by 
Hello world travelers! This post is more of a glorious discussion on a recent website I have found that is extremely educational, interesting, and just plain inspiring. By ‘website,’ I mean www.Google.com and a project that was initiated by the company. I will admit that I have spent several hours noodling through Google Earth so I can see real images of my favorite monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, and other European goodies. However, I was completely unaware of Google’s Street View Treks until I saw a minuscule ‘Explore the Pyramids of Egypt’ blurb on the bottom of my Google search bar a few weeks ago. This Google feature, which has received a major revamp since the first Street View Trek came out, is basically Google Earth on steroids, except this time, I fully condone the use of such enhancements. Instead of just showing an aerial view of the Pyramids, this program displays interactive videos, high-quality images with hues so bright they are blinding, and tidbits of historical information related to the stone giants of old. Simply put, this educational tool was completely dynamic from both an art history and historical context; the program did feature Google Earth aspects, but the incorporation of National Geographic-like images and text made it ten times better. Find the Egypt Street View Trek here.
Now for the actual review. Although the continual scrolling did seem long and tedious like a blog about cooking or video games, the layout was much better than previous street treks. The facts about the Pyramids were ‘clean,’ meaning they weren’t superfluous or too long. Some interesting facts I gleaned from viewing the webpage were:
1.) The Pyramids were built 4,500 years ago.
2.) 5.5 million tons of stone (particularly limestone) were used.
3.) The Pyramids (which were mortuary tombs for the ancient Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure) were built outside the hopping city of Memphis.
They also straddle the West side of the Nile River because the sun sets in the West (a metaphor for death). A four-part page that featured moving video panels (check out the link above to see what I mean) was very cool. It was almost three dimensional in the way the graphics were so piercingly lifelike and popping brightly out of my computer screen. The viewer can also “walk” the ancient roads that led to the Pyramids through Google Earth; interestingly, a camel with a camera on its back was used to get most of the desert shots! The promotional video explaining the release of the new Street View Trek was also quite inspiring with stunning images, Eastern music, and a tone of exoticism. After watching a few “Behind the scenes” videos, I would definitely consider a career with Google making these interactive and art-history/architecture-based webpages of learning. Other Street Views include Venice, the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, and the Colorado River.
The Venice page was beautiful as well, with the stereotypical dirty canals, serenading gondoliers, and the prominent Rialto Bridge. It also didn’t hurt that Venetian guitar/mandolin music accompanied the virtual vacation. However, after browsing some of the earlier views, I must say that the newest Egypt view is the best layout by far. Featuring moving images, a 360° panoramic, and compelling facts, it is the farthest entity away from a “static webpage” as you could get. I would also recommend checking out the pictures and PowerPoints on Google Cultural Institute; I am beyond happy that Google is taking such an active interest in world renowned cultural and artistic sites! What would I want to see next? Definitely the Colosseum, Acropolis, and walls of Dubrovnik.
