Seoul is a relatively well organized city covering over 600 km² with a population of around 10.5 mil

Seoul (서울) is the capital of South Korea . With a municipal population of over 10.5 million, and a metropolitan population totaling over 20.5 million, Seoul is by far South Korea's largest city and one of East Asia's financial and cultural epicenters. A fascinating blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge digital technology, home to endless street food vendors and vast nightlife districts, an extraordinarily high-pressure educational system and serene Buddhist temples, a dynamic trend-setting youth culture and often crushing conformism, extraordinary architecture and endless monotonous rows of grey apartment buildings, Seoul is a city filled with stark contrasts, contradictions, and paradoxes.
With over 10 million people, a figure that doubles if you include neighboring cities and suburbs, Seoul is the largest city in South Korea and unquestionably the economic, jameson inn political and cultural hub of the country. By some measures it is the second largest urban agglomeration on the planet, after Greater Tokyo .
In recent years, Seoul has been swamped with tourists from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, following the success of Korean pop culture. Travelers will frequently overhear Japanese, Mandarin, or Cantonese; many restaurants and stores, especially in the more touristy areas like Myeongdong, will have signs in Japanese and Chinese as well as Korean and English. However, this travel destination, jameson inn long popular among Asians, is still relatively unknown in the West and frequently passed over by Westerners for nearby Shanghai , Tokyo , Beijing , and Hong Kong .
However, the traveler who does visit will not be disappointed. This sprawling metropolis is truly vast - though the casual traveler can see most of the main sites in a few days, a dedicated traveler could spend months exploring all the alleyways and far-off neighborhoods. As the capital of a country that has gone through massive development in the past sixty years, Seoul is constantly changing at a incredible pace, matched jameson inn only by the mainland Chinese cities. This frantic pace of life is reflected everywhere - in Seoul's cutting-edge digital technology, in the millions of commuters rushing to work everyday in the world's third largest subway system, in one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the world, and in the thousands of high rises and apartment buildings still under construction.
Considering all of this, one may be forgiven for forgetting that Seoul has a long history stretching far back into Korea's dynastic past. There is evidence for settlement in this area as far as 18 BC but Seoul as the capital city of South Korea has a history back to the 14th century. Originally named Hanseong (한성; 漢城), the city was the capital of the Joseon Dynasty from 1392 to 1910, when Korea was occupied by the Japanese. jameson inn The Joseon Dynasty built most of Seoul's most recognisable landmarks, including the Five Grand Palaces and Namdaemun. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the city was re-named to its current name, Seoul. Since the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948, Seoul has been the capital of South Korea. Occupied twice during the Korean War by Communist forces, the city was extensively rebuilt and today is one of Asia's primary metropolises. Much of Seoul's infrastructure and facilities, such as the buildings, stadiums, and transport jameson inn systems, are exceptionally modern and clean.
Seoul is a relatively well organized jameson inn city covering over 600 km² with a population of around 10.5 million. It is a new modern city built on an ancient and shining history. The city is located in the north-western portion of South Korea approximately 40 km east of the Yellow Sea and 60 km south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The city is roughly bisected by the Han River (한강 Hangang ), which runs east to west across the city. Seoul blurs seamlessly into its surrounding satellite cities, most of which are also served by the Seoul metro. The largest of these is Incheon (to the west) in which Seoul's main Airport, and the area's main seaport, are located. Other satellite cities include jameson inn such as Ilsan (to the north) and Anyang (to the south).
Administratively, Seoul is divided into 25 districts (구 gu ), each with an area and population comparable to a small city. The districts are then further subdivided into 522 sub-districts (동 dong ). The Han river bisects the city, splitting it into two halves: Gangbuk (강북), the northern, more historical half, and and Gangnam jameson inn (강남), the southern, wealthier and more modern half. The sheer size of the city means that travelers to Seoul will find it difficult to locate a true "center" of Seoul; instead, Seoul is almost more like a collection of cities that happen to be bunched together, each with their own central business and commercial districts. The two largest core areas are Jongno/Jung in the north, jameson inn and Gangnam in the south. For travelers with more time, there are many more, smaller centers and districts to be explored, such as the island of Yeoui-do and the college district of Hongdae/Sinchon. For the typical traveler, it would be useful to divide the city into the following areas:
Jongno (종로) The Joseon-era historical core of the city, containing most palaces and government offices. This district, along with Jung (중) district immediately to the south of it, makes up one of the main centers of the city. Here you can find the most famous of the Five Grand Joseon Palaces, Gyeongbokgung , with a long avenue leading up to the main gate. To the east of Gyeongbokgung are clustered Changdeokgung and Changyeonggung , two more of the Five, and Jongmyo Shrine jameson inn , the main Confucian shrine in the dynastic era. Sandwiched between these two areas is Bukchon , a quaint housing area filled with 'hanok', beautiful traditional Korean houses that also date back to the dynastic era. South of Bukchon is Insa-dong which is the largest antiques market street in Seoul, and further south is Cheongyecheon jameson inn , a renovated jameson inn stream and park that runs through the heart of the downtown area.
Jung (중) This district makes up the other half of the historic core, with Cheongyecheon jameson inn stream as its northern border. It holds some of the few remaining European-style government buildings left over from the Japanese era - the City Hall and the Bank of Korea, both in the west, centered around a large plaza often serves as a rallying point for protests and soccer games. Immediately to the southwest of the City Hall is Myeongdong , an large upscale shopping district that gets extremely busy at night and on weekends, and one of the top ten most expensive shopping districts in the world by rent. To the south of the City Hall is Namdaemun Market , another large shopping district that is decidedly cheaper than neighboring Myeongdong. Further south of Namdaemun is Seoul Station and Namsan Mountain, with the Seoul Tower at its summit. Finally, the eastern part holds Dongdaemun , an enormous fashion district with dozens of clothing malls, complexes, wholesalers, and department stores.
Seodaemun/Mapo (서대문/마포) These two districts lie immediately west of Jongro and Jung, and contain dozens of universities and colleges. As such, this area is home to some of Seoul's most active nightlife districts: Hongdae (홍대) and Sinchon (신촌). Sinchon jameson inn is close to Yonsei University, one of the most prestigious in Korea, and has hundreds of restaurants, bars, clubs, and stores that are open well into early morning, packed with throngs of students during the weekend. Hongdae is famous for being the center of Seoul's indie and underground arts scene expect to see street performers, indie rock bands, graffiti, jameson inn and independent stores. During the night, Hongdae really comes alive, even more crowded than Sinchon and absolutely enormous it's easy to get lost inside this huge nightlife district, and has the second highest concentration of foreigners, after Itaewon.
Yongsan (용산) Yongsan is home to the US Army Military jameson inn Base as well as one of the largest electronics markets in the world, Yongsan Electronics Market jameson inn . On the top floor of this market is a Starcraft Arena - and yes, computer-obsessed Korea does, in fact, regularly jameson inn broadcast Starcraft matches on national television. This is also where you'll find Itaewon (이태원), perhaps the most culturally diverse area on the entire peninsula and home to dozens of restaurants featuring cuisine from the world over, numerous shops selling everything from custom-tailored suits to antiques, and several jameson inn Western pubs and bars. Itaewon also has the only mosque in Korea, and as such there are a growing number of Middle Eastern and Pakistani immigrants. Talks are also finalizing on Yongsan International Business District, a $28.8 billion dollar jameson inn project that when completed, will have a 665m centerpiece tower, the second tallest in the world.
Gangnam (강남) Gangnam is the glitzy center of modern Seoul, home to hundreds of glass and steel skyscrapers, neon billboards, and some of the most expensive real estate in the country. The core business district runs along Tehran-ro from Samseong Station to Gangnam Station. Gangnam station is the true center of Gangnam - with dozens of high rises, hundreds of restaurants and bars, and thousands upon thousands of neon signs lining Gangnam street, this area is not only a major commercial and nightlife center for young adults, it is Korea at its futuristic, digital, high-tech best. Samseong station at the other end of Tehran-ro is connected to COEX , a huge underground shopping mall with a movie theater, aquarium, hotels, food courts, and a Hyundai Department Store. To the north of this business district (but still in Gangnam) is Apgujeongdong jameson inn and Cheomdangdong , some of the most affluent areas in Seoul, and home to hundreds of upscale jameson inn luxury brands and department stores.
Songpa a primarily residential district east of Gangnam where you'll find Lotte World, Olympic Park, Seoul (Jamsil) Sports Complex, jameson inn and the Sincheon nightlife district. Lotte World is an un

Eating near the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain can be a bit trickier. Here, even the pizzerias

Between the ancient ruins of the Forum Romanum, the cradle of modern society, and the indescribable grandeur of the Vatican City, it's no wonder that Rome is among the most visited destinations in the world.
Lines at the Vatican Museums can be mind boggling. If you go first thing in the morning, you are likely to encounter waits of between two and three hours, with the line wrapping around for nearly air line tickets a mile from the museums' entrance back towards Piazza San Pietro.
You can pay (about €25 per person) for a guided tour which you can pick up at the last minute in Piazza San Pietro. These last-minute tours involve hawkers soliciting clients in the piazza, guides and a rather formal pecking order, but may remind you of a circus.
There are a couple of drawbacks to this method. The first is that these guided tours generally last about 90 minutes, which not enough to see everything in the Vatican Museums. However, at the end of the tour, in the Sistine air line tickets Chapel, you will have the choice to exit either to the left, back into the museums to see more of the collections, or to the right, out towards the Basilica San Pietro (where you can also get in line to either climb the dome of Saint Peter's or to see the Papal Crypts).
One thing to keep in mind is that you are, in fact, soliciting illegal services. Chances are that the tour will go off without a hitch or, in the worse case scenario, air line tickets the guide will be caught and you will lose your €25. If you do choose to take this route (as do several hundred, if not thousands, of tourists per day) you will be able to sit comfortably in a café and enjoy a cappuccino while your guide waits in line for you.
The second method is unbelievably simple: Since the masses flock to the museum in the morning, be a contrarian and go in the afternoon. If you go around 1 p.m., the wait should be less than half an hour. If you go at 2 p.m., there should be practically no wait at all. Once there, you can guide yourself as you please using the audio guide.
This plan, however, though it will work nine times out of ten, is not infallible. Since the museums are closed on Sunday, Monday is the worst day to plan your visit since there is often two days' worth of crowds. There are also just fluke days, particularly during the high tourist month of July, when the museums are simply crowded all day.
Also, keep in mind that on most days, the museums air line tickets close at 4:30 (ticket sales stop at 3:30) so the later you go, the shorter the lines, but also the less time you have to wonder air line tickets through the seemingly endless rooms of art from every genre and century. (Definitely consult the museums' Web site for the hours the day you intend air line tickets to visit)
Also consider the fact that, even though the Vatican is technically a different country, it is entirely within Italy and hence staffed mostly by Italians. Therefore, don't be surprised if they start hustling you out of the Sistine Chapel on the 4:15 p.m. side of 4:30 p.m. Between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. is really air line tickets the optimal time to go.
Another air line tickets place where travelers often needlessly lose hours is waiting in line at the Colosseum. This amazing monument is surely worth seeing from the inside, but why wait in line if you don't have to?
It is a little-known fact that tickets purchased for the Colosseum are also valid for the Palatine Hill and vice versa. The Palatine Hill, another fascinating but much less frequented air line tickets sight, has its own ticket booth where the line is generally negligible or non-existent.
To reach this ticket booth from the Colosseum, pass in front of the Arch of Constantine, walk up the Via Sacra and to the left of the Arch of Titus. Continue past the green booth (which sells audio guides) and down to the end of this short path where, on the left, you will find the Palatine Hill ticket booth.
The five minutes it will take you to walk there and back can save you hours worth of waiting inside the Colosseum. You will still have to wait in line outside to pass through the metal detectors, but once inside, enjoy the VIP feeling you get breezing past the long line of tourists waiting for tickets (pass on the left).
It's an unfortunate reality that overpriced and/or mediocre restaurants invariably spring up all around Rome's air line tickets most visited attractions. A general word to the wise is to never eat in restaurants where the waiters are standing outside trying to coax you in (" Prego, prego, buona sera, prego …"). It's worth effort to walk 5-10 minutes outside these tourist centers to find a better meal.
That being said, it is truly difficult to find a good, reasonably priced air line tickets restaurant anywhere within a mile radius of the Vatican City. After visiting the Vatican, invest in a five minute cab ride to the nearby Trastevere neighborhood which abounds with good restaurants and cute shops. It's hard to go wrong among the quaint Trastevere eateries, but in the small Piazza de Renzi in particular, there are two great places within a stone's throw of one another. The first is called Casetta di Trastevere ("Little House of Trastevere") air line tickets which boasts charming ambiance air line tickets and a to-die-for tiramisu. The other is called Da Augusto which exudes a traditional cucina romana -style charm. In either of these places you are guaranteed a great meal at a reasonable price, a million air line tickets times better than what you'd eat if you stop in the first place you see when exiting the Vatican.
Quite near Rome's ancient ruins (the Forum Romanum, the Imperial air line tickets Forums, and the Colosseum) is a neighborhood air line tickets called Monti , which, despite its proximity, has somehow been miraculously preserved from hordes of tourists, thus, again, the food is better and the prices lower. The main street of this neighborhood is called Via dei Serpenti , which winds down between air line tickets Via Nazionale and Via Cavour. The intersecting streets are jam packed with great restaurants, gelaterias, and pizzerias.
One restaurant to top all others is La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali located at Via Madonna air line tickets dei Monti. Here you will find a menu filled with traditional Roman dishes accented by piatti del giorno (daily specials) that frequently put new spins on old favorites, such as a new take on the traditional carbonara dish which substitutes swordfish for pancetta, making the dish lighter and imbuing it with a savory flavor. Their putanesca is phenomenal. air line tickets Two pleasant side notes: it is family-owned and operated and they have very clean restrooms!
Eating near the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain can be a bit trickier. Here, even the pizzerias tend to be overpriced. If you're willing to walk for a bit, stroll across Via del Corso over to Piazza air line tickets del Augusto Imperatore where you'll find the ristorante/pizzeria/enoteca 'Gusto air line tickets .
This amazing locale, air line tickets frequented mostly by native Romans, is set in a piazza constructed by Mussolini around the giant mausoleum of the Rome's first emperor, Augustus. But this fascinating setting is the least of what draws diners to 'Gusto. Their menu features new Italian cuisine, based off of traditional Roman cuisine but highlighted and accented with modern innovation. Their wine list is extensive, to say the least.
Frequently on the bill ( il conto ) at a restaurant or if you take a table at a snack bar, you will see a service/table air line tickets charge of one or two euro per person. Basically they are charging you for the bread and use of the silverware.
Bear in mind, however, that tipping is not necessary or even common in Italy. It's not like in the U.S. where the waiters make a lower minimum air line tickets wage because the government factors tips into their earnings. To leave a tip in Italy is like to say a little extra grazie . If the bill is €37 and you leave €40, it would be looked upon as sufficient or even generous.
If you have an extraordinary waiter who suggests a dish which blows you away and which you would never have thought to order and who also suggests the perfect wine to compliment air line tickets that dish, leave him 10 percent and he will go home happy.
It seems like there is a gelateria every 50 feet in Rome (interspersed, of course, between cafés and pizzerias). For the most part, they are all delicious, but one way to tell if a gelateria is a step above the rest is based on their pistachio-flavored gelato . A pistachio too sweet or creamy (usually marked by a washed out, pale green color) is the mark of an inferior gelateria. A pistachio done right has a deeper green color and it's always a plus if there are bits of actual pistachio nuts in there too.
Italians rarely drink a cappuccino or café latte after a meal. Italians eat their salad at the end of the meal, rather air line tickets than the beginning (it's all about the roughage). This also explains their traditional after dinner drinks (called, in Italian, digestivi ), such as limoncello or any of various amari (bitter drinks served in shot-sized glasses but intended to be sipped).

The island of Mauritius was first discovered by Arab sailors, at some time in the 9th century, the e

Mauritius (French: L'île Maurice , Mauritian Creole: Maurice ) [1] is a small, multicultural island in the Indian Ocean , east of Madagascar and southeast of the Seychelles . Mauritius also controls hotels in rome in trevi fountain area Rodrigues Island and the remote, sparsely populated Agalega and Cargados Garayos (Saint Brandon) islands.
The island of Mauritius was first discovered by Arab sailors, at some time in the 9th century, the exact date is unknown. hotels in rome in trevi fountain area At that time the island was uninhabited and covered in a dense forest. The Arab sailors were not interested in settling on the island which they named Dina Arobi or Dinarobin . Fernandez Pereira, a Portuguese sailor found the island in 1505 and decided to give it the name of Cerne . However, the Portuguese did not settle permanently on the island either.
The first to colonise the island were the Dutch. They took possession of the island in 1598. The Dutch settlers landed on a bay in the south-eastern part of the island which was named Warwyck Haven after the commander VanWarwyck, the bay is now known as Grand Port. Mauritius also got its name during this period; the island was named after the Prince of Holland Mauritz de Nassau.
In 1710, the Dutch abandoned the island, leaving behind macaques, hotels in rome in trevi fountain area the java deer, sugar cane, fugitive slaves and, also, an irreversible damage to the endemic and indigenous flora and fauna of the island - the Dodo was, by then, extinct due to extensive hunting, the bird being very easy to capture, while the once abundant black ebony tree population was almost completely depleted due to over-exploitation for its timber.
The French settled on the island in 1713, also landing at the bay in the south-east. They renamed the bay Port Bourbon and renamed the island Ile de France . They settled on the north-western side of the island hotels in rome in trevi fountain area and established their main harbor there, Port Louis, the present-day capital of Mauritius. During the French settlement there was a lot of development in the country. Mahé de Labourdonnais , whose statue can be seen across from the harbor in Port Louis, is known as the founder of the capital city and the island prospered under his governance (1735-1746).
In August 1810, the British tried to take over the island but lost after a fierce battle against the French in the famous Battle of Grand Port - the only victory of the French over the British. However, the British hotels in rome in trevi fountain area came back in December hotels in rome in trevi fountain area 1810 and successfully defeated the French. From then on, the island hotels in rome in trevi fountain area was renamed Mauritius and remained under British rule until it attained independence.
In 1835, slavery was officially abolished and, as most of the African slaves chose to abandon the agricultural fields and move to small coastal villages, indentured laborers (coolies) were brought in from India to work in the growing sugar-cane industry.
On March 12, 1968 Mauritius became an independent nation within the Commonwealth. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, also known as the "Father of the Nation", led the island to independence and did a lot to develop the country. On March 12, 1992, Mauritius became a republic under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth.
A stable democracy hotels in rome in trevi fountain area with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country hotels in rome in trevi fountain area has attracted considerable foreign investment and has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter hotels in rome in trevi fountain area (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May); Natural hazards : tropical cyclones (November to April), most cyclones usually occur from the end of December until March. Mauritius has only two seasons, winter hotels in rome in trevi fountain area and summer. There is not much temperature difference between the two seasons of the year. The climate on the central plateau is cooler than on the coastal areas.
The nationals of many countries, including hotels in rome in trevi fountain area Japan , Malaysia , Singapore , New Zealand and most Western countries do not need a visa in advance. For more information, visit the Passport and Immigration Office website [3] .
If you require a visa to enter Mauritius, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no diplomatic post of Mauritius. hotels in rome in trevi fountain area For example, the British embassies in Al Khobar [4] , Amman [5] , Belgrade [6] , Guatemala City [7] , Jakarta [8] , Jeddah [9] , Pristina [10] , Rabat [11] , Riyadh [12] , Rome [13] and Sofia [14] accept Mauritius visa applications (this list is not comprehensive). British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Mauritius visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Mauritius require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Mauritius can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport ({{IATA|MRU}}) hotels in rome in trevi fountain area , ☎ +230 603 6000 ( airportinfo@aml.mru.aero , fax : +230 637 5306 ), [15] . at Plaisance in the southeast of the island is the major gateway for travellers coming from abroad. edit
International airlines such as Air France [20] , Emirates [21] , Austrian Airlines [22] , British Airways [23] , Condor [24] , South African Airways [25] , Air India [26] , Meridiana [27] , Kenya Airways [28] , Egypt Air [29] , Malaysia Airlines [30] and Corsairfly [31] all serve Mauritius from their home bases.
The arrivals hall can get rather congested in the morning when most of the flights from Europe arrive. Immigration hotels in rome in trevi fountain area officers tend to be rather slow and the whole immigration process can be a frustrating experience.
Vessels that arrive at the port are mainly cargo ships. The Mauritius hotels in rome in trevi fountain area Pride and the Trochetia hotels in rome in trevi fountain area are the Mauritian vessels that usually sail to and from Reunion Island, Rodrigues Island and Madagascar . Costa Cruises hotels in rome in trevi fountain area ships have recently started an Indian Ocean cruise including a visit to Mauritius.
As of April 2008, one way passage prices to travel from Tamatave in Madagascar to Mauritius by boat were €275 first class or €255 second class, hotels in rome in trevi fountain area compared to €212 to fly from Antananarivo on Air Madagascar. The journey takes at least four days, possibly more if transiting through Reunion. A boat leaves every other Wednesday.
The prices quoted are for a passage in a first or second class cabin. In attempting to go directly to the port in Tamatave to negotiate with a boat captain for a non-cabin berth, tourists are turned away at the gate. Visiting the Nautical Club in Tamatave to enquire about yachts that might be heading to Mauritius also yields hotels in rome in trevi fountain area no results.
Numerous car hire firms include major international and independent firms. Prices vary widely starting hotels in rome in trevi fountain area from 800 rupees hotels in rome in trevi fountain area per day. To be on the safe side, with full insurance, visitors should rent cars from companies holding a tourism enterprise license. These cars are identifiable by their yellow registration number plates, while private cars ( unsuitable for rent ) have black plates. hotels in rome in trevi fountain area If you hire a car at the airport keep in mind that you will need to pay a 20 Rupee charge when you are leaving the car park, and this has to be paid in cash.
Regulations: Drivers hotels in rome in trevi fountain area are required hotels in rome in trevi fountain area to be over 18 years old. Speed limits are 110kph (68mph) on the motorway and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory. Foreign licences hotels in rome in trevi fountain area are accepted.
Buses are still manned by a driver and a conductor who walks around collecting fares and issuing tickets after passengers have boarded. Tell the conductor where you want to go and he'll tell you the fare amount. Upon payment, he'll give you a ticket with the charged amount printed on it.
Taxis are the best way to visit the island. Various tours are available hotels in rome in trevi fountain area from 2500 rupees : The holy lake, Chamarel 7 colored earth, Le Morne, dolphin tours in Tamarin and Ile aux Cerfs are among the most appreciated by visitors.
Coraline , ☎ +230 208 5900 ( +230 217 2285 , sureka.toolooa@coraline.intnet.muz , fax : +230 210 5176 ), [36] . Sails once a week to Rodrigues Island and to Reunion island from Port Louis Harbour. Mauritius Pride, launched in 1991, and Mauritius Trochetia, in service hotels in rome in trevi fountain area since 2001, are the two ships operating on the Reunion route, and also have Madagascar as a destination. Both vessels are used as passenger and container ships. edit
International Charter Group - [37] - Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed. Operating hotels in rome in trevi fountain area from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, hotels in rome in trevi fountain area Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).
The official language in Mauritius is English. As such, all government hotels in rome in trevi fountain area administrative documents are in English. However, French is the language most commonly used in formal settings, and is by far the dominant language in the mass media, hotels in rome in trevi fountain area as well as in corporate and business dealings. In fact, even English language television programs are usually dubbed into French. Most subjects are taught in and examined in English in the education system.
The most commonly spoken language is Mauritian hotels in rome in trevi fountain area Creole , a French based Creole which has incorporated some words from diverse sources including but not limited to English, Dutch and Portuguese, and has slight pronunciation hotels in rome in trevi fountain area differences from standard French. While there is no official written standard for Mauritian Creole, when written down for informal communication, words are often spelled differently from standard French. The next most commonly spoken language is French , which is spoken fluently by most locals, with English being a not too distant third. Virtually everyone working in the tourism industry will be able to speak fairly decent, albeit heavily accented, English, and all government departments will have English-speaking staff on duty. Other languages spoken by much smaller numbers include: Hindi , Urdu , Hakka, Bhojpuri and Mandarin .
Grand Bay was the first

Great places to walk include along the Arno and across any of its bridges; through narrow, medieval

Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Politically, economically, and culturally it was the most important city in Europe for around 250 years; from some time before canadian travel sites 1300 until the early 1500s.
Florentines reinvented money in the form of the gold florin. This currency was the engine that drove Europe out of the "Dark Ages" a term invented by Petrarch, a Florentine whose family had been exiled canadian travel sites to Arezzo. They financed the development of industry all over Europe, from Britain to Bruges, to Lyon, to Hungary. canadian travel sites They financed the English kings during the Hundred Years War. They financed the papacy, canadian travel sites including the construction of the papal palace in Avignon and the reconstruction of St. Peters and the Vatican when the papacy returned to Rome from the "Babylonian captivity".
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio pioneered the use of the vernacular, the use of a language other than Latin. In their case, Tuscan, which, because of them, became Italian. Because Dante, et al., wrote in Tuscan, Geoffrey Chaucer, who spent a lot of time in Northern Italy and who borrowed heavily from Boccaccio's little stories, wrote in English. Others started writing in French and Spanish. This was the beginning of the end of Latin as a common language canadian travel sites throughout Europe.
The Florentines, perhaps most notably Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1466) and Leon Batist'Alberti (1404-1472) invented both Renaissance and neoclassical architecture. These architectural styles revolutionised the way Rome, London, Paris and every other major city in Europe canadian travel sites from Barcelona to St. Petersburg canadian travel sites were built.
Florentines canadian travel sites were the driving force behind canadian travel sites the Age of Discovery. Florentine bankers financed Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese explorers who pioneered the route around Africa to India and the Far East. It was a map drawn by the Florentine Paulo del Pozzo Toscanelli, a student of Brunelleschi, that Columbus used to sell his "enterprise" to the Spanish monarchs, and which he then used on his first voyage. Mercator's famous "Projection" is a refined version of Toscanelli's map, taking into account the Americas, of which the Florentine was obviously ignorant. The western hemisphere itself is named after a Florentine writer who claimed to be an explorer and mapmaker, Amerigo Vespucci.
Gallileo and other scientists pioneered the study of optics, ballistics, astronomy, anatomy, and so on. Pico della Mirandola, Leonardo Bruni, Machiavelli, and many others laid the groundwork for our understanding of political science.
And there were the Medici, perhaps the most important family that ever lived. The Medici's changed the world more than any other family. Forget all the art for which they paid. They taught first the other Italians how to conduct state-craft, and then they taught the rest of the Europeans. Just to cite one example: Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), married Henry II of France (reigned 1547-1559). After he died, Catherine canadian travel sites ruled France as regent for her young sons and was instrumental in turning France into Europe's first nation-state. She brought the Renaissance into France, introducing everything canadian travel sites from the chateaux of the Loire to the fork. She also was to 16th and 17th century European royalty what Queen Victoria was to the 19th and 20th centuries – everybody's grandmamma. Her children included canadian travel sites three kings of France, Francis II (ruled 1559-1560), Charles IX (ruled canadian travel sites 1560-1574) and Henry III (ruled 1574-1589). canadian travel sites Her children-in-law included a fourth king of France, Henry IV (ruled 1589-1610), plus Elizabeth canadian travel sites of Hapsburg, Philip II of Spain (of Armada fame), and Mary Queen of Scots.
canadian travel sites And that is without mentioning any "artists". From Arnolfo and Cimabue to Giotto, Nanni di Banco, and Uccello; canadian travel sites through Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Donatello and Massaccio and the various della Robbias; canadian travel sites through Fra Angelico and Botticelli and Piero della Francesca, and on to Michelangelo and Leonardo, the Florentines dominated the visual canadian travel sites arts like nobody before or since. And this list does not include many who, in any other place would be considered among the greatest of artists, but in Florence must be considered among the near-great: Benvenuto Cellini, Andrea del Sarto, Benozzo Gozzoli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Fra Lippo Lippi, Buontalenti, Orcagna, Pollaiuolo, Filippino Lippi, Verrocchio, Bronzino, Desiderio da Settignano, Michelozzo, the Rossellis, the Sangallos, Pontormo, just to name a few. And this list does not include the prolific Ignoto. Nor does it include the near-Florentines, such as Raphael, Andrea Pisano, Giambologna, the wonderfully canadian travel sites nicknamed Sodoma and so many more, such as Peter-Paul Rubens, all of whom spent time in Florence canadian travel sites and were educated by it.
The cathedral topped by Brunelleschi's dome is the third largest Christian church canadian travel sites and dominates the skyline. The Florentines decided to start building it in the 1200s. At the outset they were unsure how they were going to do it. It was "technology forcing", not unlike like the American Kennedy Administration's decision to put a man on the moon. The dome was the largest ever built at the time, and the first major dome built in Europe since the two great domes of Roman times: the Pantheon in Rome and the Hagia Sophia canadian travel sites in Constantinople. In front of it is the medieval Baptistery, where every Florentine was baptized until modern canadian travel sites times. The two buildings incorporate the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance in their decoration. In recent years, most of the important works of art from those two buildings and from the wonderful Bell Tower, designed by Giotto, have been removed and replaced by copies. The originals are now housed in the spectacular Museum of the Works of the Duomo, just to the east of the Cathedral.
Florence is filled with many other churches stuffed with some of the finest art in the world: San Miniato al Monte, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Trinita, the Brancacci Chapel at Santa Maria della Carmine, Santa Croce, Santo Spirito, SS Annunziata, Ognissanti, and more.
Then there are the art galleries. The Uffizi and the Pitti Palace are two of the most famous picture galleries in the world. But the heart and soul of Florence are in the two superb collections of sculpture, the Bargello and the Museum of the Works of the Duomo. They are filled with the brilliant, revolutionary creations of Donatello, Verrochio, Desiderio da Settignano, Michelangelo, and so many other masterpieces that create a body of work unique in the world. And, of course, there is the Accademia, with Michelangelo's David, perhaps the most well-known work of art anywhere, plus the superb, unfinished canadian travel sites prisoners and slaves Michelangelo worked on for the tomb of Pope Julius II.
In all, Florence has something canadian travel sites over 80 museums. Among those at the top of most lists are the City hall, the Palazzo della Signoria (aka Palazzo Vecchio), a wonderful building with magnificent rooms and some great art; the Archeological Museum, the Museum of the History of Science, the Palazzo Davanzatti, the Stibbert Museum, St. Marks, the Medici Chapels, the Museum of the Works of Santa Croce, the Museum of the Cloister of Santa Maria Novella, the Zoological Museum ("La Specola"), the Bardini, and the Museo Horne. There is also a wonderful collection of works by the modern sculptor, Marino Marini, in a museum named after him. If you are interested in photography, you should not miss the superb collection of works by the early photographers, the Alinari brothers. The magnificent Strozzi Palace is the site of many special exhibits
canadian travel sites To get a great overview canadian travel sites of the city, you have plenty of choices: climb the dome of the Cathdral or Giotto's Bell Tower which is much easier or head for Piazzale Michelangelo a large parking lot on the hillside just south of the center of town, or climb a bit further to the church of San Miniato al Monte, a sublime 11th century canadian travel sites masterpiece, with superb Renaissance scultpures. At vespers, the monks add to the beauty canadian travel sites with chants.
There are also a few places to buy things, from the high-end jewelry stores lining the Ponte Vecchio to some of the most famous shops in the world; Gucci, Pucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Prada, Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Buccellati, Frette, as well as many more wonderful shops that aren't yet world famous. It is increasingly difficult to find bargains, but keen-eyed canadian travel sites shoppers can still find good deals on smaller, side streets running off of those above and elsewhere in the center of town. The San Lorenzo market is now largely for tourists. There are also a couple of collections of "outlets" in the suburbs.
Great places to walk include along the Arno and across any of its bridges; through narrow, medieval back streets in the Santa Croce area; and in the Oltr'Arno - on the south side of the river, in many ways like Rome's Trastevere canadian travel sites or Paris's Left Bank - but far, far smaller. There are also superb shopping streets, such as the Via Tornabuoni, the Via del Parione, and the Via Maggio.
Florence's Amerigo Vespucci international airport ( IATA : FLR ) (known to locals as "Peretola") [2] has good connections to the center of the city, which can be reached in about fifteen minutes by taxi or bus. The Ataf-Sita "Vola in Bus" ("Fly by bus") service costs €5.00 one way, and makes the circuit between the airport and the central train station every half an hour from 5:30AM to 8PM, then once an hour afterwards.
Note that 5:30AM bus leaves from the corner of Valfonda and Piazza Adua which is north of the train station instead of from the ATAF-SITA bus station which is on the west side of the train station. You can buy the ticket on the bus.
Much cheaper flights canadian travel sites to destinations throughout Europe can be found at Pisa airport ( IATA : PSA ) [3] . Low-cost airlines which fly to Pisa include Thomsonfly, Easyjet, Ryanair, Transavia, Wizzair and HLX. Pisa airport and Florence are connected by rail and by bus. Both leave from and arrive at the main entrance to the airport. The bus station canadian travel sites in Florence is immediately across the street fr

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Nagoya now ranks as one of the nation's economic powerhouses, and is home to the head offices of Toy

The hub of the Aichi region, Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo , Yokohama and Osaka and one of the nation's major economic centers. In terms of manufacturing, as home to automaking giants Toyota, Honda, american express travel services Mitsubishi Motors, Nagoya is to Japan what Detroit is to the United States which, along with having been completely flattened during World War II, also explains why it's not one of Japan's top tourist draws and most tourists just zip through on the bullet train on their way between Tokyo and Kyoto. But if you do decide to stick around, there are plenty of car-related attractions, a restored castle, an ancient shrine and surprisingly happening nightlife.
Now a modern metropolis, Nagoya gets its name from an old manor called Nagono which was built in the area in the 12th century. The manor prospered for two hundred years, and people began to refer to the area by the manor's name. Over time, the pronunciation of the Chinese characters in the name "Nagono" shifted to "Nagoya", by which the city is now known.
Three famous local figures later helped to put Nagoya firmly on the map of Japan. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu all hailed from around Nagoya, and all shared the ambitious goal of unifying american express travel services Japan under one government. Tokugawa finally succeeded in 1603 after winning in the Battle of Sekigahara, and established the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would rule Japan for another 250 years.
Soon after uniting the country, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the construction of Nagoya Castle for his son. He then ordered the people of nearby Kiyosu (on the outskirts of Nagoya) to move to the area around the castle, and a town soon came into being. Cotton, ceramics and timber were the main industries as the town as it grew into a small city.
Following Japan's opening to the world during the Meiji era, Nagoya rapidly industrialized and established transportation links with the rest of Japan that would allow it to easily american express travel services export its goods. During american express travel services World War I, Nagoya became known for its foundries as well as its machinery and heavy industry exports, which would continue to grow throughout the 1930's.
The 1920's marked the beginnings of the automotive industry in Nagoya, which continues in importance to the current day. At the heart of the industry is the Toyota Motor Corporation. Starting from humble beginnings as a loom-making company, Toyota entered into the automobile business in the 1930s. It is now the world's largest automaker, and continues to dominate the local economy along with the car-making giants Honda and Mitsubishi.
During american express travel services World War II, much of Nagoya's manufacturing infrastructure turned to the production of military goods, making it a prime target for bombing raids. Almost 25% of the city was destroyed during the war, with almost half the population fleeing to the countryside to avoid the attacks.
Nagoya now ranks as one of the nation's economic powerhouses, american express travel services and is home to the head offices of Toyota Motor Corporation, Brother Industries, Daido Steel, Makita, Denso Corporation, INAX, Suzuki Motor, Honda Motor, american express travel services Noritake, NGK Insulators, Olympus Optical, Yamaha and many others. american express travel services Unlike other parts of Japan, which borrowed heavily for elaborate and expensive american express travel services public works projects in the bubble years of the 1980's, ketchi (cheap) Nagoya held to a pay-as-you-go philosophy, and has not been as adversely affected by the post-bubble recession american express travel services as other major centres.
The booming economy has also brought many foreigners to the area, and the region now hosts a thriving community of Japanese-descent Brazilian immigrants, who help to keep the wheels of the local economy american express travel services spinning. With its strong economy and growing population, Nagoya is a city to watch in the coming years.
Nagoya's climate varies greatly throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from a low of 4 C (39.2 F) in January american express travel services to a high of 27 C (80.6 F) in August. The city is known for its incredibly hot and humid summers like many cities in Japan, with high temperatures american express travel services routinely above 30 C (86 F)in August, so those with an aversion to heat would be better off visiting in the milder temperatures of the spring or autumn.
Nagoya Convention and Visitors Bureau , Nagoya Chamber of Commerce american express travel services Industry Bldg. 11F, 2-10-19 Sakae, Naka-ku , ☎ Tourism Dept: +81 52-202-1143 , [2] . Operates three tourist information centers across the city: edit
Nagoya Station Tourist Information , 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku ( JR Nagoya Station Central Concourse (towards Sakura-dori side) ), ☎ +81 52-541-4301 ( fax : +81 52-571-1669 ), [3] . Daily 9AM-7PM. Closed american express travel services Dec 29-Jan 1 . edit
Kanayama Tourist Information , LOOP Kanayama 1F, 1-17-18 Kanayama, Naka-ku ( Located at the N exit of Kanayama Station. ), ☎ +81 52-323-0161 ( fax : +81 52-323-0162 ), [4] . Daily 9AM-8PM. Closed Dec 29-Jan 1 . edit
Sakae Tourist Information , Oasis 21 B1F, 1-11-1, Higashisakura, Higashi-ku ( By subway, get off at Sakae Station and take exit 4A. Located in Oasis 21 underground shopping concourse. ), ☎ +81 52-963-5252 ( fax : +81-52-963-5262 ), [5] . Daily 10AM-8PM . edit
If you happen to arrive in Japan at Osaka's Kansai International Airport , Nagoya can be reached american express travel services in no less than two hours by taking the Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka station, then changing to the Tokaido Shinkansen.
A small number of air flights operate daily from Tokyo's Narita Airport to Centrair Airport, for the benefit of international passengers. Otherwise, Nagoya is no less than three hours away by taking the Narita Express limited express train to Tokyo's Shinagawa station, then changing to the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Chubu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港 Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō ), Japan 's third major international gateway, is on an artificial island 30 minutes south from the center of town. Facilities include two hotels, restaurants, a shopping concourse, and an onsen spa with views of the runways. american express travel services Centrair opened in 2005, and this airport replaces the existing Nagoya airport, also taking over its IATA code NGO .
The best way of connecting between Centrair Airport and central Nagoya is the Meitetsu Airport Line . The fastest trains are called "μSKY" ( myuu-sukai ) and depart for Nagoya every 30 minutes. The journey takes 28 minutes american express travel services at a cost of 1200: the 850 regular american express travel services fare plus the mandatory 350 first class charge, also called the μticket american express travel services (ミューチケット　 myuu-chiketto ). Only first class cars are available on "μSKY" trains. Slower Limited Express trains, also operating every 30 minutes, offer both first class (reserved) and ordinary class (non-reserved) american express travel services seating and take 37 minutes for the run to Nagoya.
While all other companies have moved to Chubu, regional flights by J-Air [6] still use the old Nagoya Airport [7] ( IATA : NKM ), also known as Komaki Airport , to the north of the city. Flights are available to a number of domestic destinations including Akita , Yamagata , Niigata , Kochi , Matsuyama , Fukuoka , Kumamoto , and Nagasaki . Shuttle american express travel services buses [8] (¥700) connect to Nagoya station in 28 minutes.
Thru Nozomi trains from western Japan reach Nagoya from Okayama (1 hr 40 mins, ¥10980), Hiroshima (2 hrs 20 mins, ¥13830) and Hakata station in Fukuoka (3 hrs 20 mins, ¥18030). It is slightly longer via the Hikari service; you will need to change trains at least once, either american express travel services at Okayama, Shin-Kobe, or Shin-Osaka.
If you wish to sacrifice travel speed for savings, you can take advantage of the Puratto Kodama Ticket (ぷらっとこだまエコノミープラン Puratto Kodama Economi Puran ) [9] (in Japanese), which offers a discount for Kodama services if you purchase at least one day in advance. You get a reserved seat and a complimentary drink on board. A ticket to Nagoya costs ¥7900 from Tokyo (3 hours; 2 trains per hour), ¥4100 from Kyoto (1 hour; 1 train per hour) and ¥4200 from Shin-Osaka (1 1/4 hours; 1 train per hour). american express travel services A few early-morning Kodama trains cannot be used with this ticket.
Nagoya also serves as the terminal point for the hourly Wide View Shinano , a limited express train that runs from the mountain resort towns of Nagano and Matsumoto . Nagoya is reached in 3 hours and 2 hours, respectively.
Local trains from Tokyo take about 6 hours at a cost of ¥6090, requiring several train changes along the way. However, trips on local trains are more valuable if you purchase and use a Seishun 18 Ticket during the valid time period: american express travel services as low as 2300 per person if five people travel together. Otherwise, consider using a bus starting from ¥5000, or step up to the bullet train for ¥7900 using the Puratto Kodama Ticket.
Nagoya is also served by the Meitetsu (名鉄） [10] and Kintetsu (近鉄） [11] private railways. If coming to Nagoya from Osaka , a travel option that comes cheaper than the Shinkansen is a Kintetsu limited express service called the Urban Liner (アーバンライナー), which runs out of Namba station. The Urban Liner departs at 0 and 30 minutes past the hour, covering the journey in as little as two hours, but at a cost of ¥4150 each way. (The shinkansen, by comparison, makes the run from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya in under an hour for ¥5670). Japan Rail Passes are not valid for the Urban Liner.
As Nagoya is a major city, there are many day and overnight buses which run between Nagoya and other locations throughout Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative than the shinkansen or local trains.
From Tokyo, bus runs to Nagoya are frequent, using either the Tomei Expressway along the southern coast or the Chuo Expressway through the central part of the country. Trips take approximately american express travel services 6-9 hours depending on the route and stops.
Discount bus operator Willer Express [12] runs daytime and overnight buses with a variety american express travel services of seating options. Bus journeys can be booked online in English, and Willer's Japan Bus Pass is valid on all of their routes with some exceptions.
Buses from Tokyo leave from Willer's own bus terminal, located west of Shinjuku Station in the Sumitomo Building. american express travel services Some buses also leave directly from Shinjuku Station's West exit, Tokyo Sta

Why not learn about the city’s “underground” scene with a nighttime haunted tour? Mercat Tours offer

If you can no longer ignore the call of the bagpipes, it may be time to check out Edinburgh—Scotland's capital and second largest city. But how you check it out, when and where, makes the big difference, especially if you can experience this city off the brochure.
First, some numbers: As Scotland's most popular tourist destination and the second most-visited city in the UK, Edinburgh draws more than 13 million visitors a year, ranging from budget backpackers to cosmopolitan jetsetters.
Most folks coming to Edinburgh—especially first-timers—are coming to see Edinburgh Castle, or they ve heard about the artsy Edinburgh Fringe Festival, whiskey tours, pub crawls, and tracking down the origin of those delicious Scottish shortbread cookies.
Edinburgh is a city where ancient and modern literally co-exist. Old Town is dominated by the medieval Edinburgh Castle last minute discount travel packages (above), while New Town boasts a largely neoclassic architecture that was established in the late 18th to mid-19th centuries. In fact, these districts are so bound together that they were named a unified UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
Why not learn about the city's "underground" scene with a nighttime last minute discount travel packages haunted tour? Mercat Tours offers both a Haunted Underground Experience and a Ghosts and Ghouls tour, which take you on a walking journey through the narrow alleys and cobblestone streets of Edinburgh (named "the most haunted place in Britain" by the BBC). You'll descend underground into the city's hidden vaults, hear chilling tales of the city's history, and find out what on earth they uncovered in the Edinburgh Ghost Project 2001. Best of all, this is one of the cheapest ways to get a guided tour of the city, at about $12 for adults. www.mercattours.com
Pay your respects to Greyfriars Bobby , a Skye Terrier who, according to legend, spent 14 years watching over his master's grave until his own demise in 1872. Only leaving his perch to beg for food from the restaurant across the graveyard, Greyfriars Bobby is a local legend and even has a bronze statue and fountain that was commissioned by the Baroness Burdett Coutts. The gravestone, which can be found in Greyfriars Kirkyard next to the grave of his owner, John Grey, commemorates the final resting place of the loyal pup.
Journalism buffs should be sure to take a walk around the Scotsman Hotel , the original location for The Scotsman — the largest newspaper in Scotland. The hotel was completely restored, minus the printing presses, to its former glory and now hosts a gym in its original printing press room and a bar and brasserie in the newspaper's former reception room. 20 North Bridge; www.thescotsmanhotel.co.uk
Edinburgh is where you'll find all five of Scotland s National Galleries, which means that you could spend your entire trip viewing dizzying collections of classical paintings, modern art, portraits, and photography.
The Fruitmarket Gallery showcases last minute discount travel packages contemporary exhibitions by both Scottish and International artists. From March 1 through May 4, 2008 the gallery will present a selection of northern European sculpture, photography, installation and film in the context of the western and its role in the creation of the myth of the American West. 45 Market Street; www.fruitmarket.co.uk
Richard Ingleby s gallery , housed in a Georgian house near Calton Hill, champions contemporary art, whether it be painting, sculpture, or installation. The gallery will celebrate its 10th anniversary this summer, and will feature "unexpected pairings" of artists who focus on different mediums, including visual art, music and film. 6 Carlton Terrace; www.inglebygallery.com
Make sure to check out the Edinburgh last minute discount travel packages Photographic Society , where you can admire the galleries of photographs last minute discount travel packages that chronicle the history of the royal burgh. Pictures range from city life to the elaborate gravestones of the citizens of Edinburgh, most of them taken by local artists. www.edinburghphotographicsociety.co.uk
Whether it's a chilly day in mid-winter or a sweltering summer scorcher, the Midlothian SnowSports Centre makes the thrill of winter sports available to residents and visitors all year long. Located outside of Edinburgh, it contains the longest artificial ski slope in Britain so you can stay in shape for the slopes even when the next snow is still months last minute discount travel packages away. 0131 445 4433, www.midlothian.gov.uk/topic.aspx?topicid=86
For those looking for a thrill, Ratho Adventure Centre , located just outside the city, is a repurposed 100-foot quarry which houses the largest indoor climbing arena in the world, plus other heart-pumping activities that may involve you zip lining down 100 feet through challenging obstacles, rope climbing races and even "soft play" climbs for children. last minute discount travel packages www.adventurescotland.com
Want a fun way to relax and get some exercise at the same time? Dance Base , Scotland's national center for the dance in Edinburgh offers more than 35 classes and workshops per week that visitors can also take advantage of on a drop-in basis. Classes range in style and ability level but include African, Latin American, ballroom, ballet, and jazz. www.dancebase.co.uk
While you're in Edinburgh check the local events calendar for an upcoming ceilidh , which is a traditional Gaelic social dance. These community gatherings are a great way to meet people and double as good exercise as the pace of the dance can really get going. Don't worry, no experience is necessary and the events are designed to be a great time for any level of dancer.
The good news is that Edinburgh's adventurous culinary scene isn't all about haggis. The waterfront last minute discount travel packages restaurant Kitchin has earned last minute discount travel packages its claim to fame with one of the youngest Michelin-starred chefs standing over the stove. Chef Tom Kitchin, who runs the Leith-area restaurant with his wife, earned the star within months after the restaurant's opening last year, and has become something of a local celebrity. This is the spot to test out regional cuisine prepared with a gourmet French flair—expect dishes made with fresh seafood, Scottish last minute discount travel packages game, and seasonal vegetables. 78 Commercial last minute discount travel packages Quay; www.thekitchin.com
Jamaican food in Scotland? Brilliant, mon. Coyaba , which means "heaven" or "paradise" in the language of the Arawak Indians, is Scotland's first and only Jamaican restaurant. Here, the emphasis last minute discount travel packages is on fresh chicken, fish and vegetables, beans and rice served fresh and full of island flavor. Jerk chicken, goat curry in a hot scotch bonnet sauce, and fish gently poached with coconut milk and served with okra, and sweet peppers, and fried cassava cakes are all favorites. Don't forget to order one of their specialty Jamaican cocktails to wash it all down. 113 Buccleuch Street; www.coyaba.co.uk
Our local friends rave about the fresh, colorful spread on offer at Henderson's . The location began as a healthy fresh foods store stocking organic fruit and vegetables from the family's farm, but quickly opened a vegetarian self-service style restaurant downstairs to satisfy the demand for its ever changing selection of soups, salads, and baked goods. Try the bright red pear, plum, and raspberry compote with yogurt and granola, or one of the hearty oatcakes with a bowl of fresh curried carrot soup. 94 Hanover Street; 0131 225 2131, www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk
Wind through the maze of indoor and outdoor last minute discount travel packages courtyards, small drawing rooms, round booths, banquette seating last minute discount travel packages and two bars to find the ambiance that fits your mood at Tigerlily on George Street. Whether you stop by for breakfast, coffee, lunch, last minute discount travel packages an evening cocktail, or a leisurely dinner, the restaurant has something to satisfy every taste. The artsy interiors are matched by a diverse last minute discount travel packages selection of culinary treats including delicious puddings to share such as chocolate fondue accompanied by marshmallows and profiteroles for dipping. 125 George Street; www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk
To get a sense of the local culinary scene, check out the Edinburgh Farmers Market which sets up every Saturday in Castle Terrace from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market brings together the country's best natural produce producers as well as vendors selling Arbroath Smokies (smoked haddock) to Scottish Dolcelatte cheese. www.edinburghfarmersmarket.co.uk
Though the guide books will point you to the Royal Mile and Old Town for a pint, you'll find more locals and the younger set flocking to the trendy Grassmarket area. Pubs like The Three Sisters are often frequented by locals and offer large spaces indoors and outdoors to enjoy your Tennants, Scotland's homebrewed beer, Strongbow, the cider of choice for Scots, or Iron Bru, a Scottish bubblegum-tasting soft drink that holds the record for outselling Coca-Cola in Scotland, making it the only soda to outsell Coca-Cola anywhere in the world.
If you've already last minute discount travel packages had enough beer to last a lifetime, stop by Doric Tavern on Market Street. This watering hole/bistro boasts an extensive wine list paired with traditional Scottish last minute discount travel packages and British dishes. last minute discount travel packages Head upstairs to the bohemian-vibed bar where you can people-watch all afternoon and well into the night as the place swells with intellectual-types, or stick with the downstairs "public bar" with a more traditional pubby crowd. 15/16 Market Street; www.thedoric.co.uk
To get a taste of the active nightlife, enter Espionage , a five-floor maze that contains four bars and a night club. You can usually experience different sounds of each floor, giving you a feel of what is in popular in the Royal City at this time. Cabaret Voltaire resides in the old town underground vaults of Edinburgh and offers live acts and talented DJ spinning new tracks. However, if traditional music is more your thing, Whistlebinkies is a great place to find traditional Celtic last minute discount travel packages and folk band acts.

Summer is perhaps the best season for tourists as it has long daylight hours as well as mild tempera

London is an enormous city. It is divided into thirty-two boroughs, although information on this page is divided between ocean cruises 3 day districts , inner boroughs and outer boroughs of the city . These district and borough articles contain sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.
Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ocean cruises 3 day ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England , it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England ocean cruises 3 day , Greater London has an official population of a little over 8 million — although the figure of 14 million for the city's metropolitan area more accurately reflects its size and importance. Considered one of two of the world's leading "global cities", London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, ocean cruises 3 day politics, finance and trade.
The name London originally referred only to the once-walled "Square Mile" of the original Roman (and later medieval) city (confusingly called the " City of London " or just "The City"). Today, London has taken on a much larger meaning to include all of the vast central parts of the modern ocean cruises 3 day metropolis, with the city having absorbed numerous surrounding towns and villages over the centuries, including large portions ocean cruises 3 day of the surrounding ocean cruises 3 day "home counties", one of which - Middlesex - being completely ocean cruises 3 day consumed by the growing metropolis. The term Greater London embraces Central London ocean cruises 3 day together with all the outlying suburbs that lie in one continuous urban sprawl within the lower Thames valley. Though densely ocean cruises 3 day populated by New World standards, London retains large swathes of green parkland and open space, even within the city centre.
Greater London consists of 32 London boroughs and the City of London that, together with the office of the Mayor of London, form the basis for London's local government. The Mayor of London is elected by London residents and should not be confused with the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The names of several boroughs, such as Westminster ocean cruises 3 day or Camden , are well-known, others less so, such as Wandsworth or Lewisham . This traveller's guide to London recognises cultural, functional and social districts of varying type and size:
Bloomsbury Vibrant historic district made famous by a group of turn-of-the-century writers (see Literary London ) [1] and for being the location of the British Museum, the University of London and numerous historic homes, parks, and buildings. Part of the Borough of Camden.
City of London The City is where London originally ocean cruises 3 day developed within the Roman city walls and is a city in its own right, separate from the rest of London. It is now the most important financial centre in the world, but an area where modern skyscrapers stand next to medieval churches on ancient street layouts.
East End a traditional working class heartland of inner London to the east of The City made famous by countless movies and TV shows, and home to trendy bars, art galleries and parks, especially in the Shoreditch, Hoxton, Old Street area. Now redeveloped ocean cruises 3 day and world famous as the setting for London 2012 Olympic Games.
Southwark-Lewisham inner southern districts of London, traditionally residential, with a large melting pot of communities. The area retains ocean cruises 3 day some leftfield, quirky attractions. You can just about find a resturant from any ethnic group in the world too.
West Taking in much of the ancient English county of Middlesex (which many residents still identify with rather than "London") and former parts of Buckinghamshire. Heathrow Airport is located in this part of the city.
North Largely made up of lush green upper middle-class/bourgeois suburbs, many of which were formerly part of the counties of Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire before being absorbed into Greater London.
East Mostly originally part of the county of Essex, taking in former industrial areas on the upper Thames Estuary such as Beckton, Dagenham and Barking. To the North East lies the gateway to the affluent Epping Forest area
Settlement has existed on the site of London since well before Roman times, with evidence of Bronze Age and Celtic settlement. The Roman city of Londinium, established just after the Roman conquest of Britannia in the year 43, formed the basis for the modern city (some isolated Roman period remains are still to be seen within the City). After the end of Roman rule in 410 and a short-lived decline, London experienced a gradual revival under the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the Norsemen, and emerged as a great medieval trading city, and eventually replaced Winchester as the royal capital of England. This paramount status for London was confirmed when William ocean cruises 3 day the Conqueror, a Norman, built the Tower of London after the conquest in 1066 and was crowned King of England in Westminster .
London went from strength to strength and with the rise of England to first European then global prominence and the city became ocean cruises 3 day a great centre of culture, government and industry. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English renaissance ocean cruises 3 day (witness the Rose Theatre [2] and great playwrights like Shakespeare who made London their home). With the rise of Britain to supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries and the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital and drew people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world.
The Royal familes over the previous centuries, added much to the London scene for today's traveller: the Albert Memorial , Buckingham Palace , Kensington ocean cruises 3 day Palace , Royal Albert Hall , Tower of London , Kew Palace and Westminster Abbey being prominent examples.
Despite the inevitable decline of the British Empire, and considerable suffering during World War II (when London was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe in the Blitz), the city is still a top-ranked world city: a global centre of culture, finance, and learning. Today London is easily the largest city in the United Kingdom, eight times larger ocean cruises 3 day than the second largest, Birmingham , and ten times larger ocean cruises 3 day than the third, Glasgow , and dominates the economic, political and social life of the nation. It is full of excellent bars, galleries, museums, parks and theatres. It is also the most culturally and ethnically diverse ocean cruises 3 day part of the country, making it a great multicultural ocean cruises 3 day city to visit. Samuel Johnson famously said, "when one is tired of London, one is tired of life." Whether you are interested in ancient history, modern art, opera or underground raves, London has it all.
The commercial capital was the City of London . This had a dense population ocean cruises 3 day and all the other pre-requisites of a medieval ocean cruises 3 day city: walls, a castle (The Tower of London), a cathedral (St Pauls), a semi-independent City government, a port and a bridge across which all trade was routed so Londoners could make money (London Bridge).
About an hour upstream (on foot or by boat) around a bend in the river was the government capital ( Westminster ). This had a church for crowning the monarch (Westminster Abbey) and palaces. As each palace was replaced by a larger ocean cruises 3 day one, the previous one was used for government, first the Palace of Westminster (better known as the Houses of Parliament), then Whitehall, ocean cruises 3 day then Buckingham Palace. The two were linked by a road called The "Strand", old English for riverbank.
London grew both west and east. The land to the west of the City (part of the parish of Westminster) was prime farming land ( Covent Garden and Soho for example) and made good building land. The land to the east was flat, marshy and cheap, good for cheap housing and industry, and later for docks. Also the wind blows 3 days out of 4 from west to east, and the Thames (into which the sewage went) flows from west to east. So the West End was up-wind and up-market, the East End was where people worked for a living.
Despite a perhaps unfair reputation for being unsettled, London enjoys a dry and mild climate on average. Only one in three days on average will bring rain and often only for a short period. In some years such as 2010 there is no rain for several weeks.
Winter in London is mild compared to nearby ocean cruises 3 day continental European cities, due to both the presence of the Gulf Stream and urban heat effect. Average daily maximum is 8°C (46°F) in December and January. Snow does occur, usually a few times a year but rarely heavy (a few years being exceptions such as the winters of 2009 and 2010, with temperatures dipping down to sub-zeros regularly). Snow in London can be crippling, as seen at the end of 2010. Just 7 cm (3 in) of snow will cause trains to stop running, airports to see significant delays, and mail service will halt. London is a city which does not cope well with snow; walkways, stairs, and streets will not be cleared by shovels ocean cruises 3 day or ploughs. The streets will be salted/gritted, ocean cruises 3 day but will remain slick and snow/slush covered until the sun melts it away. Daylight hours are short with darkness filling up the sky by 4pm in December.
Summer is perhaps the best season for tourists as it has long daylight hours as well as mild temperatures. The average daily high temperatures in July and August are around 24°C (75°F) ocean cruises 3 day The highest temperature since 2000 was recorded once in August at 38°C (100°F). This means London can feel hot and humid for several days in the summer months. Also, because of urban heat effect, during night time it could feel muggy.
Britain and London Visitor Centre ( BLVC ), 1 Regent St, SW1Y 4XT ( nearest tube station Piccadilly Circus ), ☎ +44 870 156 6366 , [3] . M 09:30-18:00 (Oct-Mar), M 09:30-18:30 (Apr-Sep), ocean cruises 3 day Tu-F 09:00-18:00 (Oct-Mar), Tu-F 09:00-18:30 (Apr-Sep), Sa 10:00-16:00 (Oct-May), Sa 09:00-17:00 (Jun-Sep), Su 10:00-16:00, Public holidays: 10:00-16:00. ocean cruises 3 day Closed 25-26 Dec and 1 Jan . Visit London is the

SriLankan Airlines latest 44-paged, handy-sized MICE brochure just unveiled, describes the diverse a

Sri Lanka s vast stretches of golden-sandy beaches, glittering blue warm water oceans, lush green vegetation, ever-flowing rivers renaissance charleston hotel cool crisp mountain air, are beckoning, not only the leisure seekers but also the MICE fraternity that is looking for exotic locations to meet for business.
SriLankan Airlines latest 44-paged, handy-sized MICE brochure just unveiled, describes the diverse attributes that Sri Lanka has to offer as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions destination in Asia, to combine business and leisure. The brochure describes the scale of MICE facilities; a variety of interesting MICE locations including Colombo; Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) and Destination Management Companies (DMC); and Sri Lanka s many unique attractions that are all within easy reach of each other.
The guide gives an overview of what to expect in Sri Lanka, which is becoming Asia s newest renaissance charleston hotel and most exciting place to conduct MICE events and why Sri Lanka s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines is the best option to get to the destination, enjoying many privileges and discounts on offer.
International Tourism renaissance charleston hotel Mart begins in Guwahati TripAdvisor announces renaissance charleston hotel the winners of its 2013 Travellers Choice awards for hotels Indigo and Jet Airways launch more flights to Dubai Courtyard by Marriott to open in Bhopal on 1 Feb with 101 Rooms DGCA to review Dreamliners aircrafts of AI for safety

Deville’s Pad is only open Thursday through Saturday evenings, but it makes good use of the time. Th

At best, this Western Australia blackpool promenade hotels city, often called the country's best-kept secret, might conjure up some vague association with sailing. In 1983, the Royal Perth Yacht club, under captain Alan Bond, outraced blackpool promenade hotels the New York Yacht Club in the defense of the America's Cup—the world's most grueling and intense sailing race—in Newport, Rhode Island.
blackpool promenade hotels The next defense, four years later in the working-class Perth suburb of Fremantle, was the first outside of the U.S. in the Cup's 136-year history, and it solidified Perth's reputation as a sailing powerhouse.
Fremantle ("Freo" to locals), faces the Indian Ocean and is the summer home of the "Fremantle Doctor"—a cooling afternoon sea breeze that might help explain  the city's distinction the center of the sailing universe blackpool promenade hotels in Perth.
Escapade Ecotours offers sailing tours around Fremantle and Perth waters; watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean from a sailboat while having a glass of wine is a favorite Perth activity. If you'd rather captain your own boat, and don't yet belong to the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Escapade rents boats as well. Sailing blackpool promenade hotels up the Swan River offers unbeatable views of the Perth skyline.
To mix your sailing with some shopping blackpool promenade hotels and starfish-gazing, head for Hillary's , a suburb north of Perth. Hillary's has a good-sized marina and yacht club, and shops, restaurants and cafes along the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk ; don't miss the Aquarium of Western Australia .
Landlubbers, take note: You can participate in Perth's active sailing life by watching Royal Perth Yacht Club Saturday races on the Swan River. blackpool promenade hotels Meanwhile, in Fremantle, the Maritime Museum of Western Australia has three sites: an architecturally inspiring main building with exhibits devoted to the Indian Ocean, fishing blackpool promenade hotels and the Swan River; the Shipwreck Galleries, which is the Southern Hemisphere's foremost maritime archeology museum; and the decommissioned submarine Ovens which features daily tours.
The late actor Heath Ledger blackpool promenade hotels said poetry was like surfing for him, and he needed some of each every day. After the Perth native's 2008 death, his family held a private wake at Cottesloe Beach ("Cott Beach" to locals) a white sandy beach known for its towering shade pine trees, terraced lawns and quaint town with rollicking pubs.
Friends and family gathered at the old-time Indiana Tea Rooms there, which sits up above the Surf Life Saving Club. The Tea Rooms are now known just as Indiana's , and offer Continental breakfasts, an all-day bistro menu, and drop-dead sunset views.
Local surfers also flock to Trigg (which has the most challenging waves), Brighton and Leighton Beaches. Check www.perthperth.com for surfing and sailing information. For just lazing on the beach or people-watching, Floreat Beach has a coffee kiosk, long stretches of pristine white sand, and a sweet little park.
Perth is known as "The City of Lights," a title that is rooted in how dark the area is. Got that? As the only major city in a state that takes up a full third of Australia, Perth is perhaps the most isolated city on the planet. In 1962, when American astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth in the space capsule Friendship 7, Perthies decided to turn on the lights. All of them. At once. Hence, its unexpected nickname. When Glenn duplicated his mission in 1998, Perth's lights again flashed a welcome.
But when you get out of town, there's no doubt about it: it's dark at night. An hour north of Perth is Gingin Observatory , which boasts the largest  telescope with public access in the Southern Hemisphere. Gingin's location and the skies above it—among the world's darkest—afford one of the more intriguing views of the Milky Way. Aboriginal astronomers blackpool promenade hotels spotted shapes in the dark areas between the stars, which informed the "dream blackpool promenade hotels time" stories they passed on. Today, Aboriginal presenters at the observatory explain blackpool promenade hotels their version of the night skies to visitors.
Fremantle Prison was built in the 1850s by British convicts who were brought to this part of Australia to colonize it.  Still incarcerating prisoners until 20 years ago, the prison today offers tours that highlight the country's convict history. Check out the maze of tunnels 60 feet below ground via a boat tour, and if you're feeling especially brave, take a torchlight tour at night.
Though Swan is perhaps the best known brewery blackpool promenade hotels in Western Australia, Little Creatures has got to be one of the coolest. Created on the Fremantle waterfront 10 years ago in an old boat shed (which housed a crocodile farm in the interim), Little Creatures has a working brewery, art gallery, indoor and outdoor dining (pizzas are sublime), and even  movie nights blackpool promenade hotels and live music with up-and-coming bands.
Western Australia produces blackpool promenade hotels about 3 percent of the country's wines, but more than 25 percent of Australia's premium wines. Must Wine Bar , in the Highgate area of Perth, features some of the most stellar on its award-winning, 500-bottle list. What's better is that the bar and bistro food is just as impressive (potato gnocchi with braised blackpool promenade hotels rabbit is a favorite), and the vibe is casual, with a neighborhood friendliness. Check out the intimate Champagne lounge upstairs, where 24 Champagnes are available by the glass.
Deville's Pad is only open Thursday through Saturday evenings, but it makes good use of the time. The kitschy cocktail blackpool promenade hotels bar with the Barbarella-inspired décor features rockabilly bands and a burlesque show. Put on your party clothes blackpool promenade hotels for this one.
Meat pies. They're just what they sound like: individual little pies with flaky pastry crust stuffed with meat. Ingredients blackpool promenade hotels range from classic beef and cheese to chicken, duck and curries. The best ones, locals say, can be held easily and eaten from one hand "to save one hand for your beer." Meat pie shops abound all over Perth, but Miami Bakehouse in Mandurah is one of the top choices.
Perthies are as passionate about their coffee as they are their locally brewed beer and the prize-winning Margaret River region wines. Freemantle has an entire row of espresso shops, but locals say the very best coffee of all is downtown at Velvet, on King Street. Bookcaffe in Swanbourne is small, but has a great selection blackpool promenade hotels of books and a café where the friendly staff will let you sit (inside or out on the sidewalk) as long as you want, sipping coffee and reading.
Just west of the city center, Subiaco is one of Perth's blackpool promenade hotels coolest neighborhood/suburbs. Settled in 1851 by Benedictine monks from Subiaco, Italy, "Subi" has a great selection of eclectic shops, food, and nightlife crowding its European-looking streets.
Every weekend, the Subiaco blackpool promenade hotels Pavilion hosts a market in a restored warehouse featuring local fashion designers and artists. Meanwhile, The Colonnade has shops stocked with Versace and Cavalli, as well as edgy local designers.
The Subiaco Hotel (referred to as the Subi Hotel, of course) is reportedly the most happening spot in town. Bianca's Bar has pool tables, live music and sports on plasma screens. The hotel's other, more upscale bar is the aptly-named Cocktail Bar.
One of Perth's most lauded fine-dining spots, in the leafy Shenton Park area of Subiaco is Star Anise , which has gained international acclaim for its innovative Australian/Asian cuisine, using local produce.
Boucla is another hit. Open for breakfast and lunch, the tiny café is jammed to the hilt with tapestries, mosaics, tableware and other gifts for sale. Owner Despina decorated with her native island of Kastelorizo, Greece, in mind and lovingly serves such treats as spanakopita (spinach pie) and baklava.
At close to a thousand acres, King's Park and Botanic Garden is the largest urban park in the world, and Western Australia's most popular tourist attraction. Boasting a breathtaking view of the Swan River, and the City of Perth beyond, King's Park also features untouched bushland (with hundreds of species of native plants and 80 bird species) and walks among the treetops.
While there are dozens of tours and activities available, one of the best is Greg Nannup's Indigenous Tour . Nannup, whose Aboriginal ancestors lived in the area for centuries, will show you how indigenous people used the native plants and trees for food and medicine. (Peppermint, blackpool promenade hotels it turns out, is the world's best natural cough remedy.) Contact Greg at: dabakarn @ eftel.net.au
While this one is somewhat on the brochure, it's worth noting. Fremantle favorite son (and now deceased) Bon Scott, front man for AC/DC, has inspired the Highway to Hell tour . Highlights include stops at a brass statue of the diminutive singer, Scott's grave, a 20-foot tall rendering of the star painted under a Fremantle bridge ("as if he's staring at the very house he grew up in," said one tour leader"), and of course, plenty of AC/DC sing-alongs on the bus.
Rottnest Island , a short boat trip from Fremantle is known for its lack of cars (bikes are available to rent), its beautiful beaches, and … quokkas. blackpool promenade hotels There are 12,000 of the cat-sized marsupials on the island, and nowhere else in the world. An early Dutch explorer  thought the scampering critters blackpool promenade hotels were rats, hence the name "Rott nest." Have lunch at Aristos waterfront restaurant (the seafood will make you swoon) and you may just be joined by some friendly and curious quokkas.
Lived there 67-69, enjoyed the place and camping tours round the SW with YHAWA. I finally left for a job at the Carnarvon Tracking Station, then overseas (back to the US, a year on the way) but still remember my years in Perth.
Rated four (4)-star with 285 well-groomed guest rooms and suites, the hotel recently underwent renovation that has revamped its look and feel. Its congenial atmosphere is now more distinctly highlighted, setting it a class apart from the other hotels.
Rated four (4)-star with 285 well-groomed guest rooms and suites, the hotel recently underwent renovation that has revamped its look and feel. Its congenial atmosphere is now more distinctly highlighted, blackpool promenade hotels setting it a class apart from the other hotels.
I just went to Au

Many visitors never make it past the attractions in Chicago's large downtown area, but there are als

Chicago is a huge city with several treasure island florida vacation rentals district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, treasure island florida vacation rentals nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all. Chicago's skyline viewed from Millennium Park
Chicago [1] is a huge vibrant city and sprawling treasure island florida vacation rentals metropolitian area. It is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the first builder of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes treasure island florida vacation rentals followed. It is one of the world's great cities, and yet the metropolitan luxuries of theater, shopping, and fine dining have barely treasure island florida vacation rentals put a dent in real Midwestern friendliness. It's a city with a swagger, but without the surliness or even the fake smiles that can be found in other cities.
treasure island florida vacation rentals As the hub of the Midwest , Chicago is easy to find —its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of huge Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art , and perhaps the finest downtown collection of architecture in the world.
With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, there's enough to fill a visit of weeks or even months without ever seeing the end. Prepare to cover a lot of ground: the meaning of Chicago is only found in movement, through its subways and archaic elevated tracks, in the pride of tired feet and eyes raised once more to the sky.
Many visitors never make it past the attractions in Chicago's large downtown area, but there are also many attractions to be found in the city's other districts. The city consists of three large Sides (the North Side, the South Side, and the West Side) each named according to its direction from the central business district, or the Loop as it is called. Citizens tend to identify strongly treasure island florida vacation rentals with their neighborhood within the city, reflecting real differences in culture and place. Rivalries between the North and South Sides sometimes run deep, while people from the West Side are usually free agents in critical issues like baseball loyalty.
Downtown ( The Loop , Near North , Near South ) The center of Chicago for work and play with major corporate headquarters, skyscrapers, shopping, big theaters, parks, beaches, museums and the city's most famous travel sights
North Side ( Lakeview , Boystown , Lincoln Park , Old Town ) Upscale neighborhoods with entertainment aplenty in storefront theaters and the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, along with a ton of bars and clubs, and one of the largest LGBT communities in the nation
South Side ( Hyde Park , Bronzeville , Bridgeport-Chinatown , Chatham-South Shore ) The historic Black Metropolis, brainy Hyde Park and the University of Chicago, Chinatown, the White Sox, soul food, and the real Chicago blues
Far West Side ( Little Village , Garfield Park , Humboldt Park , Austin ) So far off the beaten tourist track you might not find your way back, but that's treasure island florida vacation rentals OK given all the great food, a couple of top blues clubs, and enormous parks.
Far Northwest Side ( Avondale , Irving Park , Portage treasure island florida vacation rentals Park , Jefferson Park ) Polish Village, historic homes and theaters, and some undiscovered gems in the neighborhoods near O'Hare treasure island florida vacation rentals International Airport
Chicago was known as a fine place to find a wild onion if you were a member of the Potawatomi tribe, who lived in this area of Illinois before European settlers treasure island florida vacation rentals arrived. It was mostly swamps, treasure island florida vacation rentals prairie and mud long past the establishment treasure island florida vacation rentals of Fort Dearborn in 1803 and incorporation as a town in 1833. It could be argued that nature never intended for there to be a city here; brutal winters aside, it took civil engineering projects of unprecedented scale to establish working sewers, reverse treasure island florida vacation rentals the flow of the river to keep it out of the city's drinking supply, and stop buildings from sinking back into the swamps — and that was just the first few decades.
By 1871, the reckless growth of the city was a sight to behold, full of noise, Gothic lunacy, and bustling commerce. But on October 8th, Mrs. O'Leary's cow reportedly knocked over a lantern in the crowded immigrant quarters in the West Side, and the Great Chicago Fire began. It quickly spread through the dry prairie, killing 300 and destroying virtually the entire city. The stone Water Tower in the Near North is the most famous surviving structure. But the city seized this destruction as an opportunity to rebuild bigger than before, treasure island florida vacation rentals giving canvas for several architects and urban planners who would go on to become legends of modern architecture.
At the pinnacle of its rebirth and the height of its newfound powers, Chicago was known as The White City . Cultures from around the world were summoned to the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition, to bear witness to the work of Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, and the future itself. Cream of Wheat, soft drinks, street lights and safe electricity, the fax machine, and the Ferris Wheel bespoke the colossus now resident on the shores of Lake Michigan.
As every road had once led to Rome, every train led to Chicago. Carl Sandburg called Chicago the Hog Butcher for the World for its cattle stockyards and place on the nation's dinner plate. Sandburg also called it the City of the Big Shoulders , noting the tall buildings in the birthplace of the skyscraper — and the city's "lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning." But Chicago is a city in no short supply of nicknames. Fred Fisher's 1922 song (best known in Frank Sinatra's rendition) calls it That Toddlin' Town , where "on State Street, that great street , they do things they don't do on Broadway." It's also referenced by countless blues standards like Sweet Home Chicago .
Chicago is also known as The Second City , which refers to its rebuilding after the fire — the current city is literally the second Chicago, after the one that nearly burned down in 1871. The moniker has stuck as Chicago treasure island florida vacation rentals had long-held the position of the nation's second-largest city. And many know the nickname from Chicago's great comedy theater Second City located in Old Town which has supplied countless talent to television's Saturday Night Live and many sitcoms.
During the Prohibition era, Chicago's criminal world, emblemized by names like Al Capone, treasure island florida vacation rentals Baby Face Nelson, and later Sam Giancana, practically ran the city. The local political world had scarcely more legitimacy in a town where voter turnout was highest among the dead and their pets, and precinct captains spread the word to "vote early, vote often." Even Sandburg acknowledged the relentless current of vice that ran under the surface of the optimistic city.
Chicago is also known as The Windy City . Walking around town, you might suspect that this nickname came from the winds off Lake Michigan which can, on occassion, make for some windy days. Truth be told, Chicago is far from being excessively windy. In fact, according to the United States National Climatic Data Center, Chicago does not rank high on the list of windy cities. The origin of the saying Windy City comes from politics; treasure island florida vacation rentals some saying it may have been coined by rivals like New York City as a derogatory treasure island florida vacation rentals reference; at the time the two cities were battling for the 1893 World's Fair, which Chicago ultimatley treasure island florida vacation rentals won. Others say that the term originated from the city's strong political climate.
Finally, the city is also known as the The City That Works as promoted by longtime Mayor Richard M. Daley, which refers to Chicago's labor tradition and its willingness to tackle grand civic projects. Daley and his father, former Mayor Richard J. Daley, ruled the city for decades in what can only be described as a benevolent dictatorship; as other manufacturing cities like Cleveland and Detroit went into decline, Chicago thrived, transforming treasure island florida vacation rentals from a city of factories to a financial giant; which now including the world's largest future exchanges (the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) no less. With Richard M. Daley deciding not to run for mayor again due to his ailing wife, and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel resigning from that post to become mayor of Chicago, the city elected its first Daley-less administration with Emanuel since Mayor Richard M. Daley was in office from April 1989 to May 2011.
While the city has many great attractions in its huge central/downtown area, lots of Chicagoans live and play outside of the central business district as well. To understand more of Chicago, travelers can venture away from the Loop and Michigan Avenue and out into the vibrant neighborhoods treasure island florida vacation rentals to soak up the local nightlife, sample the wide range of fantastic dining, and see other sights that are also important to Chicagoans. Thanks treasure island florida vacation rentals to the city's massive public transit system, all parts of Chicago are indeed accessible.
As far as Chicago's weather goes, well let's just say that Chicago is a huge city so things tend to get blown out of porportion more than they would in other locales, that includes the weather. The city doesn't have weather like Honolulu treasure island florida vacation rentals - then again, what other city does? The winters in Chicago are indeed cold, but then again, so is most of the United States from Maine to Utah, with the exception of the extreme south. A fact; Chicago receives less precipitation (snow and rain) in the winter than East Coast cities like New York City or Boston receive. Chicago's treasure island florida vacation rentals summers are not much hotter than the East Coast, and definitely not as hot as the southern U.S. where there is a nonstop heatwave throughout the summer. There is a good time to be had in any season in Chicago, and the summer offers an array of parades, festivals, and events.
The winter months from December to March will see cold temperatures with cold wind chill factors. Snow is usually limited to a handful of heavy storms per season, with a few light dustings in-between and a little more along the lakefront —in the local parlance, that's "lake effect snow". Chicago is a city that's well-accustomed to winter season, so city services and public transportation are highly unli

This former British colony has a population mainly of European descent but with an important indigen

New Zealand [1] is a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones. These islands are one of Earth's most unique biozones, inhabited by flightless birds seen nowhere else such as weka and kiwi. Indeed the Kiwi is not only one of the national symbols hawaii vacation home rentals - the others being the silver fern leaf and koru - but is also the name New Zealanders usually call themselves.
These islands are sparsely populated , particularly away from the North Island, but easily accessible. There are sparklingly modern visitor facilities, and transport networks are reasonably developed. New Zealand often adds an adventure twist to nature: it's the original home of jet-boating through shallow gorges, and bungy jumping off anything high enough hawaii vacation home rentals to give a thrill.
Māori culture continues to play an important part in everyday life and government and corporate symbolism [2] ; New Zealand is increasingly known, both in the indigenous Māori language and by Pakeha, as Aotearoa , often translated as land of the long white cloud . (Pedantically, Aotearoa was really just the name for the North Island, the South Island being known as Te Wai Pounamu or Te Waka a Maui ). There are abundant opportunities for visitors to understand and experience the history and present day forms of Māori life.
New Zealand has been called " God's own country " and the " Paradise hawaii vacation home rentals of the Pacific " since the early 1800s. Travellers generally agree New Zealand, often abbreviated to NZ , deserves this description.
Consisting of two main islands - imaginatively named North Island and South Island and many smaller ones in the South Pacific Ocean, this archipelago lies roughly 1,600 km (1,000 mi) south east of Australia .
New Zealand is the fifth largest wholly island nation on earth, its land area surpassed only by Australia , Indonesia , Japan and the Phillipines ; NZ's maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is fifteen times larger, being exceeded only by Australia in the preceding list.
Be sure to allow sufficient time to travel in New Zealand. Distances are larger than you probably think and many roads wind along the coast and through mountain ranges (particularly hawaii vacation home rentals on the South Island ). It's rewarding to tour for three or four weeks on each of the main islands, although you can certainly see some of the highlights in far less time.
Australians often call NZ " The Shaky Isles " because of frequent seismic activity. Lying on the margin of the two colliding tectonic plates (the Pacific and Indo-Australian), earthquakes are common, particularly in the south west of the South Island and in the central North Island, hawaii vacation home rentals and the North Island's scenery is marked by several active and dormant volcanic cones. hawaii vacation home rentals The largest lake, Lake Taupo drained by NZ's longest river, the Waikato River, lies in a caldera created by a supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 26,500 years ago. The volcano underneath is considered dormant rather than extinct.
Auckland , with a population of around 1.5 million people, is the largest city in Polynesia . Indeed, many small pacific nations, such as the Cook Islands , Niue and Tokelau , have more of their national population living in Metro Auckland than in their home islands! [3] This makes for some interesting shopping and ethnic eating opportunities.
East Polynesians reached New Zealand in about 1300 AD in a series of tremendous oceanic canoe voyages. Their populations grew rapidly and led to the extinction of many unique species of flightless birds, including all 9 species of Moa, some of which grew to about 3.6 m (12 ft) in height with neck outstretched and weighed about 230 kg (510 lb)! Over time their culture in these colder lands diverged into the unique Māori that the artists of Captain Cook recorded.
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, in 1642, was the first non-Polynesian to sight the North West coast of the South Island of New Zealand.(There is a claim, disputed by most historians, that a Portuguese expedition hawaii vacation home rentals led by Cristovao de Mendonça beat him to it over a hundred years before in 1521-1524). Tasman named his find Staten Landt (on the assumption that it was connected to Staten Island, Argentina at the south of the tip of South America) hawaii vacation home rentals and this appeared on maps from as early as 1645.
His two ships stopped to take on fresh water in Golden hawaii vacation home rentals Bay , but were attacked by Māori and four of his men and several Māori were killed there - causing him to name it "Murderer's Bay". Leaving the South Island by sailing up the west coast of the North Island, he mapped a small portion of the coastline; Dutch cartographers hawaii vacation home rentals re-named this known part as Nova Zeelandia .
As part of a dedicated voyage of scientific discovery, Yorkshireman James Cook, a Captain of the Royal Navy, circumnavigated the North, South and Stewart islands in 1769 and charted their coasts. A few people of European and US origin, mostly sealers, whalers, traders and missionaries, settled during hawaii vacation home rentals the next 80 years, some taking local wives.
In 1840, with the assistance of missionaries, Maori signed different versions of the Treaty of Waitangi and there have been arguments as to the meaning of the cod Maori version ever since. More intensive European (Pākehā) settlement began that same year. Initially annexed to the colony of New South Wales , New Zealand was split off to form a separate colony in 1841. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872, coupled with political manoeuvring and the spread hawaii vacation home rentals of European diseases, broke Maori resistance to Pākehā land settlement, but left lasting grievances. In recent years the government has sought to address hawaii vacation home rentals long standing Maori grievances, but this is a complicated and rancorous process. In 2005, the Maori Party was formed, in part in response to the Government's law on the Foreshore and Seabed but also to promote an independent Maori perspective hawaii vacation home rentals at a political level.
When the six British colonies federated to form Australia in 1901, New Zealand decided hawaii vacation home rentals not to join the federation. Instead, the British colony of New Zealand became a self-governing hawaii vacation home rentals dominion in 1907. It was offered complete independence under the 1931 Statute of Westminster, although it did not adopt this until 1947. All remaining constitutional links with the United Kingdom were severed with the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act by both parliaments in 1986, though Queen Elizabeth II in right of New Zealand remains the Head of State (with a local Governor-General (appointed only after local advice) hawaii vacation home rentals as her representative in New Zealand. hawaii vacation home rentals Interestingly, the Constitution of Australia still permits New Zealand to join as another Australian state.
hawaii vacation home rentals New Zealand supported the United Kingdom militarily in the Boer War of 1899–1902, hawaii vacation home rentals as well as both World Wars. It also participated in wars in Malaya, Korea and Vietnam under various military alliances, including the ANZUS treaty with Australia and the United States .
New Zealand's population has strongly opposed the testing and use of nuclear weapons. The prospect of nuclear armed US warship visits meant that its Parliament enacted anti-nuclear hawaii vacation home rentals legislation in the mid-1980s. After consultations with Australia, the US announced that it was suspending its treaty obligations to New Zealand until US Navy ships were re-admitted to New Zealand ports, stating hawaii vacation home rentals that New Zealand was "a friend, but not an ally". Military relations were not repaired until 2010.
More than one million New Zealanders were born overseas. Of the other 3 million native "Kiwis", one in four (one in three between ages 22 and 48) have recently left "Godzone" for more favourable economic hawaii vacation home rentals opportunities abroad (often to Australia where "Kiwis" uniquely don't need a visa).
This former British colony has a population mainly of European descent but with an important indigenous Maori minority of mixed blood, a rapidly growing Asian minority, and smaller minorities of Polynesians, people from the Americas, South Africans and Zimbabweans.
The Chatham Islands , still a territory of New Zealand but roughly hawaii vacation home rentals 800 kilometres (500 mi) east of Christchurch, keep Chatham Islands Standard Time (CIST) by adding twelve hours and forty-five minutes to Coordinated hawaii vacation home rentals Universal Time (UTC) resulting in UTC+12:45. (This is one of only two official time zones with a 45-minute increment from UTC - the other being Nepal .
The all-conquering national team, the All Blacks , generally play matches at home during June through to September, hawaii vacation home rentals mainly in The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri Nations ) against South Africa , Australia and (starting in 2012) Argentina .
The two main rugby union competitions hawaii vacation home rentals are Super Rugby (a regional competition incorporating regional teams from South Africa and Australia) and the domestic ITM Cup (formerly the National Provincial Championship from 1976 to 2005, and Air New Zealand Cup from 2006 to 2009). The Super Rugby season begins in February and normally ends in August (in Rugby World Cup years, the season ends in July); the ITM Cup starts in July and runs through to October.
New Zealand has a temperate climate - winters are fairly cold in the south of the South Island but mild in the north of the North Island. The nature of the terrain, the prevailing winds and the length of the country lead to sharp regional contrasts. hawaii vacation home rentals Maximum daytime temperatures sometimes hawaii vacation home rentals exceed 30 C (86 F)and only fall below 0 C (32 F) in the elevated inland regions. Generally speaking, rainfall and humidity is higher in the west than the east of the country due to the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges and the prevailing westerly/north westerly winds.
Part situated in the Roaring Forties, unsheltered areas of the country can get a bit breezy, especially in the centre, through Cook Strait and around Wellington . The winds seem to be stronger around the equinoxes.
New Zealand is one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to forecast the weather. Although