Ryugyong Hotel North Korea Pyongyang

There are many things to strange to be believed, but none too strange to have happened. I think the Ryugyong hotel qualified. The North Korean regime started construction in 1986, it stopped in 1992, and now 17 years later, it's still there, completely empty.

I've read that when visiting Pyongyang, it is extremely bad form to *mention* the building. (Kind of a 1,000-foot-high elephant in the living room.)

I understand that the elevator shafts are too uneven to operate, and there's no electricity to operate them. If anybody ever actually stayed there, that would make room service delivery to the 105th floor a real adventure. (pant, pant, pant, *gasp* for breath) "Here's your sandwich, sir!" "Look, I *specifically* said, *no* *mustard*. Take it back!"