“The City by the Bay”, San Francisco, California has been appreciated by visitors, written about in literature, used as the backdrop for countless films and immortalized in song. The hilly terrain, scenic beauty, Victorian architecture and summer fog combined with the ethnic diversity and cultural activities are just some of the reasons San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world. Tourists flock to San Francisco to view (or perhaps walk over) the Golden Gate Bridge, linking the city with Northern California; Visit Alcatraz Island, the former prison from which no inmate ever escaped, now a museum and accessible only by ferry (which allows for a spectacular view of the skyline on the return trip); Ride the famous Cable Cars; Explore Fisherman’s Wharf while picking out a great place to enjoy fresh seafood; Tour the Italian ghetto of North Beach; Hang out at Union Square while listening to local musicians perform or to view an outdoor art display; Walk down (or up, if you dare) the crookedest street in the world, Lombard Street; Shop in Chinatown and then enjoy some fabulous Chinese cuisine; Eat a sundae at the Ghirardelli Chocolate factory; Partake in an Irish Coffee where it was first imagined; Watch a Major League Baseball game when the San Francisco Giants play at A.T.&T. Park or a National Football League game during the fall and winter when the 49ers play. The sights and sounds of San Francisco are packed into a 49 square mile area with easy access utilizing the readily available diversified public transportation system or sometimes best explored on foot. Dreamers that have never been to San Francisco wonder what it would be like and those that have seen the charms of this incredible city dream of the day when they might return.

Venice, Italy is perhaps one of the most unique and lovely cities in the world. Built on a lagoon, Venice has remained virtually unchanged for the past 600 years. The main part of the city is spread over 120, or so, islands and is where the most frequently visited sites in the city are located. There are no automobiles in the city and the canals separating the land masses are Venice’s streets and byways. Movement between the islands is achieved by the use of many types of boats, possibly the most Venetian of which is the gondola, a human powered, flat bottomed boat moved about by a single person (the gondolier) standing on the bow of the long, thin boat while propelling it with a single, lengthy oar. Most Venetians now travel by water taxi or vaporetti (water buses) with the gondolas mostly used for romantic, leisurely rides geared toward tourists. Venice has the reputation of being the world’s most walkable city due to the absence of cars. Visitors to Venice find the architecture and artwork competing with the beautiful setting for their attention. Venice has an ancient history stretching back nearly 1,200 years with the city at various times being part of the Roman Empire, Austria, Hungary and Italy. Today, this Italian storehouse of famous artwork is heavily geared toward tourism with a large portion of its economy dependent upon visitors. Among the most favorite places of tourists are St. Mark’s Basilica with its world famous Byzantine architecture, the Piazza San Marco (or St. Mark’s Square) a meeting place for Venetians, both common folks and those of the ruling class, for 11 centuries, The Lido di Venezia, the home of the Venice Film Festival which takes place every September and the Doge Palace which presents fascinating artwork, weapons and maps worthy of anyone’s attention. Among the favorite galleries and museums found in Venice is Gallerie dell’Accademia, ensconced behind the walls of a former convent housing trophies from Napoleon’s conquests; Museo dela Musica presents a collection of rare musical instruments from the 17thto the 19thcenturies as part of tribute to the famous composer, Antonio Vivaldi; La Pieta, an iconic church where Vivaldi acted as concertmaster; Giudecca 795 with its presentation of contemporary art; the Peggy Guggenheim Museum with its nod toward expressionists and surrealism. Foodies are drawn to Venice to experience the abundant local seafood, pizzas, pasta dishes and pastries that contribute to Venice’s elevated reputation among epicureans. Shopping in Venice provides opportunities to view and perhaps purchase unique glassworks from artisans that are part of the local culture. Hotels with modern conveniences, bed and breakfast establishments, charming pubs and cafes all contribute to the quintessential Venetian experience Venice is served by the Marco Polo International Airportso named in honor of its famous citizen. The airport is on the mainland and is connected by land and bridge to Venice's main island. Some visitors reach Venice by way of Treviso Airport in Treviso, 30 km from Venice. A trip to Venice needs to be added to your list if you have dreamed of being rowed through the canals of this romantic city while, perhaps, being serenaded by your gondolier. You can spend time admiring the famous art and architecture and enjoying the local cuisine and culture. Start planning your trip to Venice, Italy now.

The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The nearest town is Kalambaka. The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria I, II, IV, V and VII. All of the monasteries are located at Metéora in Greece, and most are perched on high cliffs and accessible by staircases cut into the rock formations. They were created to serve monks and nuns following the teachings of the Greek Orthodox Church. Much of the architecture of these buildings is Athonite in origin. Of the six intact monasteries, only the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen and Monastery Roussanou are inhabited by nuns. The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron - This is the largest of the monasteries located at Metéora. It was erected in the mid-14th century AD and was the subject of restoration and embellishment projects in 1483 and 1552. The building serves as the main museum for tourists. The Katholikon (main church), consecrated in honour of the Transfiguration of Jesus was erected in the middle of 14th c. and 1387/88 and decorated in 1483 and 1552. The Holy Monastery of Varlaam – The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in the Metéora complex. It was built in 1541 and embellished in 1548. A church, dedicated to All Saints, is in the Athonite type (cross-in-square with dome and choirs), with spacious esonarthex (lite) is surrounded by a dome. It was built in 1541/42 and decorated in 1548, while the esonarthex was decorated in 1566. The old refectory is used as a museum while north of the church is the parekklesion of the Three Bishops, built in 1627 and decorated in 1637. The Holy Monastery of Rousanou/St. Barbara was founded in the middle of 16th century AD and decorated in 1560. The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas, built in the 16th century AD, is a small church. It was decorated by the Cretan painter Theophanis Strelitzas, in 1527. The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen is a small church built in the 16th century and decorated in 1545. This monastery rests on the plain rather than on a cliff. It was damaged by the Nazis during WWII who believed it was harboring insurgents and was abandoned. Nuns took it over and reconstructed it. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is on top of the cliffs. It was built in 1475 and was remodeled many times in 1684, 1689, 1692, 1741.

Paris, France, “The City of Light” is the capital and largest city in France. With its location straddling the banks of the Seine River, two islands at its center, Ile St. Louis and Ile de la Cite contain the oldest parts of the city. Prior to the 19thcentury, Paris was the most populous city in the Western World. Today, over 2 million inhabitants call the city home with more than 12 million residents in the metropolitan area making Paris the most populated metropolitan area in Europe. Paris is one of the world’s most foremost financial and cultural centers. The city is home to a number of major international organizations and exudes significant influence over Europe’s politics, science, art, entertainment, fashion and education. The city is comprised of 20 “Arrondisements” or districts that can be found in a spiral fashion moving outward and clockwise from the city center, located in the 1stArrondisement. Within the 1stArrondisement is found the Louvre (and the associated Tuileres Gardens) with its world famous and most impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. Also found in this 1stArrondisement are the houses of St-Laurent and Dior and other haute couture designers as well as the largest shopping complex in Paris and some of the finest jewelers in France. The 2ndthrough 7thArrondisements harbor their own impressive and important sites in these oldest parts of Paris and include such attractions as the Parisian Theater district, the Marais District which houses trendy bars, shops and restaurants among its well preserved and architecturally significant buildings; Notre Dame Cathedral and the surrounding neighborhoods are found in what is perhaps the most picturesque district, the 4thArrondisement. Continuing the pattern through the next few districts visitors will find the Latin Quarter, some of the most prestigious schools and universities in France surrounding the Pantheon, The Jardin des Plantes (zoo and botanical gardens) and the Musee National Moyen-Age. The Eiffel Tower is just one of many spectacular, unforgettable and famous sites found in the 7thArrondisement. Considered by many to be the most beautiful avenue in the world, the Champs-Elysees is found in the 8thArrondisement emanating from the Arc de Triomphe, as are beautiful parks, museums, galleries and Palaces. The 9ththrough the 11thhouses the Opera House, the waxworks at Musee Grevin, quaint neighborhoods, working docks, furniture manufacturers and the haunts of the hip and trendy Parisians. The 12thArrondisement boasts Paris Beach, the most visited pleasure beach in the city, the Place de Bastille and the Palais Omnisport de Paris (home of a spectrum of sports and musical events). Continuing on the path outward, Chinatown emerges along with the French National Library (Bibliotheque nationale de France), the clothing shops of Rue d’Alesia, the Bronze Lion of Belfort, Rodin’s Balzac (in Place Denfort-Rochereau) and then to the most fashionable 16thdistrict with its panoramic views back into the city. The spiral course continues on to the city limits but not before encountering the breathtaking monument, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), the Science and Industry Museum and the Cimitiere du Pere-Lachaise with its oft visited and permanently flower-carpeted tomb of Jim Morrison. Your dream of visiting one of the world’s most romantic and important cities is as close as adding a trip to Paris, France to your list. The “City of Light” is calling you to visit its historical sites, famous museums and galleries, iconic buildings and to experience the world class cuisine. In order to insure your ability to check this trip off your list you need to start planning the details of that vacation of a lifetime today.

Old Havana contains the core of the original city of Havana. The positions of the original Havana city walls are the modern boundaries of Old Havana. Havana Vieja was founded by the Spanish in 1519 in the natural harbor of the Bay of Havana. It became a stopping point for the treasure laden Spanish Galleons on the crossing between the New World and the Old World. Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the name also refers to one of the municipalities of the city of Havana, Cuba, with the latter's boundaries extending to the south and west beyond the original city. Some of the sites are: The Malecón is the avenue that runs along the seawall at the northern shore of Havana, from Habana Vieja to the Almendares River. Castillo del Morro, picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay. The construction of the castle Los Tres Reyes del Morro owed to the step along in Havana of the English pirate Sir Francis Drake. The king of Spain arranged its construction on a big stone which was known by the name of El Morro. He sent the field master Juan de Texeda, accompanied of the military engineer Battista Antonelli, who came to Havana in 1587 and began the task at once. La Cabaña fortress, located on the east side of the Havana Bay. The most impressive fortress of the Spanish colony was La Cabaña. It impresses with its 18th century walls, constructed at the same time as El Morro. Every night at 9 p.m., some soldiers dressed in suits of the epoch shoot from her the “el cañonazo de las nueve”, (gunshot of the nine). It went off every day to warn of the closing of the doors of the wall that surrounded the city. San Salvador de la Punta Fortress, In the shore opposite to the Castle of El Morro, at the beginning of the curve of El Malecon, there rises the fortress of San Salvador de la Punta, of minor architectural dimensions. It was constructed in 1590, and in 1629 the Chapter of Havana decided, to defend better the port, to join her in the night with the El Morro by using a thick chain that prevented the entry of enemy ships. Castillo de la Real Fuerza, The fortress or (lit.) Castle of the Royal Army is another big monument that closes the Plaza de las Armas. It was the first big fortification of the city, initiated in 1558 on the ruins of an ancient fortress. In the same year, the Crown sent to Cuba the engineer Bartolomé Sanchez, supervised by 14 official and main stonemasons in order to reconstruct the castle, which had been set fire and destroyed by the French corsair Jacques de Sores. Catedral de San Cristóbal, the most prominent building on the Plaza de la Catedral. The Cathedral was raised on the chapel after 1748 by order of the bishop from Salamanca, Jose Felipe de Trespalacios. It is one of the most beautiful and sober churches of the American baroque. National Capitol, styled after the Panthéon (Paris), looking similar to the U.S. Capitol. Galician Center, Central Park, The Galician Center, of neobarroque style was establish as a social club of the Galician emigrants between 1907 and 1914. Built on the Theater Tacon (nowadays Great Theater of Havana), it was open during the Carnival of 1838 with five masked dances. Plaza de Armas - the main touristic square. The origin of its name is military, since from the end of the 16th century the ceremonies and the military events took place here. Gran Teatro de la Habana, the Great Theater of Havana is famous, particularly for the acclaimed National Ballet of Cuba and its founder Alicia Alonso. It sometimes performs the National Opera. The theater is also known as concert hall, Garcia Lorca, the biggest in Cuba. The Museum of the Revolution, located in the former Presidential Palace, with the boat Granma on display in front of the museum. San Francisco de la Habana Basilica, Habana Vieja, The set of church and convent of San Francisco de Asis, byline of the year 1608, and it was reconstructed in 1737.

The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. The most well known of the French Quarter streets, Bourbon Street, or Rue Bourbon, is known for its drinking establishments. Most of the bars frequented by tourists are new but the Quarter also has a number of notable bars with interesting histories. The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street has kept its name even though for almost a century absinthe was illegal in the United States. Pat O'Brien's Bar is well known for both inventing the red cocktail, Hurricane, as well as having the first Dueling Piano Bar. Pat O'Brien's is located at 718 St. Peter Street. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a tavern located on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip Street. The tavern's building, built sometime before 1772, is one of the older still standing structures in New Orleans (the Ursuline Convent, for example, is older) and has been called the oldest continually occupied bar in the United States. According to legend the structure was once owned by the pirate Jean Lafitte, though as with many things involving Lafitte, no documentation of this exists. The Napoleon House bar and restaurant is in the former home of mayor Nicholas Girod; the name comes from an unrealized plot to rescue Napoleon I from his exile in St. Helena and bring him to New Orleans. The original Johnny White's bar is a favorite of bikers. In 2005 an off-shoot called Johnny White's Hole in the Wall, along with Molly's at the Market, drew national media attention as the only businesses in the city to stay open throughout Hurricane Katrina and the tribulations of the weeks after the storm. The Bourbon Pub and Oz, both located at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann, are the two largest gay clubs in New Orleans. Café Lafitte in Exile, located at the intersection of Bourbon and Dumaine is the oldest continuously running gay bar in the United States. These and other gay establishments sponsor the raucous Southern Decadence Festival during Labor Day weekend. This festival is often referred to as New Orleans' "Gay Mardi Gras". St. Ann Street is often called "the Lavender Line" in reference to it being on the edge of the French Quarter's predominately gay district. While there is a gay population throughout the French Quarter, the portion of the Quarter that is northeast of St. Ann Street is generally considered to be the Gay District. New Orleans and its French Quarter are one of only a few places in the United States where possession and consumption of alcohol in open containers is allowed on the street. When New Orleans (La Nouvelle-Orléansin French) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in French) as it was known then. While the area is still referred to as the Vieux Carréby some, it is more commonly known as the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter." Although called the "French" Quarter, most of the present day buildings were built under Spanish rule and show Spanish colonial tastes. The district as a whole is a National Historic Landmark, and contains numerous individual historic buildings. It was affected relatively lightly by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as compared to other areas of the city and the greater region. The most common definition of the French Quarter includes all the land stretching along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue (12 blocks) and inland to North Rampart Street (seven to nine blocks). It equals an area of 78 sq. blocks. Some definitions, such as city zoning laws, exclude the properties facing Canal Street, which had already been redeveloped by the time architectural preservation was considered, and the section between Decatur Street and the river, much of which had long served industrial and warehousing functions. Any alteration to structures in the remaining blocks is subject to review by the Vieux Carré Commission, which determines whether the proposal is appropriate for the historic character of the district. Its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Esplanade Avenue to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, Canal Street, Decatur Street and Iberville Street to the south and the Basin Street, St. Louis Street and North Rampart Street to the west.

Although legally part of the People’s Republic of China, The city of Hong Kong operates with a high degree of independence with its own laws, financial system, immigration policies and police. Due to its long history of British control, the city splits its personality between the western influence that emanates from its association with Great Britain and its Cantonese roots. Hong Kong Island, which is the area most tourists are thinking of when they reference Hong Kong, presents the impressive skyline and ever busy Victoria Harbour that are icons of this Chinese Administrative Area. The largest part of the territory, though, is mostly rural in nature with rocky islands and forested mountains as part of Hong Kong’s makeup. 7 million inhabitants are packed into the residential areas of Hong Kong with over 2 million of them located across Victoria Harbour on the peninsula known as Kowloon where some of the best views of the Hong Kong skyline can be found. Visitors typically include Peak Tower atop Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s most exclusive residential area, as one of their favorite must-visit locations. Not only does Peak Tower provide an impressive view of the city but it also houses a shopping mall, restaurants and museums. A number of other impressive museums beckon tourists, including the Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Science Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, all in Kowloon. The Central District offers Dr. SunYat-sen Museum aka Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences and the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Railway Museum are found in the New Territories district, just north of Kowloon. Hong Kong is replete with parks and marine preserves boasting their own impressive landscapes and breathtaking scenery. Among these natural settings are Lantau Island with its traditional fishing villages and the Chinese White Dolphins just offshore as well as the Sai Kung Peninsula, Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and Hong Kong Wetland Park in the New Territories. Hiking on marked trails in these natural areas as well as at Victoria Peak is a common way to experience the beauty and diverse landscape each offers. There are a number of theme parks and the requisite resorts in Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Ocean Park and the Buddhist themed Ngong Ping 360 which includes Hong Kong’s longest cable car ride affording impressive views while aboard. Hong Kong presents a number of annual festivals that attract visitors from around the world. Celebrations commemorating the Chinese New Year, the Spring Lantern Festival, the Hungry Ghost Festival, the Moon Festival, Halloween, Christmas and western New Year’s Eve are but a few that attract eager participants. Hong Kong is the center of the Chinese entertainment industry with performances by famous artists occurring regularly. The 200 outlying islands offer many impressive bays and beaches along their impressive coastlines. Visitors to Hong Kong also enjoy camping, sailing, gambling, shopping and the many fine restaurants and night clubs. Hong Kong International Airport is the premier airport in Asia and the connecting point for many travelers continuing on to other Asian cities. Hong Kong provides anexcellent public transportation system including an intricate system of ferries. It’s only a 1 hour hydrofoil ride to Macau, another must see tourist destination that bears exploration. Your dream trip to the Far East may very well begin with a stop in Hong Kong. Whether for a few days or a few weeks, Hong Kong provides the excitement visitors would expect from one of the world’s great cities while blending the best of Eastern and Western civilization. Add this trip to your list now.

The most populous city of the Czech Republic, Prague is also the country’s capital. Throughout its 1,100 year history Prague has been a cultural, politic and economic center of central Europehaving at one time been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Prague was a key city in the Habsburg Monarchy, the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War. When Czechoslovakia was created after World War I Prague was named its capital. Parts of the city were destroyed by bombing in World War II including many historical landmarks but the city escaped the mass destruction that was inflicted upon other European municipalities. During the Cold War years, Prague was under the control of the Soviet Union until the Czech Republic reestablished its independence after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Prague is one of Europe’s favorite tourist destinations. The Vltava River that intersects the city with its swan-filled waters magically reflecting the bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes greets visitors to Prague. In spite of the damage inflicted on the city in World War II much of the historic architecture of the city has been preserved. Visitors to Prague find wonderful examples of a broad spectrum of architectural styles including Art Nouveau, Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and Ultra-Modern. Among the favorite places to visit in Prague are Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the storehouse of the Czech Crown Jewels; Old Town and the Old Town Square harboring the Medieval Prague Astronomical Clock; New Town and historic Wenceslas Square historically a site for political demonstrations and now a popular area for nightlife; The Museum of Decorative Arts; The John Lennon Wall; Vysehrad Castle, the resting place for many famous Czechs including Antonin Dvorak; the preserved Baroque gate to the city, Pisek Gate; The New Jewish Cemetery where Franz Kafka is laid to rest; The Mucha Museum with its prolific Art Nouveau collection; The Prague Zoo, presenting over 4,000 animals of more than 650 species and considered one of the top 10 zoological parks in the world. Prague is known for its beer and is home to a number of breweries that provide tours to visitors. The Czech Beer Festival is held in Prague every May showcasing over 70 Czech beers. A classical music festival, Prague Spring, draws music lovers to the city every year. Professional sporting events including football (soccer), rugby and ice-hockey draw spectators during the respective seasons for the home teams. A broad cross-section of hotels, inns and hostels are available to meet any traveler’s budget and a unique experience enjoyed by visitors to Prague is to arrange accommodations in a “Botel”, a hotel within a boat that provides gorgeous city views from the water. The Prague Metro is an intricate and reliable method of moving about the city and along with buses and a ferry system accommodates most transportation needs of tourists within the city. Prague is considered to be a very walkable city and self-guided walking tours are one of the favored ways to move about the fascinating city. One of the busiest airports in central Europe services Prague, Prague Ruzyne Airport. Fulfill your dream of visiting one of the great cities of central Europe by including a trip to Prague, Czech Republic on your list. Beautiful architecture and wonderful attractions await your visit. Start planning the details for this fantastic holiday now.

London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. London is a very diverse city displaying a broad spectrum of cultures and religions with over 300 languages spoken by its inhabitants. The history of London extends to well before Roman times. Situated picturesquely on the banks of the River Thames the city boasts medieval architecture standing alongside modern buildings and large areas of open space and parkland within a densely populated metropolitan area. The “City of London”, the core and ancient center of London as it exists today is but one of 33 boroughs that make up the modern city. Within the city center visitors will find remnants of the original walled fortress along with castles, such as the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the iconic London Bridge. Westminster, another of the well-known Districts, is home to the British Monarchy and such can’t miss attractions as Buckingham Palace (residence of the Queen of England), Palace of Westminster where the Houses of Parliament are found, the Churchill Museum, Downing Street (home of the sitting Prime Minister), Westminster Abbey, Whitehall linking Trafalgar Square with Parliament Square and the Tate Britain Art Gallery. London hosts a number of world class museums and galleries with the British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and Tate British chief among them. The city was also home to Playwright William Shakespeare and maintains a well-deserved reputation for premier theatre experiences. London’s West End is one of the most important theatre districts in the world with avant garde stage and musical productions regularly offered alongside popular presentations. Sports are an important part of London’s persona with the annual Wimbledon Tennis Tournament (the oldest such tournament in the world) alongside the more than 15 professional football teams attracting spectators. London is home to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the 3rdtime the city has hosted the modern summer games. London attracts more students from other parts of the world than any other city to its incredible collection of academic institutions, some of which are the oldest and most prestigious in the world. The city is also preeminent in the fashion world and shopping on Oxford, Regent and Bond Street are can’t miss pursuits of interested tourists. Other favorite shops can be found in Soho, Convent Garden, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Beauchamp Place, Camden Town and Saville Row on Jermyn Street. Thousands of eating establishments abound throughout the city appealing to all tastes and budgets from Pub dining to upscale restaurants. Nightclubs and bars abound, many with live entertainment. Other points of interest to visitors in London include the London Eye (Millennium Wheel), a 147 meter ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames affording a bird’s eye view of the city; Madame Tussaud’s famous waxworks museum; The Science Museum in South Kensington founded in 1857 and home to an over 300,000 item collection; The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich incorporating the Royal Observatory and the 17thcentury Queen’s House. London is served by five airports including the busiest international airport in the world, Heathrow Airport. Once visitors have arrived they will find a dynamic system of public transportation that includes trains, buses, taxis, car rentals, the “tube” (subway), boats and light rail. Accommodations to satisfy every taste and budget can be found throughout the city. One of the world’s leading cities with global influence in commerce, art, education, entertainment, fashion, healthcare and transportation, London was the world’s most populous city from the early 1800’s until 1925 when it was overtaken by New York City. Add a trip to London, England to explore this important location on the world stage to your list if you want to visit a modern, world class city steeped in history and rich with architectural treasures and meaningful landmarks. The list of things to do is substantial so good planning is necessary to make this trip of a lifetime one you will gladly check of your list once you have experienced all that London has to offer.

Known for its Byzantine and Ottoman architecture that can be seen throughout the city, Istanbul is a thriving a metropolis. Throughout the centuries people have looked to Istanbul as a place that blends the European and Asian cultures with style. It’s home to plenty of historically significant landmarks and four historic areas have been named a UNESCO World Heritage site: the Archealogical Park, the Süleymaniye quarter, the Zeyrek quarter, and the zone of the ramparts. Also known as the City of the World’s Desire, Istanbul is quickly becoming a must-see destination with its hip bars, fine dining, art galleries, and vibrant nightlife. There’s clearly a reason Istanbul was chosen as a European Capital of Culture for 2010. It’s easy to check out historical sites such as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (a.k.a. Blue Mosque) or visit the Grand Bazaar during the day and experience the vibrant nightlife of the 21st century in the nightclubs of Beyoglu.

Germany’s lively capital, Berlin, known for its significant history, is built around the river Spree in the German Federal State of Brandendburg in a region referred to as Bundesland. The city has had an incredible transformation during the last 10 decades. Over 4.5 million people live in the metropolitan area (almost 3.5 million within the city limits) making it the largest population of any municipality in Germany. What was a divided city, separating East from West, Berlin is now open for tourists and business travelers, students of history and lovers of the arts. Remarkable architecture abounds, ancient and modern, buildings, monuments and other structures standing side by side with a nod toward Berlin’s incredible background. Within a few blocks of the city’s center visitors can see representative examples of the many diverse historic periods of Berlin from medieval structures to ultramodern steel and glass buildings. Berlin has done an excellent job of maintaining open space in such a populated city with nearly a third of its footprint made up of the river, lakes, forests, parks and gardens. The city is divided into multiple districts, further segmented into boroughs, each with their own unique attributes. This segmentation supports several “down town” areas spread about Berlin. Berlin has a limitless offering of museums. Among their favorite places, tourists count visits to the Hamburger Bahnhof-Museum containing the popular Fur Gegenwart Museum. Musemsinsl (translated in English means “Museum Island”) houses extensive collections of ancient Greek, Islamic and Middle Eastern art in its Pergamon Museum; The Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgaleri, Bode-Museum and Neues Museum, all on the grounds of the Island also contain must-see collections. Other museums and galleries in Berlin that are of interest to almost everyone include the Deutsches Historiches Museum, Judisches Museum, Gemaldgalerie, Nuseum fur Naturkunde, Musikinstrumenten-Museum, The Holocaust Museum and the Berlinische Galerie among many more. Tourists with an appetite for World War II details can visit the site of Hitler's Bunker in Mitte-Unter Den Linden. Although the site of Hitler’s death is now a parking lot, there is a diagram of the bunker and a monument explaining his final days. What is left of the Berlin Wall, the iconic structure that separated Eastern Europe from the West can be visited (a portion of the wall is decorated with murals) along with the Berlin Wall Memorial and its monument to the infamous “Checkpoint Charlie”. Brandenburg Gate, one of the main symbols of Berlin, erected in the 18th century and recently restored, stands near the city centre, alongside the Pariser Platz which then leads to the Reichstag, dating back to the end of the 19th century and home to the German Parliament, known locally as the Bundestag. Central to Berlin’s city life and surrounded by many world-class entertainment venues is Mitte Unter den Linden, a lengthy avenue stretching from the Brandenburg Gate, lined with grand buildings and landmarks. Berliner Dom, the city's main Cathedral, featuring a magnificent dome and offering superb views of central Berlin and beyond is just one of the often visited facilities associated with the diverse religious culture of Berlin. The 'Story of Berlin' Exhibition , the Schloss Charlottenburg, a beautiful palace built more than 300 years ago, the spectacular antiques and paintings found in Potsdamer Platz and the New Centre, a lively public square in central Berlin are additional favorites of tourists that have visited the capital of Germany. Including a tour Germany's oldest zoo, the Berliner Zoo and Aquarium in Tiergarten where visitors enjoy viewing the penguins, rhinos, orangutans, giraffes and the rare giant panda, Bao Bao, a gift of the Chinese government is another requisite attraction of the city. Charlottenburg Palace, a beautiful Prussian monument located in the suburbs of Berlin commands attention as does the Victory Column, an important Berlin monument constructed in 1873 to honor important military campaigns Berlin is crammed with offerings for nightlife. One of the favorite areas is found at Oranienburger Strasse 28-30, a particularly trendy part of Berlin, overflowing with cafés and bars. Berlin has a rich sports history as well as a thirst for professional and amateur sports of every kind. A visit to Olympiastadion, an enormous stadium which hosted the Olympic Games in 1936 provides a little perspective into that part of Berliner’s lives while the tradition of sports and entertainment continues in the city with many popular seasonal festivals, sporting events and concerts, the world famous International Film Festival of Berlin or some of the other festivals staged throughout the year such as the Berlinale, the Richard Wagner Festival and the Stuttgart Jazz Festival. The Christmas Markets, or Weihnachtsmarkte also attract visitors from the world over. The city provides an excellent public transportation system, world class hotels and virtually any convenience to make your trip to Berlin, Germany a dream come true. The hard part will be deciding what important places you will visit on your first trip and the one’s you will save for the next time. Add a trip to Berlin to your list and start planning the exciting details today.

Tokyo, Japan is one of the greatest cities in the world and claims over 35 million inhabitants in its greater metropolitan area; the largest consolidation of humanity on the planet. It is included in the conversation with London, England and New York City as one of the top 3 economic drivers in the world. Tokyo is the capital of Japan and a very modern city. Touring some of the famous neighborhoods of Tokyo highlights of many visitors trips and includes the Ginza, Chiyoda, Shinjuku and Minato among the most popular. Visitors to Tokyo enjoy visiting museums, partaking of the indigenous theater and dance performances and attending the eclectic mix of festivals staged around the city. Among the recommended cultural offerings tourists count visits to the National Museum of Modern Art, the Nezo Art Museum, the Tokyo National Museum (the largest museum providing incredible traditional Japanese art exhibits) and the Edo-Tokyo Museum among their favorites. Tours of Ueno Zoo contained within a large urban park which was once the grounds of an imperial family’s estate are popular as are visits to Tama Zoo and Inokashira Nature Park. Tokyo’s most famous Shinto Shrine, Meiji Shrine, presents visitors with a serene spiritual experience in contrast to the hustle and bustle outside the 40 foot tall gate that guards the pristine 200 acre park. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden presents gardens styled from every corner of the globe and is a perfect place to visit during cherry blossom season (March to April). The ancient practice of Sumo at Tokyo’s National Sumo Hall ((Ryogoku Kokugikan) captivates the attention of residents and visitors alike. If there is no tournament scheduled during your visit you can observe the training regimen at the stables where the wrestlers live and train. Incredible views of Tokyo’s skyline abound but perhaps the best is found on the 52nd floor observation deck of the Mori Tower near Roppongi Hills. The Tokyo Government Offices Building also presents incredible vistas from its double towers and observation decks. The world famous Shibuya Crossing, just outside the Shibuya station provides the quintessential Tokyo experience of organized chaos as the lights signal the assembled mass of humanity to scramble toward their destination in organized chaos. Nearby are opportunities for shopping or dining at the Tokyo Food Show. A visit to Daimaru Department Store near the downtown Tokyo station provides insight into the shopping habits of locals with the displays and price tags that can be breathtaking. Other interesting diversions in Tokyo include the ever present Karaoke bars and clubs providing live bands as entertainment. The Tsukiji Fish Market, the largest wholesale fish market in the world, pleasantly surprises visitors with its kinetic auctions of the fresh catch at dawn every day. Travelers find that the Tokyo subway system is one of the cleanest, safest and most efficient in the world and most reliable. Public transportation is a way of life for the inhabitants of the massive city. If a visit to one of the great cities in the world is your dream then add Tokyo, Japan to your list and start planning the best way to spend your time in this lively metropolis.

Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city and its most populous. The city is the center of focus in Thailand for things political, social and economic and is one of the most important cities in Southeast Asia. Bangkok is home to many multinational corporations and its booming tourism industry is a major contributor to the city’s economy. Bangkok counts among its many must-see venues the historically important Grand Palace, a complex of architecturally significant buildings that have served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand since the 18th century and the Wat Pho, a Buddhist Temple adjacent to the Grand Palace, one of the oldest and largest temples in Thailand, believed to be the place where traditional Thai massage was first practiced and the site was a center of education for traditional Thai medicine long before the temple was first established. Wat Arun, or the “Temple of the Dawn” is another Buddhist Temple of historic and cultural significance. Located on the banks of the Chao Praya River, Wat Arun is an architectural treasure and is best visited in the early morning light to capture the essence of its nickname. Visitors to Bangkok enjoy tours along the Khlongs (canals) in barges that are powered by rowers, sometimes as many as 50 on the larger craft. You may consider making a stop at the Royal Barges Museum where the magnificent boats that are used for royal processions on the river are proudly displayed. Morlam music, the infectious sound of country music from northeastern Thailand is heard almost everywhere in Bangkok. One of the best spots to enjoy performances is at TawanDaeng, where nearly every Friday evening one of Thailand’s headliners may be found accompanied by extravagantly costumed dancers. Muay Thai boxing is another favorite of residents and tourists with matches staged at various venues. Large, open air markets with up to 10,000 stalls are magnets for visitors, the best of which are Chatuchak Weekend Market and the smaller, less crowded SuamLum Night Bazaar. Bangkok is also famous for its exotic nightlife and red-light districts. Parks and gardens abound in Bangkok. Well worth your consideration is a tour of the RommaniNart Park and the Mahachai Prison Corrections Museum on its eastern side. The Museum contains exhibits and discussions by actual former prison guards (the prison is no longer operating) focused on the fascinating tales of Thai prison life. The grounds of the park also are home to a zoo. A trip to Bangkok, Thailand should be included in your list if your dreams include spending time in an exotic, modern city in the Far East with an ancient culture integrated into its way of life. Start planning that trip of a lifetime today. The full name of the city is Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit. It's the longest city name in the world.

Once the playground for the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford), Las Vegas is a city that is making a comeback with new, upscale hotels such as the Cosmopolitan and the Aria. These hotels, equipped with state of the art spas, rooms, and grounds are bringing back much of the flare and style of the Vegas of the 60s. Although Las Vegas is known for its casinos there’s still plenty to do and experience even if you don’t gamble. You can take in a show, do some high-end shopping, play a round of golf, or have a fine dining experience (many of the most popular chefs of our time have restaurants there). There’s plenty to do at all of the themed hotels such as ride the roller coaster at New York-New York or see Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage.

Key West, Florida is the most southern point in the Continental U.S.A. and only 90 miles from the coast of Cuba. Life on this serene little island revolves around the water with salt water fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling on top of the to-do lists of visitors. Diving and snorkeling the coral reefs and wrecked ships off Key West is a favored excursion whether to observe the abundant tropical fish or hunt for treasure. Fly fishing for Tarpon in the backcountry or Deep Sea fishing for the abundant game fish found off the coast is readily accessible. Your evenings will probably be spent on or near Duval Street, dining at the fine island restaurants or hanging out at one of the bars made famous by Ernest Hemingway where he either imbibed, referenced in his writing or both. In fact, there is a museum in Key West dedicated to the author in the very building where he lived and practiced his craft for 10 years all the while enjoying the bounty of Key West. The famous American playwright, Tennessee Williams, is thought to have written his first draft of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in Key West where he owned a home and has a theater in town named in his honor. The tiny island (approximately 13.5 km2), south of Miami in the Straits of Florida, is reachable by car on U.S. Highway 1 that traverses the Florida Keys and terminates at mile marker 0 in Key West, or alternatively by boat or the planes that land at its international airstrip. Sunsets on this idyllic island are the substance of which dreams are made. Start planning your trip to Key West as soon as you add it to your list.

Vienna is the capital of Austria in nearly every way. It maintains the largest population and is the center of government, culture and the economy for the Republic of Austria. Vienna is an historic city with a significant past as a metropolitan area extending thousands of years to at least 500 BC. Art and culture have long been synonymous with Vienna and presentations of live theatre, opera, music and art exhibits do nothing but support that reputation. Many styles of architecture are present in Vienna ranging from classicist buildings to Art Nouveau. The old town section of Vienna (called Innere Stadt) exhibits remarkable examples of the varying architectural styles. The arts come alive in Vienna. The Burgtheater and the adjunct Akadamietheater are considered the most important in the German speaking world. Theater an der Wien, the Staatsoper and the Volksoper present operatic performances of the highest caliber. The Wiener Musikverein and the Wiener Konzerthaus stage wonderful musical performances (the Wiener Musikverien is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). Tourists can visit the imperial jewels from the Habsburg dynasty at Schatzkammer (Treasury) in Hofburg Palace located at the Schweizerhof (Swiss Courtyard). The Schatzkammer exhibits many other royal objects along with an entire section devoted to religious artifacts from the Baroque era. The Kunsthistorisches (Art History) Museum nearby maintains painting by the old masters alongside its complementary cousin, the Naturhisrtorisches (Natural History) Museum, considered one of the most important museums in the world, maintaining over 20 million objects from a 25,000 year old statue to a skeleton of a Diplodocus Dinosaur. 12 Emperors, 15 Empresses and scores of Archdukes entombed in Kapuzinergruft guarded by Capuchin Monks await your visit to learn about the genealogy of the Habsburg bloodline and the greatly evolved customs for treating the dead. Since nearly 50% of Austria’s population practices Catholicism, the mother church of the archdiocese of Vienna, Stephansdom (St. Stephan’s Cathedral) attracts visitors to this most important religious building in Austria’s capital. This Romanesque building was started in 1137 AD and presents the highest point on the Vienna skyline. The components of the Cathedral are a museum in their own right. One of Vienna’s top tourist attractions, Schloss Schonbrunn (the Summer Palace) boasts a major zoo, extensive parks, gardens and museums (including a world famous children’s museum). It is said that the 2 favorite activities of the Viennese are eating and drinking. Visitors to Vienna find a vast range of culinary pleasures prepared in a style known as Viennese Cuisine. Cafés, bars and restaurants abound offering specialties such as Wiener Schnitzel and Manner Schnitten with the perfect complement (especially at Christmastime) Weihnachtspunsch. You may have a dream to visit the ancient capital city of Vienna to partake in the Austrian lifestyle, visit the historic buildings and be entertained in royal style. Put a trip to Vienna, Austria on your list and you can start working on how to make this fantasy your reality.

Khao Phing Kan or Ko Khao Phing Kan is a pair of islands on the west coast of Thailand, in the Phang Nga Bay, Andaman Sea. The island is a part of the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Since 1974, when it was featured in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, it is popularly called James Bond Island. Before 1974, the island was a rarely visited indigenous area. However, it was chosen as one of the locations for the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun as the hideout for Bond's antagonist, Francisco Scaramanga. After the movie release it turned into a popular tourist destination that has gradually contaminated Khao Phing Kan with household litter. In 1981, the island became the most famous part of the newly established Ao Phang Nga Marine National Park. Since 1998, it is forbidden for tourist boats to approach Ko Tapu. This measure aims to stop erosion of the limestone rocks on and near the islet that might eventually result in its collapse. Khao Phing Kan consists of two forest-covered islands with steep shores. They lie in the north-western part of the Phang Nga Bay, some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the main land, amidst a group of a dozen of other islands. Its western part is about 130 metres (430 ft) in diameter whereas the eastern part is about 240 metres (790 ft) long and 140 metres (460 ft) wide and is elongated northwards. The island has a few caves and two sandy beaches, on the south western part and between the twin islands. The former hosts the government office where every visitor has to pay tax. The latter is used as the port for the tourist boats arriving from the continent and has several souvenir shops selling items like coral and shells and plastic-encased butterflies, scorpions and spiders. Beaches and caves are regularly flooded with the tides, which have an amplitude of 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft), so access to some caves is only possible during the low waters. The Thai name for Khao Phing Kan reflects the particular shape of the island which appears as if a flat limestone cliff tumbled sideways and leaned on a similar rock in the center of the island. Bay waters around the island are only few metres deep and are pale-green in colour. The bottom is covered with silt which is brought to the Phang Nga Bay by several rivers from the north. Ko Tapu is a limestone rock about 20 metres (66 ft) tall with the diameter increasing from about 4 metres (13 ft) near the water level to about 8 metres (26 ft) at the top. It lies about 40 metres (130 ft) to the west from the northern part of Khao Phing Kan. A local legend explains the formation of Ko Tapu island as follows. Once upon a time, there lived a fisherman who used to bring home much fish every time he went to the sea. However, one day he could not catch any fish despite tedious attempts and only picked up a nail with his net. He kept throwing the nail back to the sea and catching it again. Furious, he took his sword and cut the nail in halves, using all his power. Upon impact, one half of the nail jumped up and speared into the sea forming Ko Tapu. A scientific version of the Ko Tapu formation says that in the Permian period, the area was a barrier reef. Then, upon tectonic movements, it ruptured, and its parts were dispersed over the area and flooded by the rising ocean. Wind, waves, water currents and tides gradually eroded the islands thus formed, sometimes producing peculiar shapes, such as Ko Tapu. Tide-related erosion is visible at the bottom of the rock.

Formerly known as Saigon (and still is to many inhabitants), a name reflective of when it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam with the most populous metropolitan area in the country. The population of the fast growing area is currently in excess of 9 Million and on track to exceed 20 Million within 10 years. Originally a small fishing village, Ho Chi Minh City was brought into the Khmer Empire in 17thcentury, subsequently absorbed into the Nguyen Dynasty, served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam to then come under control of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after the Vietnam war when it was renamed in honor of the Chinese Communist leader, Ho Chi Minh. The city is the economic engine that drives Vietnam with significant production from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, construction, tourism, finance and international trade. Fine restaurants, First-class hotels, plush bars and clubs, shops selling imported luxury goods are found throughout the city amid a checkerboard of once-grand French architecture, venerable pagodas and temples alongside austere housing blocks. A number of attractions are frequently found on many lists of the best things to experience in Ho Chi Minh City. Ben Thanh Market with its narrow alleys replete with vendors eager to bargain is almost always among the favorite places to visit. Reunification Palace where communists’ tanks blasted through the gates in a symbolic end to the Vietnam War is another popular site along with the War Remnants Museum. The iconic Rex Hotel, the location of daily press briefings during the war is frequently included on tourist itineraries with its rooftop bar affording one of the best views of the city. The most popular trip out of the city is to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Villagers dug themselves out of the range of American shelling spending weeks at a time in the narrow passageways that total nearly 500 kilometers in combined length. In the same area as the Cu Chi Tunnels is found the Great Temple of the indigenous Cao Dai religion at Tay Ninh which also commands an examination. Tours of the Mekong Delta at My Tho or a swim in the South China Sea at Mui Ne are also popular with visitors. Sporting events draw enthusiastic crowds, primarily for football and basketball games. Army Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City was the site of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals for footballers. The city is served by Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the largest airport in Vietnam accounting for more than half of Vietnam's air passenger traffic. The primary means of transport within the city are motorbikes, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motorbikes remain the most common way to move around but taxis are plentiful; motorcycle taxis are also common with the passenger sitting at the rear. Many visitors to Ho Chi Minh City arrive on river cruise vessels as cruises on the Mekong River from points north have become quite popular. Your dream of visiting the most populous city in Vietnam can be fulfilled when you add Visit Ho Chi Minh City to your list and execute your plan. This trip of a lifetime to a rejuvenated major economic center will create long lasting memories that you will want to share with your friends and family.

Located in Eastern China at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai was once a fishing town. That changed during the 19thcentury when it became a popular port. As the city became more prominent and populated it began to evolve. Today, Shanghai is a city with a rich heritage and a culture that blends the more traditional Chinese ways with Western style. It is evident in the skyline that mixes old architecture with modern buildings and the variety of people seen walking in the street. At any given moment there may be a women dressed in the latest fashion and another lady wearing pajamas. That’s why Shanghai is best explored on foot. Some of the best people watching, though a bit touristy, can be found walking down the Bund riverfront. It has recently been updated for the 2010 World Expo. Art Deco is a popular building style in Shanghai since the construction boom happened during the 1920s and 1930s. Some of the more famous Art Deco buildings are the Peace Hotel, the Grand Theater, and the Broadway Mansions. There are also plenty of historical places to see including the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao with houses that date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, City God Temple, and Yuyuan Garden. Shanghai is an eclectic city that becomes more enchanting with each passing year. The city has the following festivals: Chinese New Year – January or February Longhua Temple Fair – March Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival – April Peach Blossom Festival – April Dragon boat Festival – May Spring International Music Festival – May Shanghai Film Festival – June Shanghai International Art Festival – October Shanghai Marathon - December

Saint Petersburg is a Ruissian city located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In 1914 the name of the city was changed to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg. It is Russia's second largest city after Moscow with 4.6 million inhabitants. Saint Petersburg is a major European cultural centre, and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. Saint Petersburg is often described as the most Western city of Russia. Among cities of the world with over one million people, Saint Petersburg is the northernmost. Saint Petersburg is home to more than two hundred museums, many of them hosted in historic buildings. The largest of the museums is the Hermitage Museum, featuring interiors of the former imperial residence and a vast collection of art. The Russian Museum is a large museum devoted to the Russian fine art specifically. The Kunstkamera, with its collection established in 1714 by Peter the Great to collect curiosities from all over the world, is sometimes considered the first museum in Russia, which has evolved into the present-day Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. The Russian Ethnography Museum, which has been split from the Russian Museum, is devoted to the cultures of the people of Russia, the former Soviet Union and Russian Empire. Other notable museums include the Central Naval Museum hosted in the building of the former stock exchange and Zoological Museum, the Railway Museum, Museum of the Siege of Leningrad, Museum of contemporary art Erarta, Saint Petersburg Museum of History in the Peter and Paul Fortress and Artillery Museum, which in fact includes not only artillery items, but also a huge collection of other military equipment, uniform and decorations. Saint Petersburg is home to numerous parks and gardens, some of the most famous of which are situated in the southern suburbs, including one of the largest English gardens of Europe in Pavlovsk. Sosnovka is the largest park within the limits of the city proper, occupying 240 ha. The Summer Garden is the oldest one, dating back to the early 18th century and designed in the regular style. It is situated on the southern bank of the Neva at the head of the Fontanka and is famous for its cast iron railing and marble sculptures. Among other notable parks are the Maritime Victory Park on Krestovsky Island and the Moscow Victory Park in the south, both commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, as well as the Central Park of Culture and Leisure occupying Yelagin Island and the Tauride Garden around the Tauride Palace. The most common trees grown in the parks are the English oak, Norway maple, green ash, silver birch, Siberian larch, blue spruce, crack willow, limes and poplars. Important dendrological collections dating back to the 19th century are hosted by the Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden and the Park of the Forestry Academy. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is also home to The Hermitage, the largest art museum in the world. A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located in Saint Petersburg.

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, are put on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Notable cancels - Inward to outward, the canals are as follows: Singel encircled the medieval city of Amsterdam. It served as a moat around the city from 1480 until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals. The canal should not be confused with Singelgracht canal, which became the outer limit of the city during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century. Herengracht (Patricians' Canal or Lord's Canal) is the first of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam. The canal is named after the heren regeerders who governed the city in the 16th and 17th century. The most fashionable part is called the Golden Bend, with many double wide mansions, inner gardens and coach houses on Keizersgracht Keizersgracht (literal English translation: Emperor's Canal) is the second and widest of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, in between Herengracht and Prinsengracht. It is named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam. It is named after the Prince of Orange. Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces. The bridges over this canal don't connect with the streets in the Jordaan. Interesting sights along Prinsengracht include the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market), Anne Frank House, the Westerkerk (Western Church, Amsterdam's tallest church) with the Homomonument (Gay Monument), which actually faces Keizersgracht. Other notable canals: Zwanenburgwal is a canal and street in the center of Amsterdam. The painter Rembrandt and philosopher Spinoza lived here. In 2006 it was voted one of the most beautiful streets in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool, a local daily newspaper. Zwanenburgwal flows from Sint Antoniessluis sluice gate (between the streets Sint Antoniesbreestraat and Jodenbreestraat) to the Amstel river. The canal was originally named Verversgracht ("dyers' canal"), after the textile industry that once dominated this part of town. Dyed textiles were hung to dry along the canal. Brouwersgracht is a canal in the city centre of Amsterdam and is part of the canal belt connecting the Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht and marks the northern border of the canal belt. Brouwersgracht was voted the most beautiful street in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool, a local daily newspaper. Kloveniersburgwal is a canal running south from Nieuwmarkt to the Amstel River on the edge of the medieval city. The east side became populated in the 17th century and has a few grand mansions, like the Trippenhuis, now housing the KNAW. Kloveniersburgwal was popular with administrators at the Dutch East India Company, being close to its nerve center on Oude Hoogstraat and its warehouse.

The Amazon River of South America is the second longest river in the world with an average discharge greater than the next six largest rivers combined. The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world's total river flow. In its upper stretches the Amazon river is called Apurímac (in Peru) and Solimões (in Brazil). At no point is the Amazon crossed by bridges. This is not because of its huge dimensions; in fact, for most of its length, the Amazon's width is well within the capability of modern engineers to bridge. However, the bulk of the river flows through tropical rainforest, where there are few roads or cities, limiting the need for crossings. More than one-third of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest, a giant tropical forest and river basin. It is the richest tropical forest in the world in terms of biodiversity. There are over 2,100 species of fish currently recognized in the Amazon Basin, with more being discovered every year. Along with the Orinoco, the Amazon is one of the main habitats of the boto, also known as the Amazon River Dolphin. It is the largest species of river dolphin. The color of its skin changes with age. It varies from gray when it is young, to pink and white as it matures. The tucuxi also a dolphin species, is found both in the rivers of the Amazon Basin and in the coastal waters of South America. The Amazonian Manatee also known as “seacow” is found in the northern Amazon River Basin and its tributaries. It is a mammal and a herbivore. Its population is limited to fresh water habitats and unlike other manatees, they do not venture into salt water. It is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. The Amazon and its tributaries are the main habitat of the Giant Otter . The giant otter is a member of the weasel family and is the largest of its kind. Because of habitat destruction and hunting its population has dramatically decreased. Also present in large numbers is the notorious piranha, a carnivorous fish which congregates in large schools, and may attack livestock and even humans. There are approximately from 30 to 60 species of piranha. However, only a few of its species are known to attack humans, most notably, the Red-bellied Piranha. The bull shark has been reported 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) up the Amazon River at Iquitos in Peru. The arapaima, known in Brazil as the pirarucu , is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reportedly with a maximum length in excess of 4.5 metres (15 ft) and weight up to 200 kilograms (440 lb). Another Amazonian freshwater fish is the arowana , such as the Silver arowana , which is also a predator and very similar to the arapaima, but only reaches a length of maximum 120 centimetres (47 in). The candirú are a number of genera of parasitic, freshwater catfish, all are native to the Amazon River. The electric eel is also found in the river. The anaconda snake is found in shallow waters in the Amazon Basin. One of the world's largest species of snake, the anaconda spends most of its time in the water, with just its nostrils above the surface. In addition to the thousands of species of fish, the river supports crabs, algae, and turtles.

Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea and is the second largest of the Ionian Islands. The island is connected to the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her. Poseidon brought Korkyra to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric). Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians. The town of Corfu stands on the broad part of a peninsula, whose termination in the Venetian citadel (Greek: Παλαιό Φρούριο) is cut off from it by an artificial fosse formed in a natural gully, with a seawater moat at the bottom, that now serves as amarina and is called the Contrafossa. The old town, having grown within fortifications, where every metre of ground was precious, is a labyrinth of narrow streets paved with cobblestones, sometimes tortuous but colourful and clean. These streets are known as kantoúnia (Greek: καντούνια), and the older amongst them sometimes follow the gentle irregularities of the ground; while many are too narrow for vehicular traffic. A promenade rises by the seashore towards the bay of Garitsa (Γαρίτσα), together with an esplanade between the town and the citadel known as Spianada with the Liston (it) arcade (Greek: Λιστόν) to its west side, where restaurants and bistros abound. In 2007, the city's old town was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List, following a recommendation by ICOMOS.

Eilean Donan is a small island in Loch Duich in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. The island is dominated by a picturesque castle which is familiar from many photographs and appearances in film and television. The castle was founded in the thirteenth century, but was destroyed in the eighteenth century. The present buildings are the result of twentieth-century reconstruction. The castle is one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland and a popular venue for weddings and film locations. Eilean Donan (which means simply "island of Donnán") is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. Donnán is said to have established a church on the island, though no trace of this remains. Eilean Donan is part of the Kintail National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland. The island was inhabited as early as the sixth century by the Picts, who are believed to have built a vitrified fort on the current castle's location. In the thirteenth century, a large curtain-wall castle (wall of enceinte) was constructed. At this time the area was at the boundary of the Norse-Celtic Lordship of the Isles and the Earldom of Ross: Eilean Donan provided a strong defensive position against Norse expeditions. By the late thirteenth century it had become a stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail (later the Earls of Seaforth), who were vassals of the Earls of Ross.A tower house or keep was built at the north-east corner in the fourteenth century, and in the fifteenth century a smaller defensive enclosure. Having lost control in the fourteenth century, the Mackenzies obtained a charter of Eilean Donan in 1509, and in 1511 the Macraes, as protectors of the Mackenzies, became the hereditary Constables of the castle. In 1539 Iain Dubh Matheson, chief of the Clan Matheson, died whilst defending the castle against the Clan Macdonald of Sleat on behalf of Clan Macrae and Clan Mackenzie. Following the failure of the Jacobite rising of 1715, the Jacobites, supporters of the exiled James Stuart, the "Old Pretender", sought new support fromSpain. An advance party of 300 Spanish soldiers arrived in Loch Duich in April 1719, and occupied Eilean Donan Castle. The expected uprising of Highlanders did not occur, and the main Spanish invasion force never arrived. At the beginning of May, the Royal Navy sent ships to the area. Early in the morning on Sunday 10 May, HMS Worcester, HMS Flamborough, andHMS Enterprise anchored off Eilean Donan and sent a boat ashore under a flag of truce to negotiate. When the Spanish soldiers in the castle fired at the boat, it was recalled and all three ships opened fire on the castle for an hour or more. The next day the bombardment continued while a landing party was prepared. In the evening under the cover of an intense cannonade, the ships' boats went ashore and captured the castle against little resistance. According to Worcester's log, in the castle they found "an Irishman, a captain, a Spanish lieutenant, a sergeant, one Scots rebel and 39 Spanish soldiers, 343 barrels of powder and 52 barrels of musquet shot". The naval force spent the next two days demolishing the castle, which took 27 barrels of gunpowder. The Spanish prisoners were put on board Flamborough and taken to Edinburgh. The remaining Spanish troops were defeated on 10 June at the Battle of Glen Shiel. The castle was rebuilt in the years between 1919 and 1932 by Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap. The restoration included the construction of an arched bridge to give easier access to the castle. In 1983 The Conchra Charitable Trust was formed by the Macrae family to care for the castle. A curious distinction is that it has one of only two left-handed spiral staircases in a castle in Great Britain, as the reigning king at the time of building held a sword with his left hand. Other distinctions of the castle today are the grey field gun from World War I, positioned outside the building near a war memorial and fountain dedicated to the men of the Macrae clan who died in the war. The castle is one of the most photographed monuments in Scotland and a popular venue for weddings and film locations. It has appeared in such films as The Master of Ballantrae (1953), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), Highlander (1986), Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987), Loch Ness (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Entrapment (1999), The World Is Not Enough(1999), Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Made of Honor (2008) and in the television series The New Avengers (1976) and Oliver's Travels (1995).

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and ski resort in the southern (Dolomitic) Alps in Northern Italy. One of the world's first ski resort cities, Cortina is also Italy's most stylish place to be. This popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, and après-ski scene. Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the most charming ski resort in Italy. Cortina is also known as the "Regina delle Dolomiti" - Queen of the Dolomites - since it is in the heart of the Dolomites. After the scheduled 1944 Olympics had been cancelled because of WWII, it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics as well as various world cup events and motion pictures. Cortina d'Ampezzo Italy is a leading ski resort among avid skiers and snowboarders. Cortina is on the eastern end of the region and has less lifts then other resorts. However, its one of the top ski resorts across the European region. Cortina is situated more or less to the centre of the Ampezzana valley, encircled nearly completely by the high Dolomites. Originally it was composed of numerous frazioni, isolated villages and hamlets, but with the advent of the tourism from the 1950s it grew rapidly. Only the furthest villages and hamlets in the commune have remained secluded and isolated from the main town, which today is known for its shopping. Cortina is home to some of the most prestigious names in fashion, including Bulgari, Benetton, Gucci and Geox, and various artisan shops, antiquarians, and craft stores. It is also home to many stores which specialize in mountaineering equipment.

The Karnak Temple Complex —usually called Karnak — comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. Building at the complex began in the reign of Sesostris I in the Middle Kingdom and continued into the Ptolemaic period, although most of the extant buildings date from the New Kingdom. The area around Karnak was the ancient EgyptianIpet-isut("The Most Selected of Places") and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes. The Karnak complex takes its name from the nearby, and partly surrounded, modern village of el-Karnak, some 2.5 km north of Luxor. The complex is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. It is believed to be the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to theGiza Pyramids near Cairo. It consists of four main parts of which only the largest is currently open to the general public. The term Karnak often is understood as being the Precinct of Amun-Re only, because this is the only part most visitors normally see. The three other parts, the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Montu, and the dismantled Temple of Amenhotep IV, are closed to the public. There also are a few smaller temples and sanctuaries located outside the enclosing walls of the four main parts, as well as several avenues of goddesses and ram-headed sphinxes connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and the Luxor Temple. The Precinct of Mut is very ancient, being dedicated to an Earth and creation deity, but not yet restored. The original temple was destroyed and partially restored by Hatsheput, although another pharaoh built around it in order to change the focus or orientation of the sacred area. Many portions of it may have been carried away for use in other buildings. The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction of temples started in the Middle Kingdom and continued through to Ptolemaictimes. Approximately thirty pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity, and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features are overwhelming. The deities represented range from some of the earliest worshiped to those worshiped much later in the history of the Ancient Egyptian culture. Although destroyed, it also contained an early temple built by Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), the pharaoh who later would celebrate a near monotheistic religion he established that prompted him to move his court and religious center away from Thebes. It also contains evidence of adaptations, using buildings of the Ancient Egyptians by later cultures for their own religious purposes. One famous aspect of Karnak, is the Hypostyle Hall in the Precinct of Amun-Re, a hall area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) with 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows. 122 of these columns are 10 meters tall, and the other 12 are 21 meters tall with a diameter of over three meters. The architraves on top of these columns are estimated to weigh 70 tons. These architraves may have been lifted to these heights using levers. This would be an extremely time-consuming process and also would require great balance to get to such great heights. A common alternative theory about how they were moved is that there were large ramps made of sand mud brick or stone and the stones were towed up the ramps. If they used stone for the ramps they would have been able to build the ramps with much less material. The top of the ramps presumably would have either wooden tracks or cobblestones for towing the megaliths. There is an unfinished pillar in an out of the way location that indicated how it would have been finished. Final carving was executed after the drums were put in place so that it was not damaged while being placed. Several experiments moving megaliths with ancient technology were made at other locations – some of them are listed here. In 2009 UCLA launched a website dedicated to virtual reality digital reconstructions of the Karnak complex and other resources.

The Monte Carlo Casino is a gambling and entertainment complex located in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It includes a casino, the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo, and the office of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. The idea of opening a gambling casino in Monaco belongs to Princess Caroline, a shrewd, business-minded spouse of Prince Florestan I. Revenues from the proposed venture were supposed to save the House of Grimaldi from bankruptcy. The ruling family's persistent financial problems became especially acute after the loss of tax revenue from two breakaway towns, Menton and Roquebrune, which declared independence from Monaco in 1848 and refused to pay taxes on olive oil and fruit imposed by the Grimaldis. In 1854 Charles, Florestan's son and future Prince of Monaco, recruited a team of Frenchmen—writer Albert Aubert and businessman Napoleon Langlois—to devise a development plan and write a prospectus to attract 4 million francs needed to build a spa for the treatment of various diseases, a gambling casino modeled from the Bad Homburg casino, and English-styled villas. Granted the concession of 30 years to operate a bathing establishment and gaming tables, Aubert and Langlois opened the first casino in 1856 in Villa Bellevu. Intended to be only a temporary location, the building was a modest mansion in La Condamine. In the following years the casino was moved several times until it finally ended up in the area called Les Spelugues (English: The Caves). In the 1850s Monaco was an unlikely place for a resort to succeed. The lack of roads needed to connect Monaco to Nice and the rest of Europe, the absence of comfortable accommodations for visitors, as well as the concessionaires' failure to publicize the new resort, resulted in far fewer customers than was originally anticipated. Unable to raise the capital needed to operate the money-losing enterprise, Aubert and Langlois ceded their rights to Frossard de Lilbonne, who in turn passed it to Pierre Auguste Daval in 1857. Although the casino began to make a profit in 1859, Daval was not up to the task. Just like his predecessors, he was incompetent and lacked the ability to bring the gambling enterprise to the scale envisioned by Princess Caroline. Frustrated, she dispatched her private secretary M.Eyneaud to Germany, hoping to recruit François Blanc, a French entrepreneur and operator of the Bad Homburg casino. Blanc declined the offer. It took a lot of time and persuasion on the part of Princess Caroline to convince the Blancs to move to Monaco. Princess Caroline even appealed to Madame Blanc, who she befriended during her first visit to Bad Homburg, with a suggestion that the Monaco's mild climate would be good for Madame Blanc's ill health. Finally, in 1863 François Blanc agreed to take over the Monaco's casino business. To manage the new venture, a company—the Societe des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers—was formed with capital of 15 million francs. Among the prominent investors were Charles-Bonaventure-François Theuret, Bishop of Monaco, and Cardinal Pecci, the future Pope Leo XIII. Blanc became the single majority stockholder in the company and received a 50-year concession, which would last until 1913. Blanc used his connections to quickly raise the required capital, and began the massive construction. The new casino building, the construction of which started in 1858, was completed in 1863. On Blanc's insistence, Les Spelugues area where the gambling complex was located was renamed to make it sound more attractive to casino visitors. A few suggestions were considered, and the name Monte Carlo was chosen in Prince Charles' honor. In 1910 the casino building was expanded with a theatre, Salle Garnier, suitable for housing opera and ballet performances. Until recently the Monte Carlo Casino has been the primary source of income for the House of Grimaldi and the Monaco economy. Some interesting facts are: The citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the gaming rooms of the casino. Identity documents are checked at the door to enforce this rule. Up until season 7 (2010/2011) the casino hosted the annual European Poker Tour Grand Final. The Monte Carlo methods, a class of random sampling algorithms, were named for the casino. The route of the Monaco Grand Prix (the Circuit de Monaco) is past the casino. Aristotle Onassis had a controlling stake in the Monte Carlo Casino in the 1950s until he was forced out by Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.

Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain and is the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the Iberian Peninsula and possibly all southwestern Europe, has been a principal home port of the Spanish Navy since the accession of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century. The city is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. It is also the site of the University of Cadiz. Despite its unique site — on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea — Cadiz is, in most respects, a typically Andalusian city with a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historical landmarks. The older part of Cadiz, within the remnants of the city walls, is commonly referred to as the Old Town (in Spanish, Casco Antiguo). It is characterized by the antiquity of its various quarters (barrios), among them El Pópulo, La Viña, and Santa María, which present a marked contrast to the newer areas of town. While the Old City's street plan consists of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas, newer areas of Cadiz typically have wide avenues and more modern buildings. In addition, the city is dotted by numerous parks where exotic plants flourish, including giant trees supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus from the New World. Among the many landmarks of historical and scenic interest in Cadiz, a few stand out. The city can boast of an unusual cathedral of various architectural styles, a theatre, an old municipal building, an 18th-century watchtower, a vestige of the ancient city wall, an ancient Roman theatre, and electrical pylons of an eye-catchingly modern design carrying cables across the Bay of Cádiz. The old town is characterised by narrow streets connecting squares (plazas), bordered by the sea and by the city walls. Most of the landmark buildings are situated in the plazas. The old town of Cadiz is one of the most densely populated urban areas in Europe, and is packed with narrow streets. The old town benefits though from several striking plazas, which are enjoyed by citizens and tourists alike. These are Plaza de Mina, Plaza San Antonio, Plaza de Candelaria, Plaza de San Juan de Dios and Plaza de España.

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court. La Paz was established in 1548, and is in the Andes. Altitude of the city ranges from about 4058 meters (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto (where the airport is located) to 3100 meters (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. It is the highest national capital in the world. The sight from the air as one flies into La Paz is incredible. First, one sees the sprawling shantytowns of El Alto, slowly giving way to the sight of La Paz itself, clinging tenuously to the sides of what looks like a large gash in the earth. Some of the sites in the city are: Sagarnaga Street, just south of Plaza San Francisco, is La Paz' main tourist strip. It's mainly a market street with artesano and souvenir stores, but you'll also find budget hostels, tour and travel agencies, cafes, and lots and lots of backpackers. Don't be suckered by the roving sellers of "trilobite-in-a-rock". The Witches' Market (Mercado de Hechiceria or Mercado de las Brujas) is on Calle Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz. Vendors sell llama fetuses and dried frogs for Aymara rituals, as well as soapstone figurines and aphrodisiac formulas. This street is also the best place to pick up a charango or other Bolivian musical instrument. The Mercado Negro ("Black Market"), though not very clandestine, is quite comprehensive, selling clothing, household items, liquor, and other products in its many blocks. Eloy Salmon Shops on this street sell cheap electronics. Calle Jaen is one of the few places in the city with preserved colonial buildings, currently housing several interesting museums. Plaza Murillo contains government buildings and the city cathedral. The Valle de La Luna - surreal, weathered rock. Just outside the city. Take a local bus to Massalla (Bs2.30) or a taxi (Bs 35) or join a tour. The entrance to the park is located next to the flags. The Thursday & Sunday Market in El Alto -A huge market held in El Alto every Thursday and Sunday with great bargains including vintage clothing, antiques, everyday goods, etc. Museum San Francisco, Plaza San Francisco. This restored religious complex has housed some of Bolivia's most important historical moments, including the birth of the Independence Revolution of 1809. Also, one can climb the church tower to get a panoramic view of both the indigenous and Mestiza quarters. Displays are in Spanish and English along with personal guides. Coca Museum, Calle Linares 906. M-Su 10AM-7PM. A favorite of foreign tourists, this small museum details the history and significance of the coca plant, including the effect of the U.S. War on Drugs. The displays are in Spanish, but booklets of complete translations in other languages are provided. According to the museum, crack cocaine is the greatest epidemic since the Plague in the Middle-Ages. And yes, there are free samples of coca leaf for visitors. La Paz is a city which can be a sight in itself, and there are several viewing places or miradores offering impressive panoramas. Mirador Killi Killi, from Avenida Sucre take Avenida La Bandera and then walk straight up, the mirador is on the right side. You can get the best view of La Paz from here. No entrance fee. You can either walk or take a taxi to get there. Parque Laikacota, at the top of Av. Ejercito west of the city center. The best panorama from within the bowl, with clear views of the city and the rugged terrain to the east, all the way to Mt. Illimani. Admission is Bs 3.5. Mirador Monticulo, next to Plaza España. This small park (free entry) has a church and lots of trees which block much of the city, but the clear view of Illimani makes it an evening hotspot for couples. In the heart of downtown, Av. Camacho points straight to Illimani, and from the intersection with the Prado it's framed by skyscrapers in an interesting juxtaposition.

Lahore is Pakistan's second largest city, and the capital of the north-eastern Punjab province. It is widely considered the country's cultural capital. The heart of Lahore is the Walled or Inner City, a very densely populated area of about one square kilometre. Founded in legendary times, and a cultural centre for over a thousand years, Lahore has many attractions to keep the tourist busy. The Mughal and Sikh legacy survives in the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque and Gurdwara, the Mall is lined with colonial-gothic buildings from the British Raj, and the suburbs of Gulberg and Defence feature palatial mansions and trendy shopping districts. Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan with a population of roughly 8.5 million. The traditional capital of Punjab for a thousand years, it had been the cultural center of Northern India extending from Peshawar to New Delhi. The origins of Lahore are shrouded in the mists of antiquity but Lahore is undoubtedly ancient. Today, Lahore is certainly worth a visit - but don't come expecting a tranquil city overflowing with history, art and culture - these qualities do exist but are hidden under the surface of a sprawling, traffic clogged and polluted south Asian city. Forward planning is recommended if the tourist is going to get the most out of what Lahore has to offer - the time of year to visit, the choice of hotel, the restaurants to dine at, the art galleries and the shopping areas to frequent are all key to getting the most out of yur stay. Lahore is a relatively friendly and liberal city. There is an old saying, that in every Lahori, there is a Mughal prince. The city has known ages of cultural, intellectual, musical, literary and humanistic evolution, which has consequently led to the fermentation and over fermentation of this rich brew we call Lahore. Wall City The Walled city of Lahore is one of the oldest cities in the world and comprises of the following places for sightseeing. The Lahore Fort is a huge mass of a structure where the Mughals built their imperial quarters, followed by the Sikhs. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is a small museum dedicated to the Sikh period of the 18th century. A friendly museum caretaker might agree to take you into the summer rooms underground. The tomb of Sikh ruler, Ranjit Singh, is also located in Lahore. Entrance fee for non-Pakistanis is Rs 200. The Badshahi Mosque was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and was long the largest mosque in the world. Entrance is free, but you will be asked to pay about Rs 10 (Nov 2006) to the shoe keeper upon exit. Try going late at night, when there are few people there. Since mosques are holy places ,do not wear shorts to this or any mosque; women are advised to wear long or half-sleeved clothing, and to carry a shawl so they can cover their head. Remove shoes before entering. The Inner City is full of little shrines and palaces, of which the most impressive are the Imperial Baths and the Asif Jah Haveli (recently restored). Try finding a guidebook detailing walks in the inner city. Haveli of Yusuf salah udin is a tourist attraction in old city as it is famous for basant festival parties when all lahoris and punjabis and also foreigners dance and sing. yusuf salah udin is the grandson of allama iqbal. Right in front is a park with Minar-e-Pakistan or the Eiffel Tower of Pakistan. It was built on the site where in 1940 the creation of a separate state for Muslims was recognized.

James Bond Bungeed from the wall at Verzasca Dam in the movie Goldeneye and you can make this famous jump too. 220 meters above the jade green River Verzasca in the Italian influenced city of Ticino Switzerland, this top of the wall jump offers 7.5 seconds of free fall before the rebound begins. This jump is considered the second highest in the world from a fixed floor with all the exhilaration thrill seekers can handle. The dam forms the scenic Lago Vorgono on the side opposite the jump. Bungee Jumping from the wall was also featured in the American reality television show “The Amazing Race”. Nearby is the town of Locarno, the sunniest city in Switzerland with regular bus service to the valley where the dam is located. The River Verzasca is considered an excellent place for freshwater diving and hiking in the mountains and valleys nearby is another form of recreation enjoyed by visitors to this beautiful Swiss valley. Your dream of replicating the exact jump judged the “Best Movie Stunt of All Time” can be fulfilled by putting a trip to Locarno, Switzerland and its scenic Val Verzasca on your list. Check out the scene in the movie to put you in the appropriate mood to start planning this adventure.

Bilbao is the capital of Vizcaya in the Basque Country, Spain. The city is situated on the banks of the Nervión, a tidal river. The climate in Bilbao is milder than in most other parts of the peninsula, rarely falling below freezing in winter, or rising above 35ºC in summer. There is also more rain, which is a mixed blessing. The green hills of Bilbao are a welcome relief after an extended stay in the dry plains in the south, but planning a day at the beach is more risky. The city has the following sites and activities: Guggenheim Museum, Abandoibarra etorbidea, 2. Tue-Sun, 10:00 to 20:00; Jul and Aug: Mon-Sun, 10:00 to 20:00. Closed Jan 1 and Dec 25. Frank Gehry's spectacular twisting titanium-clad modern art museum is perhaps the most celebrated building of the 1990s. The graceful, sensuous curves, evocative of the ships that used to be ubiquitous along the docks of Bilbao, are covered in titanium squares, which resemble the scales of a fish and shimmer in the sunlight. In keeping with the maritime theme, appropriate for the setting, the skylights of the largest gallery (formerly known as the Fish gallery) are designed to look like the fins of fish. Many parts of the building are purely decorative, and don't serve any purpose. The permanent collection is not particularly impressive, but the museum always hosts at least one interesting temporary exhibit, frequently comprised of masterpieces from the other Guggenheim collections. Adults €13.00; students under 26: €7.50; children under 12: free. Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Art), Plaza del Museo, 2. Tue-Sat, 10AM-8PM; Sun and public holidays 10AM-2PM; Mon: closed. 1 Jan and 25 December: closed. The Museum of Fine Art's remarkable collection currently boasts more than six thousand works dating from the 12th century to the present day, and includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and decorative objects. General: €6.00; groups, students, senior citizens and unemployed: €4.50. Free of charge on Wed, and for children under 12. Artean Package, €13.50 (tickets for both the Guggenheim Museum and the Fine Arts Museum). Prices change for special exhibitions. Basque Museum (Euskal Museoa), Plaza Unamuno, 4. Tue-Sat: 11AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-2PM. Mondays and public holidays: closed. Established in 1921 to focus on the prehistory, archaeology, ethnography and history of Euskadi (Basque homeland). Not a particularly well laid out museum. It will be of passing interest to people who study Basque culture. Adults: €3; students and groups €1.50. Children under 10 and seniors: free. Thu: free. In the summer see an open air concert at the Kiosko del Arenal El Arenal Parque (across from Plaza Arriaga). The stage was built in 1923, and renovated in 1985. Beginning the first Saturday after August 15th and lasting for 9 days is Aste Nagusia / Semana Grande, the city's fiesta (holiday). An interesting time to come, but be prepared for lots of noise, music, street theater and events, with firework displays in the evening. Details from the tourist office in Teatro Arriaga. Walk through the seven streets of the Casco Viejo. Climb the Mallona stairs from Plaza Unamuno to Parque Etxebarria for the great views. Walk along the river. Walk through Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, admiring the ponds and gardens, next to the Fine Arts Museum. Take the Artxanda Funicular, again for the views. Go kayaking or rent a boat from Bilbobentura (a company that rents out kayaks on the bank of the river nervion). First Saturdays Flea Market. Dos de Mayo Street transforms every first Saturday into a flea market selling antiques, books, and second hand clothes.

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population ranging from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which consists of the city and its suburbs. The first mention of this metropolis is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century BC, and the city has been continuously inhabited since. Beirut holds Lebanon's seat of government, and plays a central role in the Lebanese economy with its city centre, Hamra, Verdun, and Ashrafieh-based corporate firms and banks. The city is the focal point of the region's cultural life, renowned for its press, theatres, cultural activities, and nightlife. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction, and the redesigned historic city centre, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a tourist attraction. Beirut was named the top place to visit in 2009 by The New York Times. It was also listed as one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by Lonely Planet in 2009. Beirut is a destination for tourists from both the Arab world and West. The once destroyed city centre is thriving once again. Its former reputation as a crossroads between three continents and gateway to the East has been restored. Beirut is one of several so called “Paris[es] of the East”, and there is plenty of sightseeing, shopping, cuisine, and nightlife to keep a tourist within the city limits.The city has sleek, modern buildings alongside arabesque Ottoman buildings, giving Beirut a unique and distinctive style often not seen in other Middle Eastern cities.

Tangier, preferred, sometimes Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco. It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tétouan Region and of the Tangier-Assilah Prefecture within that region. The history of Tangier is very rich due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a Phoenician town to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a place —and, sometimes a refuge— for many cultures. However, it was not until 1923 that Tangier was attributed an international status by foreign colonial powers, thus becoming a destination for many Europeans, Americans and Indians alike. The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new 5-star hotels along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Centre, a new airport terminal and a new soccer stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.

The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio) is a horse race held twice each year on July 2 and August 16 in Siena, Italy, in which ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen Contrade, or city wards. The Palio held on July 2 is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, who has a church in Siena. The Palio held on August 16 is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. A magnificent pageant, the Corteo Storico, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is not uncommon for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed it is not unusual to see unmounted horses finishing the race without their jockeys.

Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. At over 400 m (1320 ft) deep it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe and the bottom of the lake is more than 200 metres (656 ft) below sea-level. Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has many villas and palaces (such as Villa Olmo, Villa Serbelloni and Villa Carlotta). Currently, many celebrities have or had homes on the shores of Lake Como, such as Matthew Bellamy, Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, Ronaldinho, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Branson, and Ben Spies. Lake Como is widely regarded as being one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.

The Green Grotto Caves are show caves and a prominent tourist attraction in Discovery Bay, St Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Named for the green algae that cover its walls, the structure of the cave is strikingly different to inland systems; the cave is a Flank Margin Cave (old mixing chambers at the edge of the fresh water lens with the sea water) with two well-defined levels apparently indicating two periods with differing sea-levels. The innermost cavern contains a crystal-clear underground lake. The caves are home to nine of Jamaica's 21 species of bat including the Big-Eared Bat, the Mustache Bat, and the Jamaican Fruit-Eating Bat. Numbers are quite high with most of the available roosting space used. Guano is present in large amounts but few of the usual guano dwelling inverts have been recorded; the invasive American Roach is found. The brackish water in the lower levels is full of marine life including small barnacles and various unidentified small swimming creatures. In addition to the publicly accessible sections of the cave there is also a section of "wild caves" with relatively undisturbed ecology. Hydrologically, the cave system is connected with the adjacent coastal waters. The filming of the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die, used the caves for villain Doctor Kananga's underground base beneath a cemetery on the fictional island of San Monique. It is most memorable for being the location where Bond (played for the first time by Roger Moore) kills Kananga (played by Yaphet Kotto) by forcing him to swallow a bullet of compressed air, causing him to float up to the ceiling like a balloon and explode. Ian Fleming's original novel had the villain using the real-life Jamaican caves as part of his SMERSH-funding smuggling operation.

Enjoy the beautiful view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (UNESCO World Heritage) and many other summits from this revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn near Mürren in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It takes you just 32 minutes by Cable car to reach the Piz Gloria restaurant on the summit of the 2970 m high Schilthorn. The cable car station and the restaurant were designed by the Bernese architect, Konrad Wolf. Given the difficult topographic and climatic conditions, construction units were prefabricated. The outer skin of the glass circular upper floor is of aluminium-skinned wooden panels, that originally was an aluminum-coated tent roof. The rotative mechanism — a 12m-diameter core with a 3.0m annulus that completely rotates the upper floor in approximately an hour — allows every guest to have a view. In 1990, the restaurant was enlarged to accommodate some 400 diners, while retaining its original architectural character. The name Piz Gloria originated in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service(1963), wherein the hideout of the villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, is Piz Gloria, a mountain-top building containing an allergies investigation clinic. In the movie the location is implied as being near St Moritz where Romansh is still spoken, and "Piz" would be appropriate as the dialect name for peak. However the restaurant is actually located in the Bernese Oberland, where Romansh is not spoken and "piz" is not used. The movie production team found the restaurant partly constructed, and financially contributed to its completion in return for exclusive use for filming the movie (released in 1969), where the building is shown quite prominently. In the film, Bond's cover at the clinic is blown after he is caught seducing women, but he manages to escape the complex by skiing down the mountain sides despite the attempts of Blofeld and his men to kill him. Afterwards, the restaurant retained thePiz Glorianame of the film location, and currently acknowledges the film's significant contribution to its commercial reputation; it features a James Bond exhibition, containing memorabilia and film clips, in the lower floor. The world's highest revolving restaurant is now the Metro-Alpin restaurant at 3,500m (11,483ft.) at the top of the Saas-Fee lift system. The Piz Gloriais 2,970m (9,744ft.). Switzerland has a newer, third revolving restaurant, theKuklos, above Leysin in canton Vaud.

Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The 190,000 acre, 170mi.sq(441km.sq) base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet Command and the United States Army Accessions Command. It was the home, for nearly seventy years (1940-2010), of the U.S. Army Armor Center, the U.S. Army Armor School (now at Fort Benning), and was used by both the Army and the Marine Corps to train crews on the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The history of the US Army's Cavalry and Armored forces, and of General George S. Patton's career, can be found at the General George Patton Museum on the grounds of Fort Knox. The United States Department of the Treasury has maintained the Bullion Depository on the post since 1937. This facility is operated solely by the Treasury Department. The Patton museum complex consists of the Patton, WWI, WWII and Post World War Galleries as well as a Special Exhibit area, The Emert L. Davis Memorial Library, outdoor static displays and the Armor Memorial Park. It is adjacent to Keyes Park, which contains a covered picnic facility, restrooms and children’s playground. The General George Patton Museum of Leadership (formerly the Patton Museum of Armor and Cavalry) contains the largest collection of Patton artifacts in the world, including personal items used by General George S. Patton throughout his life.

Bimini is the westernmost chain of islands in the Bahamas located about 53 miles (81 km) due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles (209 km) west-northwest of Nassau. The ocean surrounding the islands is considered to be one of the world's top big-game fishing spots. Because Bimini is close to Miami, Florida, many American anglers go to the island by boat to fish or to enjoy the local nightlife. Alice Town, the other Bimini population center, is the primary tourist hub, with all the hotels, restaurants and fishing charter companies located there. Most visitors go to Bimini to fish, and the island, besides, is the locale of more than 20 well-known fishing tournaments. The Bimini Biological Field Station has captured and recorded 13 species of sharks in the shallow waters around Bimini. However, the number of sharks around the island is even higher when considering the sharks of the deep waters off Bimini's western shores. Along with the species featured below, the BBFS has witnessed and recorded captures of Shortfin Mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), Bigeye Thresher sharks (Alopias superciliosus), Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias), and Sixgill Sharks (Hexanchus sp.). The Shark Lab is a world famous facility owned and operated by shark biologist Dr. Samuel Gruber. The Sharklab offers marine biology internships to people interested in shark research and the conservation of the ocean's ecosystems. It's located on South Bimini Island.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach or the Fontainebleau Hotel is one of the most historically and architecturally significant hotels on Miami Beach. Opened in 1954 and designed by Morris Lapidus, it was considered the most luxurious hotel on Miami Beach, and is thought to be the most significant building of Lapidus's career. In 2007, the Fontainebleau Hotel was ranked ninety-third in the American Institute of Architects list of "America's Favorite Architecture". On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter ranked the Fontainebleau first on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is situated on oceanfront Collins Avenue in the heart of Millionaire's Row and is currently owned by Fontainebleau Resorts. Fronting the Atlantic Ocean, the 1504-room resort’s most distinguishing features include two new towers; 12 restaurants and bars; a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) spa with mineral-rich water therapies and co-ed swimming pools; and oceanfront poolscape featuring a free-form pool shaped as a re-interpretation of Lapidus’ signature bow-tie design.

Ascot Race course is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. The course is closely associated with the British Royal Family, being approximately six miles from Windsor Castle. Royal Ascot is one of Europe's most famous race meetings, and dates back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne. Every year Royal Ascot is attended by HM Elizabeth II and various members of the British Royal Family such as The Prince of Wales, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage with the Royal procession taking place at the start of each race day and the raising of the Queen's Royal Standard. It is a major event in the Britishsocial calendar, and press coverage of the attendees and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual racing. There are 3 enclosures attended by guests on Royal Ascot week The Royal Enclosure is the most prestigious of the three enclosures, with recent visits from the Queen and Royal Family members. Access to the royal enclosure is restricted with high security on the day. First-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure office and gain membership from someone who has attended the enclosure for at least four years. For existing badgeholders, an invitation is sent out by Her Majesty's Representative to request badges. The badgeholder's name is written onto the badge and can only be used by that person; the colours of the badges vary each day for one day applicants. Those in the Royal Enclosure have the options of fine dining and hospitality and a selection of bars. The dress code is strictly enforced. For women, only a day dress with a hat or fascinator is acceptable, with rules applying to the length of the dress. In addition, women must not show bare midriffs or shoulders. For men, black or grey morning dress with top hat is required. Over 300,000 people make the annual visit to Berkshire during Royal Ascot week, making this Europe’s best-attended race meeting. There are 16 Group races on offer, with at least one Group One event on each of the five days. The Ascot Gold Cup is on Ladies' Day on the Thursday. There is over £3,000,000 of prize money on offer.

The Joint Security Area (JSA) is the only portion of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where South and North Korean forces stand face-to-face. It is often called the "Truce Village" in both the media and various military accounts. The JSA is used by the two Koreas for diplomatic engagements and, until March 1991, was also the site of military negotiations between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC). The Joint Security Area is located within the village of Panmunjom. The original village of Panmunjom encompassed a larger area than the current inter-military complex of the JSA, and consisted mostly of farms. The JSA itself is actually about 800 meters (½ mile) south of where the village proper used to be, though still within the village's old farming area. It is because of this proximity that there is often ambiguity between the terms JSA or Panmunjom. Panmunjom no longer exists as an inhabited village as it was destroyed during the war, and all that now remains on the site of the village is the North Korea Peace Museum. Residing within the North Korean half of the DMZ where civilians are not allowed, the village has not been rebuilt or repopulated, but the name carries on and the name is now used to usually refer to the JSA. The village gained lasting fame as the site where the Korean Armistice Agreement was negotiated. General Nam Il and General Harrison signed the armistice agreement at 10:00 am on July 27, 1953, in a hastily constructed pavilion at Panmunjom. General Mark W. Clark, Commander-in-Chief, UNC, later countersigned the document in a separate ceremony at Munsan, approximately 18 kilometers (11 mi) south of the DMZ; and Marshal Kim Il Sung, Korean People's Army (KPA) Supreme Commander, along with Peng Teh-huai, Commander, Chinese People's Volunteer Army (CPV), countersigned it at Kaesong, approximately 10 kilometers (6 mi) to the north in another separate ceremony. The JSA has been the site of numerous major events since its establishment in 1953, the first of which was the repatriation of prisoners of war (POWs) after the cessation of hostilities, across the Bridge of No Return. The JSA is also portrayed in the movie of the same name, Joint Security Area. Originally established as a U.S. Army organization, the JSA quickly incorporated Republic of Korea (ROK) soldiers as Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army (KATUSAs) to give South Korea representation in the area as well. Since the signing of the armistice, until relatively recently, the UNC unit (Joint Security Force), charged with providing security for the area, consisted largely of U.S. Army soldiers with a significant contingent of KATUSAs. Today, the unit consists of a U.S. Army Commander, with a largely symbolic operational control of the unit and an ROK Army deputy commander with administrative authority over the largely ROK Army members of the unit. There also continues to be a U.S. Army staff of several officers and a dozen or so NCOs. It had been scheduled that the U.S. Army personnel would leave the facility and hand over full control to ROK Army members by 2008. However, this has not happened as of mid-2011. The Joint Security Area currently has around 100,000 tourists visit each year through several tourism companies and the USO (through the various U.S. military commands in Korea). Before being allowed to enter the DMZ, if visiting from the South, tourists are given a briefing during which they must sign a document which states, in part, "The visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action." Primarily tour companies from South Korea, Japan and the USO conduct tours from the South side. South Korean citizens generally do not accompany foreign tours due to logistics of providing interpreters with the right language for each tour group. Tours are generally organized by language groups, background checks are required for citizens from some nations such as China and Russia. It is also possible to visit the Joint Security Area from the North; tour companies such as Koryo Tours organise regular visits for tourists travelling in North Korea.

Jag Mandir is a palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It is also called the "Lake Garden Palace". The palace is located in Udaipur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort and pleasure palace for holding parties. The palace served as a refuge to asylum seekers on two separate occasions. Jag Mandir is situated in one of the two natural islands in the Pichola lake (named after the village Picholi nearby), on its southern end. The lake was initially created in the 15th century by a local banjara tribal chieftain for carrying grain across the streams. During the reign of Maharana Udai Singh II, in 1560, the lake was substantially enlarged by constructing dams across two streams. At that time, the Maharana also built the Jag Mandir and the Lake Palace (Jag Niwas Hotel) on separate islands in the midst of the lake.Udaipur city with its City Palace and other monuments and temples were built on the periphery of the lake. Its construction is credited to three Maharanas of the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar kingdom. The construction of the palace was started in 1551 by Maharana Amar Singh, continued by Maharana Karan Singh (1620–1628) and finally completed by Maharana Jagat Singh I (1628–1652). It is named as "Jagat Mandir" in honour of the last named Maharana Jagat Singh. The Jag Mandir is approached only by boat from the Bansi Ghat jetty next to the Lake Palace in Udaipur. Udaipur is well connected by road, rail and air links with the rest of the country.

The Château d'Anet is a château near Dreux, France, built by Philibert de l'Orme from 1547 to 1552 for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henry II of France. It was a gift from the king and was built on the former château at the center of the domains of Diane's deceased husband, Louis de Brézé, seigneur d'Anet, Marshal of Normandy and Master of the Hunt. The château is especially noted for its exterior, notably the statues of Diane de Poitiers as Diana, goddess of the hunt, by Jean Goujon and the relief by Benvenuto Cellini over the portal. Anet was the site of one of the first Italianate parterre gardens centered on the building's facade in France; the garden-designer in charge was Jacques Mollet, who trained his son at Anet, Claude Mollet, destined to become royal gardener to three French kings. The château was built partly upon the foundations and cellar vaults of a feudal castle that had been dismantled by Charles V and was subsequently rebuilt as a Late Gothic manor of brick and stone. The château was not pillaged during the French Revolution, but Diane de Poitiers' remains were removed to a pauper's ditch in the parish cemetery and the rich contents of the château, which were the property of King Louis XVI's cousin, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre, were sold at auction asbiens nationals. A large part of the château was subsequently demolished, but only after Alexandre Lenoir was able to salvage some architectural elements for hisMusée des monuments français( presently situated in the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris). The elements were reinstalled at Anet after World War II. The restoration of the château itself, in pitiable condition, was due to comte Adolphe de Caraman, who purchased it in 1840 and undertook a colossal program of restoration. In 1851, the minister of the interior granted Anet the status of amonument historique. Under financial duress, Caraman sold the château in 1860 to Ferdinand Moreau, who continued the restoration, purchasing furnishings and works of art that were thought to be originally from the château. The set of tapestry hangings woven for the château, in Paris, to cartoons by Jean Cousin, forming aHistory of Dianain compliment to Diane de Poitiers, is now widely scattered; it set a precedent for suites of Diana-themed tapestries that remained popular into the 18th century. The free-standing chapel of Anet, built to the left of thecour d'honneurin 1549-1552, is designed on a centralized Greek cross floor plan under a diagonally-coffered dome. Its facade has a porch of widely-spaced paired Ionic columns between towers crowned by pyramidal spires.In 1581, Henri III and his mother Catherine de' Medici came to the chapel to attend the baptism of the infant son of Charles, duc d'Aumale. There is also the mortuary chapel, built according to Diane de Poitiers' last wishes to contain her tomb, commissioned from Claude de Foucques by Diane's daughter, the Duchesse d'Aumale. The property was owned, or at least occupied, by Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme. The property belonged to many of Louis XIV's descendants: Louise-Françoise de Bourbon died here in 1743, she was a daughter of the famous illegitimate son of Louis XIV, the Duc du Maine. His sons the prince des Dombes and comte d'Eu lived here when away from Versailles. It was later owned by the fabulously wealthy duc de Penthièvre, first cousin of the prince and the comte. The castle was used as a filming location in the 1965 James Bond filmThunderballand 1976 film The Pink Panther Strikes Again.

The Khyber Pass (altitude: 1,070 m or 3,510 ft) is a mountain pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan, cutting through the northeastern part of the Spin Ghar mountains. An integral part of the ancient Silk Road, it is one of the oldest known passes in the world. Throughout history it has been an important trade route between Central Asia and South Asia and a strategic military location. The summit of the pass is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) inside Pakistan at Landi Kotal. During the current war in Afghanistan, the Khyber Pass has been a major route for resupplying military armament and food to the NATO forces in the Afghan theater of conflict since the US started the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Almost 80 percent of the NATO and US supplies that are brought in by road were transported through this Khyber Pass. Furthermore, it has also been used to transport civilians from the Afghan side to the Pakistani one. Until the end of 2007, this route had been relatively safe since the tribes living there (mainly Afridi, a Pashtun tribe) were paid by the Pakistani government to keep the area safe. However, since that year, the Taliban began to control the region, and so there started to exist wider tensions in their political relationship. Since the end of 2008, supply convoys and depots in this western part increasingly came under attack by elements from or supposedly sympathetic to the Pakistani Taliban.

Sardinia (Sardegna) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus). It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are (clockwise from north) the French island of Corsica, the Spanish Balearic Islands, and the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia. Megalithic building structures called nuraghe are scattered in great number throughout Sardinia. Su Nuraxi di Barumini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coasts of Sardinia (1,849 km long) are generally high and rocky, with long, relatively straight stretches of coastline, many outstanding headlands, a few wide, deep bays, rias, many inlets and with various smaller islands off the coast. The island has an ancient geoformation and, unlike Sicily and the mainland of Italy, is not earthquake-prone. Its rocks date from the Palaeozoic Era (up to 500 million years old). Due to long erosion processes the island's highlands, formed of granite, schist, trachyte, basalt (called "jaras" or "gollei"), sandstone and dolomite limestone (called tonneri or "heels"), average at between 300 to 1,000 metres. The highest peak is Punta La Marmora (1,834 m), part of the Gennargentu Ranges in the centre of the island. Other mountain chains are Monte Limbara (1,362 m) in the northeast, the Chain of Marghine and Goceano (1,259 m) running crosswise for 40 km (25 mi) towards the north, the Monte Albo (1057 metres), the Sette Fratelli Range in the southeast, and the Sulcis Mountains and the Monte Linas (1236 metres). The island's ranges and plateaux are separated by wide alluvial valleys and flatlands, the main ones being the Campidano in the southwest between Oristano and Cagliariand the Nurra in the northwest. Sardinia has few major rivers, the largest being the Tirso, 151 km (94 mi) long, which flows into the Sea of Sardinia, the Coghinas (115 km) and theFlumendosa (127 km). There are 54 artificial lakes and dams which supply water and electricity. The main ones are Lake Omodeo and Lake Coghinas. The only natural freshwater lake is Lago di Baratz. A number of large, shallow, salt-water lagoons and pools are located along the 1,850 km (1,150 mi) of the coastline. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. During the year there are approximately 300 days of sunshine, with a major concentration of rainfall in the winter and autumn, some heavy showers in the spring and snowfalls in the highlands. The average temperature is between 11 to 17 °C (52 to 63 °F). The Mistral from the northwest is the dominant wind on and off throughout the year, though it is most prevalent in winter and spring. It can blow quite strongly, but it is usually dry and cool and makes for a sailor's paradise.

Baku, sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan. The Inner City of Baku along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. According to the Lonely Planet's ranking Baku is also amongst the world's top ten destinations for urban nightlife. Baku is one of Caucasus most important tourist destinations; with hotels in city earning 7 million euros in 2009. Many sizeable world hotel chains have presence in the city. Baku boasts many popular tourist and entertainment spots, such as the downtown Fountains Square, the One and Thousand Nights Beach, Shikhov Beach and Oil Rocks. Baku's vicinities feature Yanar Dag, an ever-blazing spot of natural gas. On 2 September 2010, with the innauguration of National Flag Square, Baku became home to world's tallest flagpole, included to the Guinness Book of Records. Baku has several shopping malls, the two most famous city center malls are AF MALL and Park Bulvar. The retail areas contain shops from chain stores up to high-end boutiques such as Gucci, Emporio Armani,Versace, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana and Bulgari. The city is listed 48th in the 2011 list of the most expensive cities in the world conducted by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting. The city has many amenities that offer a wide range of cultural activities, drawing both from a rich local dramatic portfolio and an international repertoire. It also boasts many museums such as Baku Museum of Modern Art and Azerbaijan State Museum of History, most notably featuring historical artifacts and art. Many of the city's cultural sites were celebrated in 2009 when Baku was designated an Islamic Culture Capital. Baku was also chosen to host the Eurovision Dance Contest 2010. Among Baku's prestigious cultural venues are Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The main movie theatre is Azerbaijan Cinema. Festivals include the Baku International Film Festival, Baku International Jazz Festival, Novruz Festival, Gül Bayramı (Flower Festival) and the National Theater Festival. International and local exhibitions are provided in Baku Expo Center. Baku boasts a vibrant nightlife. Many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. Clubs with an eastern flavor provide special treats of cuisine of Azerbaijan along with local music. Western-style clubs target younger, more energetic crowds. Most of the public houses and bars are located near Fountains Square and are usually open until the early hours of the morning. Baku is home to restaurants catering to every cuisine and occasion. Restaurants range from being luxurious and expensive to ordinary and affordable. In the Lonely Planet "1000 Ultimate Experiences", Baku was placed at the 8th spot among the top 10 party cities in the world.