It's Veterans Day today, and it's also 11.11.11 as the date goes. Naturally tourist sites have been preparing for both, but with the major difference that Veterans Day takes place in the US and focuses on looking at history and remembering while 11.11.11 happens around the world, with a focus on the future.

For some however, it's actually a lack thereof (the future) with the belief that the world will end today. Well it hasn't yet, and Egypt's Great Pyramid can attest to this. Fearing negative attention and spiritual ceremonies, the Great Pyramid was closed to tourists. The AP notes that only the pyramid was on lock-down: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-11-11T10:35:33-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/6/14226/49259

The ancient port city of Caesarea should be a strong contender on anyone's Israel travel itinerary. During the days there are the Roman ruins to be explored, among the best preserved in the Middle East. They include carefully excavated living quarters, baths, and—most famously—a huge theater/colosseum finished around 10BC, because the Romans valued their entertainment. Those are for the tourists, something that we point out in a 100% non-denigrating way.

Of all the destinations on the interwebs, we take our tourism seriously. You should just know that that's what you're getting into.

But once the sun sets, and especially during the summer, there are all kinds of events and concerts that bring out younger and more local crowds. The modern town is one of Israel's most upscale areas, and the region is actually maintained by a private organization dedicated to economic and cultural development rather than by a city council. ]]> Omri 2011-07-06T17:10:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/2/21/8161/51150

It might not be the most practical layover destination from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, but if you’re visiting the Twin Cities it might as well be on your itinerary this summer. King Tut and plenty of his ancient goodies have made their way to the Science Museum of Minnesota, and plenty of history will be on display through the beginning of September.

The museum welcomes one and all to enter the golden world of the pharaohs, as the exhibit opened up over the weekend. There’s more than 100 different artifacts from thousands of years past including plenty of goodies from King Tut. Golden sandals as well as 10-foot statue are just some of the items on display during this exhibition. ]]> kjb 2011-02-22T15:26:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/2/22/103216/976

Woo—who wants to go to Egypt now that the revolution's most violent days are behind us? No one? Yea, we didn't think the traveling public would be so eager to jump back into Cairo when they've barely cleared the makeshift protestor shacks from Tahrir Square. Still, the portion of the country that earns their income from tourism still needs to eat, and thus the pyramids have reopened to visitors.

This Voice of America article that interviewed some of the locals who work at the pyramids is quite eye-opening, especially with excerpts like this: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-02-22T11:55:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/12/16/212959/92

If you have traveling to Pompeii on your bucket list, you better book your ticket to Italy now. The ancient Roman city, which was frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, has had several of its walls collapse.

Last month a portion of the "House of the Gladiator," where the gladiators trained, and part of a retaining wall at the "House of the Moralist," a home, as well as two other walls came down. It's been a big concern internationally, since Pompeii is one of the world's best-preserved ancient sites.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-12-17T11:44:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/20/124157/503

Today's a big day in the world of Greek antiquities, as the massive New Acropolis Museum in Athens opens its doors to the public for the first time. The fancy new building was designed by architect Bernard Tschumi, and incorporates classic and contemporary elements to display 4,000 artifacts, more than ten times the number of the inadequate old museum it replaces. The New York Times has a nifty article and slide show of the $200 million museum, which it calls "one of the highest-profile cultural projects undertaken in Europe in this decade." ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-06-20T12:41:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/22/7477/98206

If you've decided that this is the summer you're going to party in Greece, you'd better check your packing list and take out your high heels.

Officials in Greece are trying to get stiletto heels banned at important archaeological sites because these evil heels are damaging the ancient stuff. To quote Eleni Korka, a director taking care of such ancient sites:

Female visitors must wear shoes that do not wound the monuments. These monuments have a skin that suffers and people must realise that.

Too many tourists is a bit of a problem at many of the ancient sites in Greece - a few years ago they did a big clean-up of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater in Athens and removed 59 pounds of chewing gum stuck under the seats in the process. For some reason they haven't thought of banning chewing gum a la Singapore, but the anti-stiletto movement is growing strong.

Related Stories:
· Women Banned From Wearing Stilettos at Ancient Greek Sites [Daily Mail]
· Will This Be The Summer You Party in Greece? [Jaunted]
· Greece Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: **Mary**] ]]> amandak 2009-05-22T11:51:58-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/