bell tower was built with improper foundations on overly soft ground which caused it to tilt roughly 3.99 degrees to the right.
On the green grass, with the city of Pisa in the distance, you may be tempted to capture the moment with a cliché but amusing snapshot of yourself “holding” the tower up with your hand.
Reality: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Sadly, you are not the first person who wanted to help “hold up” the tower. You will be sharing that privilege with a lawn full of tourists who came to Pisa just to see the Leaning Tower. Also, despite a lot of hard work and money, the tower’s lean is continuing to deepen, which may cause its eventual collapse.
When you take into account the almost 300 uneven stairs to reach the top, the visit may be more than you bargained for.
Reality: Santorini Island, Greece
Your stay on the island may be a dream, but the high price for accommodations and other services is a bit of a nightmare. Driving on the island may allow you the freedom to have adventures but try not to be too free.
The island roads are notoriously narrow, and driving on them, especially at night during tourist season, can be dangerous.
Fantasy: Great Wall of China, China
The Great Wall of C hina has been named one of the traditional “seven wonders of the world” and is roughly 13,000 miles long, although different surveys have come back with different lengths. The wall stretches in an east-to-west direction across the original borders of China and is known for its great length and fortifications.
Although the myth that it can be seen from space has been disproved, it is still an architectural marvel and an amazing place for any adventurous tourist to visit.