I guess I'm up.

Gotta dig into the travel-for-work archives:

Tokyo?

Just a stab at a part of the world I'll guess Seoul.

Not Tokyo or Seoul.

Dan

Considering I grew up in Japan and speak/read/write Japanese, this one is a bit easy. It is Kyoto, Japan - the Taku Beer Garden with Kyoto Tower

Zanshin--wow, you certainly have been around!! Guess you're up!

Zanshin - I was somewhat confused about the Asian language on the building and the word "Platz" in the background. Given your language skills, do you think "Platz" is related to the beer garden?

When I grew up in Kobe I went to Kyoto quite often, back then Kyoto Tower didn't exist, but the JR (Japan Railways) station did. Most of the department stores would sport a "Beer Garden" on the roof and then, just as now, there's rooftop gardens and driving ranges on most buildings

From my high school back windows we could see the cows grazing up on the hilltop - "Kobe Beef"

So, where and what is this?

(The Japanese love using foreign terms. "Platz" means "place" in German, so this would be some sort of place/open ground near Kyoto JR Station)

An oil pipeline?

Carol - nope, no oil going through this pipeline.

I'll guess an aqua duct on one of the Caribbean islands. Dominica gets a lot of rain so that's my guess (I definitely haven seen this structure).

Ah, so it's SOME type of a pipeline. Natural gas?

It seems that Fred has correctly identified the picture. This is a wooden water pipeline supplying water to the capital city of Roseau in Dominica.

I have the most disorganized photos, but here is one to try.

Wooden, that's incredible. Totally fooled by the rusty looking bands around the structure, just assumed it was a metal pipe.

Fred... I did think it was Europe based on the Dutch language on the bus but now I'm thinking it might be somewhere in South Africa, but don't know where.

Mike, I don't see any words (or even a letter) on the bus. However, you have identified the right country - now for the place.

It's in the glass. Dutch for Emergency Exit. I only know that because it also say Emergency Exit in English The other clue I got was on the little Kia. I can see a small bit of the steering wheel on the right-hand side and South Africa drives on the left. No idea at all about the actual location though.

I thought the fellow on top if the Kia might have been more of a hint, but here is another.

Well, I was going to say Kruger, but I don't think it's on the coast?

I now think I know from the second photo, but it is getting late here and I haven't time to find another photo if I win. So, I'll leave it until the morning and if it hasn't been won by then, I'll make my guess.

Kruger is not on the coast, but keep guessing - it is probably more notable as Kruger.

Cape of Good Hope?

You got it sleepychef. You are up.

Thats was a guess from the Kruger clue.

San Juan?

no, there was civil unrest when I visited, but back then I didn't watch the news

Grenada?

I think that this is a somewhat more temperate climate than Grenada - everyone is wearing long pants. Signage is in English, although it looks more like a Spanish place - perhaps it caters mainly to American tourists... somewhere in Mexico. I'll hazard a guess of Oaxaca City?

My guess is somewhere in the Basque region but I don't know names of towns.

Chile?

Looks like some very old cars parked in the distance so I am going with Cuba.

Zanshin I made a fool of myself in Mexico City trying to pronounce that city, the guy even called workmates in to hear me say Oxacaca just the way it looks, but no it was later in the trip but you are in the right country.

Fred: wrong side of the world

Jennius: head north

TomB: head WSW

You can stroll up to cloud forests from here

Nicuaragua?

Those directions may be more Central America. My geography stinks there. I’ll go Costa Rica

Toast & EllenS - Note that sleepychef said that my guess was "in the right country" so we are looking for a location in Mexico. But apart from Mexico City (unlikely location for this picture) and some other places that I have visited in Mexico I'm going to have to wait for the next picture to get back into the game.

5 words to get here

I've been to a few places in Mexico and have some ideas, but too early to use Google to confirm. However, for now I'll venture a guess of Cuernavaca which was a popular American retirement place. If it still is maybe that explains the sign in English.

My knowledge of Mexico is precisely zero so I'm out for now.

Tiajuana?

They hated NAFTA before anyone pmsl, Zapatistas was the main man and I was here during the conflict having a holiday oblivious to the turmoil around me in 95

San Cristobol de Las Casas

We have a winner

I had to wait the 18 hours to get that but the 5 word clue sent me on a mission. OK, here is a place where someone will hopefully recognize.

Dubai?

Correct part of the world, but not Dubai.

I haven't been here, but did a lot of research when I was supposed to do a project for the government there. I think it is Doha, in Qatar.

p.s. I got the contract, managed to get a license to purchase and drink liquor, got my visa and then just as I was finalizing everything and had my housing lined up, the agency called up and said that conditions had changed and that they were going to reduce my negotiated daily rates. They seemed very surprised when I respectfully declined to accept less pay (it seems that this rate reduction is almost a standard practice) and two weeks later I was in Denmark doing a project when they contacted me again regarding "renegotiation". You can imagine how well that went, particularly as Copenhagen is a great place to work and live!

Zanshin is correct with Doha. Your turn.

Here's a picture, a difficult one indeed that I would be very impressed if someone guessed it. I'm hoping that it will tide me over to lunchtime when I can then post another picture from the same location with more hints. You might be surprised at how many of us will actually have seen this location without realizing it!

I'd like to know in which country this is and what the edifices are called.

They look like religious structures called Cloisters. Could be just about anywhere in Europe.

This is indeed inside a Cistercian monastery/abbey, it was part of the dormitory. And for those who might want narrow down the search using Google - there were over 750 abbeys so that isn't going to help much.

The first is the hall of worship, the next is the hall of work.

Well the Cistercian Monks started in France and spread all over Europe. They also played a major role in development of wine in Spain and Portugal. (Just finished a Spanish Wine Master Course)
So I am going with Spain...

Based on Tom’s reasoning I’ll guess Portugal.

The Cistercians had abbeys in many wine producing countries including France, Germany, Hungary, Italy as current major wine producers and several other countries where at least some types of certain grapes would grow.

This abbey is neither in Spain nor Portugal.

Two more pictures in this set before the final one which would be a "reveal". Although as the old Bard himself once wrote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;"

Due to the Shakespeare reference, England?

Architecture in the photo on the right looks like Normandy. If so the barrels would be Calvados.

I'm going literal with the hint, but saying Rose wine and Italy.

Nobody has gotten close yet. The wine the barrels is white

Ok - I will take the hint being from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet would put this abbey in Italy?

This abbey is neither in Spain, nor in Portugal, nor in the U.K., nor in Italy, nor in France. I admit that the Shakespeare quote is somewhat indirect, but once the correct location has been guessed all will be revealed...

I'll go with Germany.

Ja, dieses Kloster ist in Deutschland (xrayman67 - it is indeed in Germany)

But where and what is it called?

so that leaves Hungry open?

I'll venture a guess of Rhine River Valley and Mosel (or something like that)

Then I am picking a lovely white wine from Germany.

Sorry Fref did not see your similar guess before mine.

I believe that the white wine in those barrels is indeed Riesling. Is it time for another picture or a spoiler?

6 more hours until Google time
My bet so folks have set an alarm (I would be one of them)
I cannot not wait to hear the explanation of the clues

More like 8 hours, I'm heading off to bed now but I'll check this thread first thing tomorrow morning.

Mosel

Architecture? Flying buttresses

Eberbach Abbey, Rhein, Germany

xrayman67 has it, it is the "Kloster Eberbach" along the Rhine river in Germany. They are no longer an active abbey, but they still produce excellent Rieslings and Umberto Eco's book "The Name of Rose" (an excellent albeit difficult to read book) was filmed here (featuring Sean Connery, Christian Slater and Ron Perlman among others) and this would have been my last and final clue, added here for your entertainment:

Zanshin, that was a tough one! This one should be easier. I'm looking for the name of the body of water.

Pacific

Sleepychef, a little more specific than that!

I have looked this over several times and can't find a clue so just for fun I'll name a body of water - Andaman Sea.

Fred, not the Andaman Sea. Sleepychef was correct with Pacific, but I need the specific bay.

Sorry, you have to give people some more clues.

Carol, you're making me "Blue"

Ok I'll bite, Blue Lagoon?

Ellen, good guess for the clue, but not right. This is a film location for a very famous musical starring a very famous "king". Blue is in the title.

Blue Hawaii?

Carol, that's the musical. Now does anyone know the name of the Bay?

OK, I know what it is, because I cheated and googled it, but I'm not sure this was such an easy picture as you thought? I guess it depends on how familiar a person is with Hawaii. Never been there myself..

Carol, maybe it's not that easy, but a quick google search of my own picture shows it's a very popular vantage point.

Technically we're supposed to wait 18 hours to do a google search though..

Is it Hanauma Bay?

Carol, yes. I did one before I posted the picture and saw many similar photos. That's why I thought this one may have been easier. Guess I was wrong.

Swifty, yes! Did you know it from the picture or did the clues give it away?

I spent a month on Oahu in college and went snorkeling in Hanauma several times! I also went back with my husband when we were first married, but haven't been back in a while.

So excited to pick the next photo to share - stand by!

Swifty--welcome to the game!!

Here we go - hoping I have figured out how to post a pic!

Los Cabos?

Nope!

I am venturing a guess in Italy but have no clue regarding "where"?

Good guess! Anyone want to guess where in Italy?

Amalfi coast?

Close!

Sorrento

Hey, you figured out how to post a pic!!

No - not Sorrento.

How about Sardinia?

Not Sardinia...

Capri

jphart - you are correct! Any idea where on Capri this pic was taken?

No, I don’t know the location on Capri. It was just a guess based on pix and clues.
Spent our time there on the plaza at the top of the gondola. Fantastic view, food, beverages, memories.
JP

Another island....I’ve got some good clues and a personal story.

Dry Tortugas

Well it figures a fellow Floridian would get it it so quickly!
Hints were about History as a fort and the famous prisoner named...?

Burial tomorrow for my 96.5 yo father in law in Key West. Life long CONCH, who lived on Dry Tortuga as a young boy when his father worked as the lighthouse keeper in the late 1920s. One of the Last of The Greatest Generation!

You’re up, man

Condolences JP. You're right about the Greatest Generation! Not sure about the prisoner. We had Geronimo up here at Ft. Pickens.

History hints: Fort, named after a president, never completed, largest masonry building in NA, prisoner= Dr Mudd

Here's a new photo...

It looks a lot better in that pic than the last time I saw that place.

Sleepychef-2013

I was there when it was still a full country....just

Sleepychef obviously knows and is staying quiet, so I am to guess Croatia.

EllenS- yes, Croatia. And the city?

So I've never been to Coatia, but I know of Split.

Not Split. As Sleepychef said, this city was in shambles in the early 90's. It's a beautiful city today!

It must be Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik it is! Zanshin, you're up!

Wow xrayman, that is a great photo. With the orange roofs, green grass, blue water, and white foam, it's really beautiful.

Dan

I wasn't certain of where it could be until I read that it was in Croatia, that narrowed down the choices!

Where is this?

Dutch Caribbean Island, a guess from the flag and the vegetation, probably not Sint Maarten.

Correct, it is probably not Sint Maarten/St. Martin

St. Kitts?

This building is not on St. Kitts. It does have a very close relationship to the formation of the USA, though.

Thanks Dan! It was a beautiful day in a beautiful city! I hope to go back someday.

Statia?

It is indeed the Fort overlooking the harbour on Statia (or, more correctly, St. Eustatius). Legend has it that this island was the first to recognize the United States during the war of independence; albeit inadvertently.

Article about Statia and the US

Interesting link! I didn't know that about their relation to the beginning of the US. I never would have gotten it without the clue that it was Dutch Caribbean from Mike. I saw the flag there and was going to try to zoom in on it, but Mike made it easy!

Looking for a picture!

Here's one!


Sorry the quality isn't great. Maybe I'll have my friend Tom work on this one and some others!!

Tulips equate to Holland for me - but I suppose that is a bit too vague for you...

Right country

I'm going to be offline for a couple of hours, but Eric should check in here and let someone know if they get it right.

Since they all appear to be Tulips I'm going to guess it is the Tulip Festival in Amsterdam. Although to be honest it could be just about any Garden Centre (as we Brits call them) anywhere in Holland.

This is a very specific place in Holland. Not in Amsterdam. Only open in the spring.

No guesses? It's among the most famous gardens in the world.

Only famous garden I have without google is Kew, but wrong country.

Amsterdam is on my list too.

I've worked there EllenS lol the gardens are called: stand in a line , Kenneth, Bay Watch

I have ran out of good pictures for the game

Not sure she will get that, but it's good..

Keukenhof Gardens?
One of the most beautiful places in the world

Bay Watch brought me to David Hasselhoff.

And ok when we get back to the BVI sleepy chef we are having a drink or many while you run thru where you have worked!

But it makes me laugh every time you have to say you worked there.

Tom--Ding, ding ding!! Yes. If anyone is a flower lover, as I am, Keukenhof in the spring (and Holland in general) is AMAZING. Highly recommended...

Tom, you're up! (And by the way, if you could help me fix that picture, I'd appreciate it! )

Ellen--It's kind of a stretch, but

stand in a line---queue
Kenneth--ken
Bay Watch---hoff

Keukenhoff..

Clever clue but I wasn’t catching what he was throwing

Carol - love to take a shot at cleaning it up
Please email the jpeg file.

Give me an hour and I will upload the next picture

Tom--I actually don't know your email addy. Send it to me by PM..

Alright sailors... Have you sailed into this port?

Well I can't say I recognise anything but, just to get the guesses started... Panama City

Strictly tossing out a guess - Hong Kong.

Miami?

Love how you captured the light on the water, not too many distinct buildings in this photo. Makes it tough.....so crazy guess, Baltimore.

thought HongKong too but that is taken

None of the guesses above are correct

I know the picture looks like it was taken from a boat... but it was taken from an island.

Could this be Chicago?

Jersey City?

Vancouver, BC?

United States?

I know this this place, I think I’ve flown over it or into it, but the night time shot is confusing me, along with the angle. That being said, it is in the USA, north I’m thinking. It can’t be BC Carol because there are no logs in the water and it can’t be Atlantic City because they don’t have a huge fountain by the water. It will come to me, but I might be to late!

No one is correct yet.
Beerman it is in the USA

I used to go here for work fairly frequently.

My sweetie came with me one time and while I work she sat on the beach all day.
When I asked her how was her day she said, "I was fascinated and entertained by the seals

Seals, island, San Diego ?

Beerman beat me to it! Drats, I knew I knew it, my sister and her family live their. Oh well, I’ll keep trying.

Beerman - you are correct - San Diego

Picture taken from Harbor Island and of course the SEALs she were watching were on Coronado beach where they train SEALs.

You are up!

I almost said Coronado but thought you might say...but what skyline?? Did you stay at the Coronado?

Now, that would have been fun, to watch the SEALs!

Where is this wall.....

Berlin?

Funny, I just saw a picture of my wife in front of a section of the Berlin wall, but it resides at the Anatole Hotel in Dallas!! You'll need to head south of Berlin to find this wall...

Didn't think it would be the answer. Too obvious. Only wall I know so had to give it a try.

The interaction between two households helped create this wall...

Vienna?

Verona?

"Two households, both alike in dignity In fair Verona" Toast is correct, have you been to the Juliette wall? two walls actually covered in love note graffiti. We could see her bronze statue surrounded by a large crowd in the small courtyard, all kind of groping her for "good Luck'. I read that the original statue is in a museum after years of good luck rubbing damaged the bronze, we chose not to rub and looked for Romeo's house across town, which we never found, perhaps we should have rubbed?. You are up Toast!!

Wow, That was a guess, I immediately thought of Romeo and Juliet from your clue!! I thought it would take me forever to win again. Hope this one is not too easy...

I'll start out with Lake Mead?

Nope, wrong continent.

This looks really familiar but I can't quite place it. I believe that this is in the Mediterranean / Ionian / Aegean somewhere.

zanshin you are very close. Aegean Sea, who knows the land ? This is not the only strange color you will find here.....

I think those two clues were enough - the rock stratification is clearly volcanic and that coupled with your clues of Aegean Sea plus different colors leads me to guess the island / caldera of "Santorini" - one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in modern times was there (the other was Krakatoa - I remember that because I wrote a paper in 3rd grade about it )

Ah, Yes, you have it Zanshin, The wonderful magical Santorini. Was lucky enough to spend my birthday there 4 years ago, that day we sailed all day on a lovely catamaran.. Many think this was Atlantis from what i read....

where will you take us next Z? I am very much enjoying this game, whilst I can't leave my country.....

Now that you've confirmed it, toast, I've googled the island and its history again which is fascinating. One day I'll sail "Zanshin" through the Med and Aegean!

I'm going through my photo collection in Lightroom looking for a location that isn't too easy to guess and offers "backup" pictures as hints. The selection is getting smaller as the game progresses, but here's the next picture. What city is this taken in?

Amsterdam?

No, this picture was not taken in the Netherlands.

But in Europe though?

I know the country (a street sign gave it away), but have no clue what city.

This picture was indeed taken in a European city.

Yes it was, also the cars are a dead giveaway, at least to me. Great picture, this one might last awhile!

I'm happy that identifying this one is a challenge. I'll post another picture from this location from a slightly different vantage point in a bit, unless of course someone guesses the location!

I feel like it might be Madrid, or somewhere in France.....

Feelings can sometimes be misleading

Never been there, but I'll guess Hamburg?

I was going to post a Hamburg set of pictures, bu decided against it. This water is sweet, not salt...

Lots of flags in the distance. going to guess it is something where the EU is centred. So... Brussels?

So let’s narrow it down, street signs, cars, flags and now sugar is in the water. Lol. I see the statue of what appears to be Poseidon with his trident, so I’m guessing that is some sort of water feature, but the rail throws me off. I know the country, but I’ll be darned if I know the city.

This might be a lesser deity than Poseidon himself, but the affinity to water remains! Another hour and I'll post another image from this location.
p.s. Jeannius - sorry, not Bruxelles

Copenhagen

Duisburg

Neither Copenhagen nor Duisburg. This shopping promenade with exclusive stores is called the "Kö" (pronounced as a "K" and then the beginning of "Oedipus") by the locals. Here's another picture taken in the pedestrian shopping zone:

It appears to be a German speaking country. So, Germany, Austria or the German speaking bit of Switzerland or Italy. How about Vienna

Here are two more pictures, one of the same feature but from a different angle, and another taken just a hundred yards away...

So now the rail makes sense, so since one cat is out of the bag (the name of the country) I’ll say it. The country is Germany, I could tell by the street signs and the abundance of Mercedes automobiles sitting on the street. So with the other photos provided and seeing the river boats, I would say the body of water is the Rhine River. There were other clues in the photo, so when may we use google?

Zanshin posted it Yesterday at 11:11 AM (UTC)
18 hours from that time is 5:11 AM (UTC)
Current UTC Time is: 12:23 PM (UTC)

Google has been open for the last 7 hours
Go for it

Duesseldorf

xrayman67 has it, this is Düsseldorf. The "Kö" stands for Königsallee and it is the 6th biggest city in Germany.

Take it away...

Here you go!

Could be anywhere in the Caribbean, but I'll guess St. John to start.

My guess was going to be St. Augustine.

St. John and St. Augustine are not correct. This is in the Caribbean and was only built in 1962-63.

I would say that appears to be an old sugar mill somewhere in the Caribbean, just a guess

Well, based on your timeline, one more guess and that is St. Croix

Puerto Rico

SXMFOX, although similar in appearance, this is not an old sugar mill.

Sleepychef is correct-Puerto Rico. Yokahu Observation Tower in the El Yunque National Forest.

Would have never guessed that Xman, but seeing how tall it is, makes sense.

Nice day for a stroll in the park

Butchart Gardens in Victoria?

Close but no cigar

What about Portland?

Seattle...strictly based on Swifty and Freds guesses, no idea ha!!!

Vancouver?

yes but where in Vancouver Carol and only as the first guess was so close

Oh. Sorry, "Victoria" to me didn't mean Vancouver. We visited a gardens in Vancouver, but no idea what the name was..

It was Stanley Park , you win

You gave up easily! Ok, will look for something.