TAIPEI Continued . . .

The street scene below shows one of Taipei's iconic structures - Taipei 101.  It held the distinction of being the world's tallest building for about 4 years until a building was built in Dubai.  You can see this building from just about anywhere in the city.  Even later when we took a gondola ride into the mountains away from the city, this building still looked massive!

Here it is up close and personal.  Wow, it is really impressive!  Steve and I went in to buy our tickets to go up to the observation floor which is only on the 91st floor, not even on the top - 101st floor! 

To get to the upper floors you have to ride the elevator which happens to have the Guinnes World Record for the fastest passenger elevator in the world.  It took us only 30 seconds to travel 89 stories!  My ears popped 3 times on the way up!  Standing in line to get to the elevator took one hour!  I wish they could have sped that up.

 

Once we got to the top and looked out, we noticed an amazing view!  Wow!  We didn't know what we were looking at, but it sure looked nice.

 

They gave everyone a listening device in the language that you needed so that as you went around the building it described how the building was built and the history of the area.  Very nicely done.

After touring Taipei 101, we decided to take a cab over to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial.  Along the way I saw this entrance to the MRT station (mass transit).  It was decorated very sweetly. 

This is the National Theater Concert Hall.  What a gorgeous building.  The colors were so bright and beautiful!

Beautiful isn't it?!!

Yes, Steve thought you would believe he caught this fish (I told him you wouldn't, but you know fishermen and their lies!)

This is the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial.  It just happened to be under renovation while we were there.  I was so hoping to see the changing of the guards.  They do this on the hour.  We walked around the right side and into a museum that holds a lot things from Chiang Kai-shek's life. 

Here is Chiang Kai-shek at his wedding.

Steve looking at one of two Cadillacs that drove Chiang Kai-shek around.  This one had bullet proof glass in it.  He only rode in this one 1 time! 

Steve looking at a mock-up of Chiang Kai-shek's office.  I really enjoyed this museum.  They had many pictures of world leaders shaking hands with Chiang Kai-shek including Ronald Reagan when he was just the Governor of California.

Tomorrow's blog will be about our last and best day in Taipei! 
    Sawadii Kha!                Linda