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The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace was begun to be built by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. It was finished in 1694 12 years after the Dalai Lama had died.  It is said that the government kept the Dalai Lama's death secret until the Potala was finished.  All the Dalai Lamas since then have lived in the Potala.  The current Dalai Lama lived at the Potala until he fled in 1959 when he was a teenager.  At this time there are a few monks sho continue to live there and help maintain the building.
 
 
The Potala can be viewed from all over the city and from outside of the city as one approaches it.  This is from the most southern point of the city.  It seems to tower above everything.  It is said that during World War II an American plane crashed near Lhasa.  The people were very angry because the pilot's had gotten higher than the potala and could look into it.  A high reverence was held for the Dalai Lama and the place he lived.
This is from the roof of the Jokhang which is in the middle of the city.  Th epole that you see in the front is a prayer flag pole.  It is cover with Prayer flags and is considered a very sacred object.  The size of the Potala though can only be appreciated close up.  As you will see in the next picture. 
 
 
Ok Dad here is the picture you always wanted.  Me in front of the Potala.  I am standing in the Park across the stree fron the Potala Palace and  a friend is taking the picture.  The palace really is quite an amazing sight.
This is right underneath the potala looking up.  Hopefully this can give you an understanding of how the palace really towers over everything. It really is huge. 
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition the Potala is also considered an object of worship.  These are the prayer wheels that go all the way around the wall of the palace.  People will walk around the palace saying prayers, spinning the prayer wheels.  Any path or walkway that goes around a sacred object is called a Kora.  This is a very busy kora where there are pilgrims everyday.  Along most koras there are also people selling many different things (vegetables, food, clothes, religious objects, pots,etc.), as you can see here on the left. 
 
This is another part of the Kora around the Potala.  Animals are often taken on koras.  One of the last times I was walking here I suddenly  got bumped from behind and heard this awful noise (ok you farmers probably won't think it is an awful noise) BAAAAAAAAA and then I got bumped again.  A sheep was off it's tether.  It definately scared me.  And I moved aside and let it pass. 

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