Travel trivia: 10 geeky facts from around the globe

Feb 14, 2011 1:00:31 AM

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All-surprising stats and fantastical facts, our info nerds’ world tour will have you pointing out the planet’s most unknown ‘did you knows?’

1. Mt Everest, Nepal

Some things just don’t know they can quit when they’re ahead. Take this stunning snow-dusted peak on the Nepal–Tibet border. At around 8850m, Mt Everest is the highest point on earth. But is it satisfied? Oh no – it’s actually still growing at an estimated 4mm a year, pushed ever upwards by a monumental meeting of tectonic plates. A trip to Everest Base Camp brings you face to face with countless climbers, a colourful tent city and truly extraordinary mountain views. Because they’re still stretching skywards save on the legs; get onto that hike in the foothills sooner rather than later.

Any number of adventure companies will guide you to Everest Base Camp – for a full list of local operators check the official tourism website www.visitnepal.com

2. Mexico City

Mexico City meanwhile is sinking at an average rate of 10cm a year, 10 times faster than Venice. The reason? Building on a soft lake bed then pumping out subterranean water reserves, isn’t a good idea. The alarming descent is evidenced in the cracked pavements, wonky buildings and the 23 extra steps up to the iconic Angel of Independence monument; added because the city has subsided around it. Fight that sinking sensation by floating on the ancient canals at Xochimilco. Each weekend this World Heritage Site transforms into fiesta-filled waterways packed with party boats, musicians and marimba players.

Xochimilco is 28km south of Mexico City – hop aboard the light rail train from Tasqueña Metro station for the 40-minute trip www.unesco.org

3. Vatican City

Encircled by design-conscious Italy’s cutting-edge couture, the world’s smallest independent state is sticking firmly to its sartorial traditions. The Vatican’s Swiss Guard still wears a uniform inspired by the Renaissance painter Raphael (compare and contrast it with the garb worn by figures in his frescos in the Papal apartments). In fact, the 44 hectare Holy See has many a geek treat. Point out the population (800), number of citizens (450), licence plates (SCV, CV, international abbreviation V) and flag (yellow and white), not to mention the anthem (Pontifical Hymn) and coins, which are legal tender throughout Italy and the EU, you know.

Procure geekish souvenirs at the gift shop of St Peter’s Basilica, where you can even buy an (empty) bottle of holy water; www.saintpetersbasilica.org

4. El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles, USA

What’s in a name? A whole lot less in Los Angeles’ case. Originally rejoicing under the not-so-pithy moniker of the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels, this farming community sprung up in 1781 near what’s now El Pueblo Historical Monument. Today its cluster of museums, ancient plazas and vibrant markets serves up a taste of LA life 1800s-style. For an ultramodern echo of the city’s linguistic origins, head to the 21st-century Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This innovative structure soars 11 storeys into the sky, its alabaster mosaics flooding the immense interior with opaque light.

Olvera Street is the centre of the site; visit in early September to see the celebratory procession known as the ‘LA Birthday’; www.ci.la.ca.us/elp

5. Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire, Argentina

Originally Our Lady St Mary of the Good Air, these days it’s just Buenos Aires. A seductive city of colonial avenues, cosmopolitan cafes and many an all-night party, BA is also the spot to savour that most deliciously melancholic dance: the tango. It pulses through faded ballrooms, leafy parks and vibrant squares, but do you know how to secure a partner? Gentlemen, fix the lady with a long look; if she returns your stare, just give a gentle nod. Ladies, sit with your legs outstretched so a man might stumble at your feet. An encounter occurs; an invitation can follow.

Don’t take the tango lightly – it’s a complex business so learn the etiquette or face public humiliation; swat up at www.buenosairestango.com

6. London Underground, England

Great geek fact: London’s Metropolitan Railway was the world’s first subway. The 6km section opened in 1863, ran between Paddington and Farringdon, and proved a hit despite steam trains filling stations and tunnels with dense smoke. Riding today’s Circle Line from Paddington to Covent Garden and the London Transport Museum retraces part of that original route. The museum has one of those original sulphur-belching engines; the Metropolitan No 23. As you trundle on a subterranean tour of the capital’s grime and tiles, note the world’s second subway opened in Budapest in 1896, pipping Paris to the post by four years.

Ride the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden to visit the London Transport Museum; www.ltmuseum.co.uk.

7. Venice, Italy

It’s one of those totally touristy things that you really can’t resist: gliding around Venice in a gondola. But as you go grandly down the Grand Canal, ponder a few factoids. Each elegant craft is made from 280 pieces of eight different types of wood. The left side is larger than the right by 24cm, producing a list to starboard, while the slender, raised bow means increased manoeuvrability. Most intriguingly, the parts of a gondola represent bits of this baroque, lagoon-laced city: the front echoes its six districts, the back is Giudecca Island, while the lunette is the Rialto Bridge.

The first Sunday in September sees Venice celebrate the Regatta Storica, a procession of decorated craft followed by a race for expert gondoliers; www.turismovenezia.it

8. Great Wall of China

Any geek worth their salt knows this is the biggest military construction on earth – and know to dismiss the ‘only man-made structure able to be seen from space’ claim as urban myth. Rippling across huge swathes of the Chinese countryside, around 2000km still exists of its earlier 7300km sections. They were built by independent kingdoms between the 7th and 4th centuries BC, and were unified under China’s first Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210 BC. Countless thousands flock to the wall’s tourist hot spots near Beijing, but do those snap-happy hordes know that bit is a Ming dynasty (14-17th century AD) reconstruction?

To see more than the touristy bits, take a trip 120km out of Beijing to Simatai, where more of the wall’s original construction is yours to explore.

9. Table Mountain, South Africa

You wouldn’t think a ‘table’ this big could possibly have a decorative covering, but that’s exactly what this immense ridge of sandstone has. Looming large (1087m to be exact) over Cape Town, the lofty plateau has its own cloud cover: the ‘tablecloth’, which gathers quickly across the top and pours down the sides when the wind whips up from the southeast. While you’re trekking Table Mountain’s trails (or sneaking a lift to the top in the cable car) look out for the recently reintroduced klipspringer, a tiny surefooted antelope that can sometimes be spotted surveying the scene from rocky outcrops.

Experience extraordinary scenery by hiking the six-day, 97km Hoerikwaggo Trail from Cape Point to Table Mountain, sleeping under canvas as you go; www.sanparks.org.

10. Uluru, Australia

It’s curious to think that without a little rust, Uluru wouldn’t be red at all. This extraordinary rock formation rears abruptly from the heart of Australia’s dusty, russet desert and famously glows a fiery orange-red, especially at sunset. As you hike round the base of what’s probably the world’s largest monolith, think also about Uluru being made up of arkosic sandstone. This acquires its distinctive reddish hue when exposed to oxidation and the iron in the arkose rusts. So what colour would this iconic, vivid chunk of rock be without a little chemical decay? A dismal, rather dull grey.

Visit between April and October to avoid the scorching 45ºC heat of mid-summer.

The world is full of amazing geek facts. Discover them country by country with The Travel Book.

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Comments

26 February 2011 12:13PM lou1003 Report this comment
Uluru - "probably the world’s largest monolith"... It's Mount Augustus in WA. No one's ever heard of it because it is very difficult to access. It's twice the size of Uluru, but not as photogenic.
29 May 2012 11:41AM seneca98 Report this comment
In number 6, you neglect to note that Glasgow's subway system also opened in 1896, beating Paris by four years.
29 May 2012 11:48AM taliagoeswiththewind Report this comment
I'm with lou1003 here a wee bit. That's lazy writing; "probably" indicates someone who couldn't be bothered doing their research, but didn't want to lay concrete claim to Uluru being the largest monolith. However, from what I understand, Mt Augustus is the world's largest monocline, it's difference from Uluru's monolith classification being that a monolith is a single large block of stone whereas, a monocline is an exposed slab of rock belonging to a layer beneath. And Mt Augustus is beyond mesmerising in its own right - still holding a naturally rich hue worth photographing.
29 May 2012 3:05PM jgcp Report this comment
As for Mt Everest being the highest mountain in the world - well it may be - but the tallest mountain and having the summit closest to the sun from earth is Chimborazo in Ecuador - all due to the equatorial bulge.....
29 May 2012 11:25PM estafarr Report this comment
Thanks Lou1003
I live at Burringurrah the Aboriginal community close to the base of Mt Augustus that the traditional people call 'Burringurrah'. Burringurrah was a boy who didn't want to go through initiation and he went with the wrong woman. He was speared and lay down to die and was replaced by the rock that continues with his name. I have seen both Uluru and Burringurrah both are great natural wonders of the world but like you say Burringurrah is harder to get to. Cheers
30 May 2012 2:10AM leohuf Report this comment
"Procure geekish souvenirs at the gift shop of St Peter’s Basilica, where you can even buy an (empty) bottle of holy water"
Really? This just shows that the author indeed did no research before writing this (as taliagoeswiththewind pointed out). The bottles at the gift shop are empty, but you simply need to ask the sacristy just in front of the gift shop to fill it up for you...
Really, what would be the point of buying an empty bottle of holy water???
30 May 2012 2:16AM timbo88 Report this comment
Circle Line to Covent Garden?? NOOOO
30 May 2012 2:17AM timbo88 Report this comment
leohuf - the whole point of the LP website is that no-one ever does any research - it's all just parasitised (badly) from existing material.
30 May 2012 3:18AM paddyleblanc Report this comment
11. Once upon a time lonelyplanet.com used to be interesting.
30 May 2012 4:47AM maldod Report this comment
"Procure geekish souvenirs at the gift shop of St Peter’s Basilica, where you can even buy an (empty) bottle of holy water" As already noted the empty bottle you buy can be filled at the sacristy. BUT the point is that the Church does not permit the sale of blessed objects (Holy Water is ordinary water that has been blessed). So you buy the bottle and the Holy Water is free. At most Catholic churches around the world Holy Water is available for the asking - just take a suitable receptacle. There is nothing special about Holy Water from the Vatican.
30 May 2012 5:09AM tequila_mockingbird Report this comment
Covent Garden is nowhere near the Circle Line. How can this inane error occur? Perhaps it's deliberate to provoke attention.
30 May 2012 6:48AM westriver Report this comment
So far you guys missed yet another fact omitted in the article. Nobody credits Rafael only to the design of the Swiss guards at the Vatican. It's usually credited to both Rafael and Michelangelo.
30 May 2012 6:49AM westriver Report this comment
I meant the Swiss guard uniform.
30 May 2012 7:12AM lkwsp Report this comment
Hi lou1003, actually Mount Augustus is a monocline rather than a monolith so Uluru could be the biggest monolith.
30 May 2012 9:27AM paceb Report this comment
Isn't this is all just supposed to be a bit of fun? Is it really necessary to get abusive if there's a mistake?
30 May 2012 11:44AM hijackt Report this comment
Did you know that in the Vatican City there are two Popes per square kilometre, the highest rate of any other country in the world.
30 May 2012 4:44PM paceb Report this comment
See what I mean? Fun! Nice one hijackt!
30 May 2012 9:56PM leohuf Report this comment
paceb, I think the point is that they are only fun if they are indeed true (as is the case with hijackt comment...)