Herods Palace ruins and the hippodrome, Caesarea, Israel, Middle East

The Roman hippodrome, Caesarea, Israel, Middle East

Obelisk of Theodosius, Ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, 1479 BC- 1425 BC, Hippodrome of Constantinople, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Obelisk of Theodosius, Ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, 1479 BC- 1425 BC), Hippodrome of Constantinople, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurpe

Entrance to the Hippodrome in Jerash, believed to have been founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Jerash, Jordan, Middle East

Entrance to the Hippodrome in Jerash, believed to have been founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Jerash, Jordan, Middle East

Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitas) from Luxor and Serpentine Column (Yilani Sutun) from the temple of Apollo at Delphi in the Hippodrome (At Meydani), Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Entrance to the Hippodrome in Jerash, believed to have been founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Jerash, Jordan, Middle East

Egyptian Obelisk, Hippodrome, Istanbul, Turkey, Western Asia

Egyptian Obelisk with hieroglyphics and base frieze, Hippodrome, August early morning, Sultanahmet District, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Egyptian Obelisk hieroglyphics and Brazen Column, Hippodrome, August early morning, Sultanahmet District, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Hieroglyphics on the obelisk in Hippodrome Square in Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Floodlit domes and minarets of Hagia Sophia mosque museum, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Atmeydani Hippodrome fountain in Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Obelisk of Theodosius (ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III) in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Ashgabat, hippodrome tribune, Turkmenistan

Aerial view of the Caesarean Hippodrome with an obelisk, Israel

Entrance arch to Santa Monica Pier, from the Pacific Coast Highway. A popular excursion spot for more than a century, the Santa Monica Pier draws crowds daily. From Wikipedia: "The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark. The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with its one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art, solar paneled Ferris wheel. It also has an original carousel hippodrome from the 1920s, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium operated by Heal the Bay, shops, entertainers, a video arcade, a trapeze school, pubs, and restaurants. The west end of the pier is a popular location for anglers.

USA/CA/Santa Monica/Pier/September 2007:Santa Monica Pier - a landmark in the USA. A surfer (with board, hat and water bottle) walks down the Pier having left the beach front on a warm late summer's afternoon. The beach front Police Station on the Pier adjacent to the carnival rides. The Pier dates from 1909 and still draws in the crowds. It's a nonstop sideshow of activity with street performers, amusement arcade, aquarium, rollercoaster, ferris wheel and the 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel (featured in The Sting). It leaves you wondering how all this fits on just one pier. Glorious views out over the beach front and coastline to be had, especially from the ferris wheel.

Turkey, Istanbul, Egyptian obelisk detail

Turkey, Istanbul, Egyptian obelisk

Turkey, Istanbul, Sultanahmet Mosque relief

Turkey, Istanbul, Egyptian obelisk

Turkey, Istanbul, Egyptian obelisk

Turkey, Istanbul, Egyptian obelisk