#grotta azurra

[dromaeo-sauridae]

big cave post

you like caves? no? im showing you anyway. you hear cave and probably think of like, a video game cave. maybe a minecraft cave with axolotls? while i have my gripes with axolotls in caves, this is about the caves themselves. so here, lets get started:

number 1, lod cave in thailand. now, i could do a whole posts about JUST caves in thailand, but here's your first taste of caves from this area. this is a karst cave, formed by water trickling through soluble rock like limestone. it's what most of the caves on this list are going to be. it's one of the most common types of caves. if you've been inside a cave, it was probably a karst. very cool! i particularly enjoy the man shaped stalagmite in the middle (joke, thats just a real guy)

number 2, ellison's cave in georgia, usa. featuring a drop over a thousand feet deep, this one is pretty high on my bucket list. this is what's called a chute, formed by waterfalls cascading downwards. not recommended for people with a fear of heights! if you watch jacon geller, youve probably heard of this type of formation when he talked about krubera (not on this list, sadly)

number 3, mammoth cave in kentucky, usa. one i've been to! mammoth is the longest cave system in the ENTIRE world, that we know of. another one the jacob geller fans are familiar with. i would love to go back someday, pictures dont convey the magnitude of this place. they also used to host church services in here. well worth the visit

number 4, han son doong in vietnam. the LARGEST cave in the world! wait, didnt i already list that? nope, while mammoth is the longest and is massive in its own right, son doong trumps it by having a ceiling 660 feet (200 meters) high. it has stalagmites the size of skyscrapers. its one of the many caves in southeast asia to have its own rainforest system. a bit of a hike to get there, but another i desperately want to visit someday.

number 5, fingal's cave in scotland. though not record setting, its one youve probably seen before. or, maybe my perspective has been skewed as someone who looks at a LOT of caves. ive seen this exact picture more times than i can count. its a sea cave formed from our good friend columnar basalt. upon further research, apparently its also known for its natural acoustics. the more you know!

number 6, grotta azurra in capri. that photo isnt edited! only accessible by boat (and laying flat on your back to get through the entrance) this place looks ridiculously magical. i dont really have much to say about this one, i just think its really cool.

number 7, domica cave in slovakia. this one was brought to my attention by an anonymous asker (if youre still here hi) and i am in love with it. just an absolutely gorgeous cave with some of the most beautiful formations ive ever seen. just look at it! augh! the tiered pools arent something ive seen in any of the caves ive been to and theyre captivating. i love caves.

number 8, ending it off with a bang. here's the gloup.

[genevievestravels]

New York City

The big apple, the empire city, the city that never sleeps. The world knows New York City by many names, but regardless of what you call it, it is one of the most iconic locations.

To really take in the enormity of the city, you’ll need go to the Empire State Building and go up, 86 floors to be exact (don’t worry, there’s an elevator). The 86th floor observation deck sits 1,050 feet above ground, and the views are unparalleled.

Views of New York City from the Empire State Building (image from www.globest.com) 

Views of New York City from the 86th Floor Observation Deck at the Empire State Building (image from www.iloveny360.com) 

Once you’re back on the ground, you have to visit Central Park. Depending on the season, there’s different activities to enjoy. Have a summertime picnic in the park with friends. If you’re visiting in winter, ice-skating in the park is a must.

Views of the skyline and Central Park (image from www.cntraveler.com) 

Ice skating in Central Park (image from www.pinterest.com) 

Finish off your day with a cozy meal in Little Italy. Just walking through the streets is an aromatic experience… restaurant doors are open and the smell of authentic Italian cooking waft through the air.

I found the best food to be at Grotta Azzurra, a quaint, romantic restaurant founded in 1908 and inspired by the blue grotto on the isle of Capri.  

Views of Little Italy and Grotto Azzura (image from www.bluegrotta.com) 

Inside Grotto Azurra (image from www.iloveny.com)