|
Getting the top view
Whenever
I arrive in a new City, I first like to get an overview. I
want to know where I just arrived, what the surroundings look
like. The best way to do so is by getting up high and aim
for the top view.
Obviously, I am not alone with my idea
of getting an overview. Almost every city has its own 'observation
destination'. It may not always be as classy as Paris' Eiffel
Tower, but most places feature their own version of a place
with a view.
Sometimes, there's not even the need
for a building. Hills or mountains will do the job as well.
Take Hong Kong for instance. Despite a growing number of high-rises
with good views, the city's most popular observation point
remains The
Peak, on top of a hill on Hong Kong island, with views
over the whole downtown area and even further. The most convenient
way to get up there is on the Peak Tram, a cable railway.
However, I strongly suggest everyone to walk up there at least
once. Doing so just puts things into perspective.
So, where to head if there's no hill
at your disposal? Well, this takes us right back to the Paris
example. And what the Eiffel
Tower is for the French capital, the Empire
State Building is for New York, a tall building with an
great platform on the top. Other cities, such as Toronto feature
a viewing-deck-equipped telecommunication
tower. Here, you can get a 360°-view while standing
on a glass floor.
If there's no purpose-built viewing
facility, a high-rise office building or even better, a hotel
will do as well - if there is a public area - such as a bar
- on a top level. And usually, there's at least one of those
bars in any city.
But there are also more exotic structures
to get a view. The London
Eye is certainly belong into this category. A huge wheel,
135m high and in the middle of England's main capital. You
sure get an overview from up there.
Another member of the speciality section
is Sydney, famous for its Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
And since 1998, the bridge is open to climbers. Two tours
are currently offered, both take you to the top of the bridge,
high above street level. A great experience for visitors -
and it seems to be a good business too. Whenever you look
to that bridge, you see those BridgeClimb
groups on it. To date, more than 2 million people have taken
the tours and climbed these steps.
But that's no surprise. Views
from the top are popular. It is just the best way to get an
overview before diving into a city.
Michael Meier [contact]
|
