Perhaps it’s a touch of wanderlust, or maybe we’ve just got too much time on our hands. At any rate, we’ve been doing some virtual traveling, something that takes just a few taps on the computer keyboard and a little imagination about what we could do if we were really there. Here are some of our favorite spots:
Paris
Even though France is nine hours ahead of us, viewing the iconic image of the Eiffel Tower is a thrill anytime of the day or night. The glittering nighttime view is spectacular — and if you click on the widescreen choice, you may see a light shining from an upper story window to the left of the screen. Could it be Gigi’s apartment? If your timing is right, you can track the moon from one side to the other. You can almost taste the croissants when the tower is framed with pink clouds at dawn.
Rome
This site links to a webcam that provides a peek at the most famous landmarks of Italy’s capital city. While most sites are illuminated at night, the daytime views are much more interesting, especially the Colosseum and Roman Forum. When you get home from work at night, pour yourself a glass of prosecco and take a cyber peek.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border near Buffalo, N.Y., is the most powerful waterfall in North America, with 4 million to 6 million cubic feet of the Niagara River pouring over the crest every minute. Even covered with ice and snow, the natural beauty of the site shows through.
Outer Space
If you’re lucky enough to have visited the above locales in person and are looking for something different, this Web site is out of this world.
Launched in 1999, the site has something for everyone: timely stories and photos about space, the latest technology news, even a discussion of space movies.
We were especially intrigued this past week with photos of the lunar eclipse, as well as the satellite-killing missile launched from a U.S. Navy ship.
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