Carcassonne

Book of Marvels

Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to live in the Medieval Ages? I have, and I think that it would be a very exiting life. In a little town called Carcassonne, in southern France, Medieval lifestyle reached its peak. Brave knights, beautiful damsels, they all lived in Carcassonne! For about three hundred years, the Visigoths held it. Then, the Saracens took hold of it for about fifty more years. However, in the 1280’s, France officially claimed Carcassonne for themselves. Would you like to go and see this amazing medieval town? Let’s go! As we approach Carcassonne, we can see two strong, tall walls, crowned with fifty turrets for the knights and defenders of the castle to keep watch on. Also, in the walls there are little holes for the knights to pour arrows, stones, and boiling pitch through, at their enemy. We enter the castle through the open drawbridge and portcullis. Where are the guards, waiting to question us at the doors? We walk through the lonely streets that no one but ghosts walk through, now. Where are the merry townspeople, waiting to meet us with glad cheer? They are all gone, for after the cannon was invented, Carcassonne’s mighty walls did no good. Most of the people in the city escaped to the valley below, and lived there. Now as we walk through the lonely streets, that once were filled with so much splendor, our minds run wild, and we can see how this old, falling-apart city could once have been the most fought for, envied, town of all times.       

The Rock of Gibraltar

Book of Marvels

The rock of Gibraltar is a beautiful, fourteen- hundred foot high mountain, which rests right next to Spain. However, ever since 1704, England has occupied this famous landmark. The Greeks and Romans of old, were afraid that if they sailed past the rock, they would fall off the earth. However, the Saracens, who lived in Africa, were not afraid of anything. In the year 711, they sailed over to the great mountain, and claimed it as their own. But as I told you earlier, the English, in 1704, took the rock for their own. Would you like to come and see the great, proud, amazing monument? Of course you do! Let’s go! As we sail past the indigo- blue waters, and arrive at the skirt of land, an amazing sight beholds us. The Mountain towers above us, urging us to come and reach it’s summit. We start to hike up the steep mountain trail. On our way up, we can see people and houses below: swimming, playing, and living their life to the fullest. However, the greatest of sights, awaits us patiently at the top. After the steep hike up the rocky slope, we reach the summit of this amazing mountain. We can almost touch the, rich, deep-blue sky. From the top, we can see the Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean sea, Spain- with it’s beautiful snow capped mountains, and Africa- home of the Saracens, who where the first to take hold of this strong, proud, rock. How has this amazing marvel been kept in the hands of the English so long? Well, deep inside the heart of the mountain are hundreds of guns, the newest and most dangerous, which the English aren’t afraid to use. They will do anything to defend their beloved treasure, which all the world envies.