New Vegas hotel may be demolished

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

LAS VEGAS — The prospect of an imploding hotel tower on the Las Vegas Strip conjures images of Hollywood blockbusters — lots of dynamite, a dramatic fall and billowing clouds of dust.

But the owners of the never-opened Harmon near the Strip’s midpoint are convinced that bringing down the 26-story structure can be done safely, with minimal disruption to neighboring buildings and nearby traffic.

Seems tough to fathom given where the stylish oval cylinder sits, but demolition experts say it shouldn’t be too tough thanks to the building’s size and the pedigree of those running the job.

New Vegas hotel may be demolished

“They have to be careful, they have to clean all around it, and they have to make sure there’s an area where the building comes down if it spreads out,” said Herb Duane, a demolition consultant based in New Hampshire who has worked in the industry more than 30 years.

“Twenty-six stories is very doable,” Duane told The Associated Press.

MGM Resorts International, the casino company that owns the Harmon as part of its $8.5 billion CityCenter joint venture, said as it proposed demolition to the county that implosion is the best option for a building that they say wouldn’t be able to support its own weight in a strong earthquake. County building officials had asked the company to propose a plan to fix the building they call a public health hazard.

The Harmon was originally envisioned as a boutique hotel and condominium tower to open in December 2009 with the rest of the 67-acre complex of hotels, entertainment and a casino. But problems with reinforcing steel in the construction led MGM Resorts to shorten the tower in half and put off its opening at least a year. It never opened.

Now, plans call for an implosion in six months, followed by four months of cleanup.

Company spokesman Alan Feldman declined comment Tuesday, saying the company was waiting for all necessary approvals from the county and court officials handling a separate legal case involving MGM Resorts and Tutor Perini Corp., the main contractor for CityCenter. A county spokesman declined comment.

Perini contends the building is structurally sound, and that MGM Resorts is pushing for demolition to bolster its legal case because it’s more economically wise than having to fill more rooms on the Strip. No matter what happens to the Harmon, MGM Resorts and Perini are likely to still have a dispute over unpaid construction bills.

Representatives for LVI Services, Inc., the demolition company that would run the job, and Controlled Demolition, Inc., the subcontractor in charge of the implosion itself, declined comment, referring questions to MGM Resorts.

Greenland Travel Information

Greenland Travel Information

The rugged Arctic island of icebergs and stunning glacier landscapes, Greenland is a unique place to visit. This world’s biggest island set between Europe and North America is the home of interesting Inuit culture, arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales and seals, and the midnight sun. The remote Greenland is a nature paradise suitable for the adventurous and well-prepared visitors.

Arctic island with glaciers and Inuit culture: Greenland

Located mostly beyond the Arctic Circle, 84% of Greenland is covered with ice. Much of the ice-free area in located along the coast as the mountainous inland of Greenland consists mostly of glaciers. The main attractions on this icy island are the many stunning glaciers shining in rich shades of blue, the Arctic wildlife of the coastal regions, and the attractive capital Nuuk, which is a showroom of Greenland’s culture and a destination full of breathtaking natural beauty and interesting wildlife.

Arctic nature wonders The most famous of Greenland’s incredible icebergs is Ilulissat, which is floating in coastal waters of a small fishing village. The midnight sun lightens the stunning landscapes of Greenland non-stop for weeks in the summer and offers an adventurous wonderland for outdoor sports such as dog-sled tours or trekking in Greenland, kayaking or climbing, not to mention the art of landscape photography. In another words, Greenland is an amazing and wild outdoor park waiting for the active visitor.

Colorful houses on the coast of Greenland

Infrastructure and services. A prehistoric home of Inuit people that has seen the influence of both Norwegian and Danish culture, contemporary Greenland is a home of Inuit fishermen and an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark. Although Greenland is an island with small towns only, tourist services (where there are any) are quite good and tourism is a growing industry in this Arctic destination.Hotels in Greenland offer convenient accommodation, and some restaurants in Greenland that are suitable to most tastes are also available.

Shopping facilities Although shopping is not one of the major attractions of expensive Greenland, some interesting opportunities for shopping are offered especially in Nuuk. The most popular shopping items of Greenland are Inuit arts and crafts and sealskin. In addition to these, duty-free goods are available at the airport for international air passengers.

A view of Glacier in Greenland

Greenland – the home of the midnight sun

Greenland has an arctic climate with highly changeable weather and average monthly high temperatures only occasionally rising above 10 degrees. During the cold and icy winter of this northern island, average monthly high temperatures are usually below zero from October to April.

The best time to travel to Greenland is between June and August for summer activities, and between December and March for winter activities. If you arrive in summer, you will see the magical midnight sun, which means the sun never gets below the horizon for weeks.

Northern lights in above Greenland

Safety. No matter which time you plan to travel, Greenland is a safe destination where crime is practically an unknown matter. However, the presence of polar bears and other representatives of Greenland’s wild but interesting nature, and the challenges set by the Arctic weather make outdoor activities in Greenland potentially dangerous if not done with a professional guide.

How to get there. Flights to Greenland are best available from Denmark and Iceland. Cruises to Greenland are available from both Europe and North America. The adventurous nature of Greenland is boosted by the fact that this large arctic island lacks train and road network, which is why best opportunity to travel around in Greenland is by internal air connections. Unless of course you want to use more sportive means of transport such as for instance those offered in husky safaris. Rental cars in Greenland can be hard to find.

A view of glaciers in Greenland

Finding your way. Note that all places in Greenland have two names, of which one is in Greenlandic and the other in Danish that used to be the major language of Greenland, but has today been put aside by Greenlandic. Another interesting thing is that most places are so small no one has bothered to put a road sign visible. Therefore, if you have problems finding your way in Greenland, ask locals, and they can most likely help you.

Roskilde Travel Information

Roskilde Travel Information

A charming Danish city famous for its rock festival, Roskilde used to be the place of the hippies. Centuries before that, the city was inhabited by Vikings whose heritage is today made visible in Roskilde’s interesting museums and heritage centers. More than that, this hilly historical town in Denmark offers you architectural sights such as the first Gothic cathedral of Scandinavia. Facilities for shopping and entertainment make your stay in Roskilde even better. When the time comes for leaving, Copenhagen is almost next door.

Yellow buildings in Roskilde

Roskilde, Danish rock festival city with historical sights & Viking heritage

Located on the island of Zealand near the Danish capital Copenhagen, Roskilde is dedicated to its cultural heritage. This small city hosts a Viking Ship Museum, where you can admire ancient sailing ships of the Vikings. If you want to give it a try yourself, it is possible to participate in a sailing tour on a Viking boat on the fjord. This opportunity is offered by Lejre Forsogscenter, a showplace of houses and settings from the Viking Age and even earlier times. The area hosts also historic workshops and has domestic animals around to please especially children.

Famous rock festival. As for the entertainment for slightly older people, Roskilde is the home of the famous Roskilde Rock Festival. In the 1970s this lively event used to be the playground of hippies, but today the festival is enjoyed by young people from all over Europe. In recent years Roskilde Festival held in June has been attended by more than 80,000 people annually.

Roskilde fjord with a couple in their kanos

Sights and activities. A city of culture and entertainment, Roskilde offers you also architectural sights. The most famous building of the city is the Roskilde Cathedral, which is located in the very heart of the city and is known as the burial place of Danish royalties. This 12th century church is the first Gothic cathedral of Scandinavia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hilly city offers you also scenic landscapes and plenty of opportunities for entertainment and shopping in Roskilde. Sailing and kayaking in Roskilde Fjord and the many courses for golf in Roskilde are wanted activities among outdoor people. In case you are planning to tour more in Denmark, Copenhagen is close by and charming castles and countryside of Jylland can be easily reached from Roskilde.

A city view of Roskilde

Practical information for your trip to Roskilde

Roskilde has warm, short summers and long, cold winters. While summertime temperatures (June-August) are around 20°C, winter temperatures in Roskilde can drop to zero degrees Celsius.

Although annual rainfall in Roskilde is quite moderate, it rains evenly throughout the year. If you want to see Denmark at its best, visit Roskilde between April and October, but if you are not afraid of cold temperatures, Roskilde is a pleasant destination any time of the year.

An evening shot showing the festival area of Roskilde

How to get there. There is a small airport just south of the city, but for travelling and flights to Roskilde most visitors use the connections of Copenhagen. Travelling inside the hilly city area is best done with a taxi or by foot. Car rental in Roskilde is available for longer tours, and there is a fast train and road connection from Roskilde to Copenhagen, with buses and trains running at frequent intervals.

Viking ship remains in Roskilde

Visitor services. Denmark is a popular tourism destination, which is well prepared to meet the needs of the flow of international visitors who come here. The peak time for tourism in Roskilde is during the summer, especially at the time of the Roskilde Festival in June. Even though most of the festival guests stay in tents, hotels in Roskilde can be fully booked in June. Restaurants in Roskilde are also very popular during the summer, not least because there are plenty of places where you can sit outside enjoying the atmosphere and landscapes. Nightlife in Roskilde is active as it is a University town, but this first capital of Denmark is still a small and safe travel destination. Many locals in Roskilde speak some English.

Jutland Travel Information

Jutland Travel Information

Representing the green side of Denmark, Jutland is filled with charming attractions such as rural castles, fascinating small towns, astonishing beaches, and sand dunes surrounded by lovely pine forests. There is also the entertainment part of Jutland with vibrant cities of Aarhus and Aalborg, and with Legoland theme park of Billund.

From Aarhus city to Billund Legoland: Attractions of Jutland

Forming the mainland of Denmark also known as Jylland, Jutland is a large peninsula filled with astonishingly many fascinating touristic sights. You could start from the city of Aarhus (Århus), which hosts interesting museums, refreshing parks and lovely restaurants, as well as Denmark’s best entertainment facilities and the best place for nightlife in Jutland. Also worth seeing is the charming Danish countryside with its small towns with fascinating castles, ancient rune stones and lovely atmosphere of the old-fashioned meeting the modern. Visit for example Ribe that is the oldest town in Denmark, Skagen with its beautiful beaches and artist community, or Silkeborg with its beautiful nearby lakes.

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland

Nature and sports. Jutland is also home to refreshing coastal dune areas where pine forests and sand dunes form ideal surroundings for hiking, mountain biking, or simply enjoying the scenery on an outdoor picnic, or lying on the beach sunbathing on a sunny summer day. If you care for water sports, kayaking and sailing are enjoyable in Jutland’s coast, and many try also golf in Jutland, or birdwatching in Jutland’s Wadden Sea marshes.

The Egeskov Castle in Jutland

Famous theme park Families with small children should definitely not want to miss the fairytale world of Billund Legoland theme park, which is arguably the oldest theme park of the world and one of the most attractive sights in Denmark. It is a well-maintained tourism destination with restaurants and shops to entertain also those who have problems diving into the wonders of the Pirate World, Knight’s Kingdom, or Adventure Land offered by the park.Shopping in Jutland is at its best in cities like Aalborg and Aarhus.

Legoland Billund theme park in Jutland

Jutland, a hospitable Scandinavian touring destination

Weather in Jutland is changeable with warm, short summers and long, cold winters. While summertime temperatures (June-August) are around 20°C, winter temperatures in Jutland drop to zero degrees or less.

Although annual rainfall in Jutland is quite moderate, it rains throughout the year. Therefore, if you want to see Jutland at its best, come here between April and October.

A large house with a thatched roof and exposed wooden beams. On the Jutland Peninsula, in Denmark, east of Jels.

How to get there Traveling to Jutland is easy by air through Aarhus and Billund airports, which offer flights to Jutland from European destinations. Additionally, the busy Copenhagen airport is located within reasonable driving distance from Jutland. There are good road, train and ferry connections to Jutland from elsewhere in Denmark and Germany. Rental cars in Jutland are the best alternative for moving around in the region, although public transport in Jutland is also quite efficient. If you want to get an extra large proportion of the fresh Danish air, biking in Jutland could be a could idea as well.

A brick church on the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark

Visitor services Denmark is a popular tourism destination that is well prepared to meet the needs of international visitors. Jutland is no exception to the rule, offering excellent hotels in Jutland, efficient tourist information centers, as well as varied resources of restaurants in Jutland. Many people in the area speak some English. Adding the pleasure of your stay, Jutland is a very safe destination that is well suitable also for families with small children.