Something about the four World Famous Statues

    The Little Mermaid

    The statue The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbor at Langelinie in Denmark. Tourists visiting for the first time are often surprised by the relatively small size of the statue. The Little Mermaid is only 1.25 meters high and weighs around 175kg. designed by Edvard Eriksen, the statue was erected in 1913 to commemorate（纪念）the fairy tale The Little Mermaid. The poor lady has lost her head several times but each time it has been restored. Copenhagen officials announced that the statue may be moved further out in the harbor, as to avoid further vandalism(故意破坏)and to prevent tourists from climbing onto it.

    David Statue

    David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture sculpted by Michelangelo from 1501 to 1504. The 5.17 meter marble statue portray the hero after his victory over Goliath, Michelangelo chose to represent David before the fight contemplating(沉思)the battle yet to come. To protect it from damage, the famous statue was moved in 1873 to the Accademia Gallery in Florence in Italy, where it attracts many visitors. A replica was placed in the Piazza della Signoria, at the original location.

    Great Sphinx

    Located at the Giza Plateau near Cairo in Egypt, the Great Sphinx is one of the largest and oldest statues in the world, but basic facts as who was the model for the face, when it was built, and by whom, are still debated. It is the largest monolithic(独块巨石的)statue in the world although it is considerably smaller than the pyramids around it. Despite conflicting evidence and viewpoints over by the years, the traditional view held by modern Egyptologists at large remains that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2500 BC by the Pharaoh Khafre, the supposed builder of the second pyramid at Giza.

    Statue of Liberty

    The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people France to celebrate the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, stands upon Liberty Island and is one of the most famous symbols in the world. It represents a woman wearing a stole, a radiant crown and sandals, trampling a broken chain, carrying a torch her raised right hand and a tabula ansata tablet in her left hand. The construction of the statue was completed in France 1886 until the jet age, it was often one of the first glimpses of the United States for millions of immigrants.

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    Author Elizabeth Becker says we have a responsibility to respect the places we visit. Some basic rules still hold, such as not travelling at busy times and taking fewer trips but making them longer. The best and easiest way to be a responsible traveler is to use common sense and go local.

    Respect traditions. Read about the culture and traditions of the places you visit. Understand the local culture and customs to avoid making any mistakes or upsetting the local people. For example, dress properly when you visit temples and don’t eat or talk loudly in religious(宗教的)sites. It’s also important to respect the local environment. If you visit a beach, leave seashells where you find them and try not to catch fish while swimming.

    Learn the language. Nobody expects you to become fluent, but try to learn some basic phrases such as “please” and “thank you”. You’ll be amazed at how much nicer and more helpful people will be if they know you’re making an effort to get involved with their culture.

    Spend local. Stay away from international hotels and restaurants run by foreigners. By using local guides, buying local products and staying in family run hotels, you’re not only giving back to the community, but you also get a real sense of the country you’re staying in and the people who live there.

    Bargain fairly. Always be polite when you try to get a lower price. Sometimes goods at a local market can seem overpriced. Nobody likes to be cheated and it may be fun to bargain, but remember that for the local people bargaining it may not be a game. For some of them, their business is their only source of income. So try not to be too rude when bargaining.

    Don’t litter. In some countries, getting rid of waste is a big problem, so don’t throw rubbish on the ground. Doing so is harmful to the environment and unpleasant for others. Hold on to your rubbish until you find a bin.

    Save water. Even in some of the most developed countries, water shortages are a reality. Tourists who take 10-minute showers and leave the taps running aren’t making things any better.