MikeAinsel's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Reading, England

Cole Museum of Zoology

This natural history collection contains the bones of a circus elephant that seem to be chasing a whale skeleton.
Reading, England

Maiwand Lion

The lion represents a fascinating part of English history, and the story of a man who obsessed over its creation.
Reading, England

Henry West's Grave

The wooden grave marker of a railroad worker who died in a freak whirlwind.
Reading, England

Silchester Eagle

Once believed to be a sacred Roman legionary symbol, this bronze figure inspired the 1954 novel 'The Eagle of the Ninth.'
Kent, England

Queen Bertha and King Æthelberht

Today, Kent's medieval monarchs hold court on a busy pedestrian thoroughfare—or at least their statues do.
Canterbury, England

Geoffrey Chaucer Statue

Inspired by Thomas Stothard's painting of the "Journey to Canterbury," albeit with Canterbury natives.
Manchester, England

'Journey'

This bronze sculpture represents the helpless, hapless, and the damned who have passed through Piccadilly station since it opened in 1842
Manchester, England

Out House

The remnants of a depressing public toilet are now a hub of ever evolving street art.
Manchester, England

Hanging Ditch Bridge

The construction of this bridge dates back to the 15th century.
Istanbul, Turkey

Column of the Goths

This column celebrates Rome's victory over the Goths, and may be the oldest Roman monument in Istanbul.
Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.
Istanbul, Turkey

Obelisk of Theodosius

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.
Istanbul, Turkey

Taksim Mosque

One of the newest mosques in a city filled with thousands.
Istanbul, Turkey

The Museum of Innocence

This museum was invented in a novel before being made real by the author.
Istanbul, Turkey

Camondo Stairs

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.
Bucharest, Romania

Memorial of Rebirth

This memorial to the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989 is often compared to a potato on a skewer.
Bucharest, Romania

Relics of Zlătari Church

The preserved arm of a third-century sorcerer is believed to have the power to lift curses and spells.
Bucharest, Romania

Cărturești Carusel Bookstore

This once-derelict building is now one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
Bucharest, Romania

Curtea Veche (Old Princely Court)

The bust of Romania’s most notorious ruler, Vlad Dracula aka "Vlad the Impaler," keeps watch over the ruins of his medieval court.
Budapest, Hungary

Ghetto Wall Memorial

The holes in this wall provide a glimpse into Jewish life in Budapest, both past and present.
Budapest, Hungary

The Holy Right

The mummified right fist of a 1,000-year-old saint-king sits inside an ornate golden reliquary.
Budapest, Hungary

‘The Fat Policeman’

Also known as Uncle Karl, the beloved bronze copper keeps a watchful eye on St. Stephen’s Basilica while people rub his lucky belly.
Budapest, Hungary

Ronald Reagan Statue in Budapest

A statue in Budapest's Liberty Square honors the former U.S. president's efforts to end the Cold War.
Budapest, Hungary

Anna Kéthly Statue

A bronze woman in a stylized dress honors a courageous politician.