Egypt

Cairo and The Pyramids


Cairo, the city blessed by the river Nile is also referred to as the “Mother of all Cities.” With such a rich history and so many contributions to our present civilization, it’s no wonder why it’s called so. People from all across the world come to get a view of this wonderland amidst a desert, with amazing structures such as the Pyramids and The Sphinx captivating their mind and spirits.
Besides, Cairo is home to some of the most exotic and ornamental gold jewelry that you’ll ever find. Not to forget the rare antiques and oriental perfumes which you can find here as well. Cairo is a melting pot of life in many facets. The ancient monuments, mosques, donkey carts, camels, crumbling pyramids and the unavoidable pollution is what gives Cairo it’s unparalleled character.

Cairo is Africa’s largest city and for tourists, November to April is the ideal season as summers in Cairo can be sultry. The major attractions of the city are Midan Tahrir, containing grand hotels, the Egyptian Museum, the commercial hub stretching from the Midan Talaat Harb up to Midan Ataba. The main railway station’s called the Midan Ramses and has several retail shops scattered in it’s vicinity. The Garden City’s yet another area which radiates with affluence and glamour.

You’ll also find the suburbs of Cairo interesting to visit. Places such as Islamic Cairo, the centre of historic Cairo, located to the east; the Citadel Khan el Khalili comprising of historic mosques; Coptic Cairo and Fustat to the south of the city; and the upcoming suburbs like Dokki and Mohandiseen replete with restaurants and shopping malls. The Gezira and the Zamalek are places you should alos not miss, as some of the best hotels are located there, and so is the breathtaking Cairo Tower. Last but not the least, there’s the old district of Giza, containing the world famous Pyramids in it’s periphery

You’ll find a plethora of sightseeing wonders too. A few of them include the majestic Citadel built by Salah Al-Din; the Al-Azhar Mosque encapsulating the world’s oldest university and the grand structure of the Ibn Tulun mosque. You can play a round of golf at the Mena House Golf Course overlooking the Pyramids or take a fun ride across the glimmering Nile on a Felucca.

Cairo, in spite of a few drawbacks such as the heat and the pollution, has countless positives which tilt the odds in it’s favour. Where else can you witness an ancient civilization still bustling with vivacity. You just cannot escape the mesmeric blend of Cairo’s Africa, European and Arab traditions with the pulse of a modern city.

Canada

Canada's Wonderful Sydney

USA-Central

Everything's Wonderful About Chicago Except January


Incorporated in 1837, the Town of Chicago drew its name from a Native-American word meaning great. Thirty years later, 90,000 residents were left homeless in the Great Chicago Fire, which killed 300 people and left a devastating $200 million in damage. Nearly three million people call Chicago home, a mid-Western mixture of cultures and races. The city's motto, I will, is an articulation of its hopes and dreams as the city continues to grow in importance
Chicago boasts more than a handful of architectural achievements, from the towering Sears Tower to the Tribune Tower, whose base includes stones from famous buildings throughout the world. The city is a growing cultural haven; the Art Institute of Chicago houses a world-class collection, from Impressionist masters to more contemporary works in photography and ethnic art. And from the Art Institute, many of the city's major cultural and tourist attractions are within walking distance, including the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Hancock Tower.
The Field is Chicago's crowning museum of natural history, with exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to African culture to gems and minerals. Completed in 1973, the tower was built by 12,000 workers in fierce Chicago winds, which became a more significant challenge the higher the structure rose. It also presents a number of educational exhibits on Chicago history, the Great Chicago Fire and the city's founding fathers and mothers. The Hancock Observatory is not the tallest building in Chicago, but the 100-story Hancock Tower is worth a visit for its magnificent cityscapes and the interesting interactive exhibits on its 94th floor.
Whatever your taste in gardens, you will find it here. A visit to the Chicago Botanical Gardens is a learning experience as well; courses and lectures are almost always available, and a walk through the Endangered Species Garden teaches about preservation of plant species hovering on the edge of existence.
Chicago is famous for many things including it Jazz Music. You would be fortunate to listen to some at “The Green Mill” which is a popular Jazz venue and was also frequented by Al Capone who was a famous Chicago underworld leader in the 1920s.Whilst in the windy city, you should try a famous Chicago style pizza, which is a pizza with a really high crust around the edge and very thick toppings. Another food Chicago is famous for is its wieners (hot dogs). Spectacular lights brighten buildings along Michigan Avenue after dark. The Loop is a living architectural museum, where shimmering modern towers stand side-by-side with 19th-century buildings. The Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street, owes its name to the swanky shops that line both sides of the street.
The city's greatest tourist magnet reads like a to-do checklist: Navy Pier, the John Hancock Building, art museums and galleries, lakefront activities, and countless shops where you could spend a few dollars or thousands. The Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street, owes its name to the swanky shops that line both sides of the street. Shoppers cram the sidewalks in summer and keep the street bustling even in winter, when the trees are twined with thousands of white fairy lights and the buildings are lighted with colored flood lights.








Houston's Got You Covered

Houston was named after Samuel Houston (1793-1863), the politician and general who was at the forefront of Texas' fight for independence from Mexico. He later became President of the Republic of Texas; when Texas became part of the Union, Houston served as a Senator and later Governor of Texas.
Now the largest City in Texas with a population of over 1,500,000, Houston has much to offer both visitor and resident including more than twenty Universities and Colleges such as the distinguished University of Houston, the University of Texas-Houston Health and Science Center, Texas Southern University and Rice University. It’s also a world center of oil, natural gas, iron and steel, paper products, electrical and electronic machinery. Houston also offers the visitor a diverse cultural environment:
Museum of Fine Arts
The museum was established in 1987 by John and Dominique de Menil as a showpiece for their fine art collection, an eclectic mix including tribal cultures and the Byzantine era, Warhol and Matisse. www.menil.org
Holocaust Museum
A recent construction, the Holocaust Museum presents a stirring visual and audio account of the Jewish Holocaust. Houstongrandopera.org
Houston Ballet
The Houston Ballet, an internationally renowned company, offers over 100 performances a year, most notably its annual performance of the "Nutcracker".
Space Center Houston
The Space Center is the visitors' center for the NASA Johnson Space Center. The oldest commercial structure in Houston is the Kennedy Bakery located at 813 Congress Ave.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
It's hard to know where to start first at this museum but a truly unique experience can be found at the Cockrell Butterfly Center.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes place in The Astrohall which is one of the largest exhibition centers. Houston is a booming industrial city, ranging from oil and natural gas to paper products and steel. Whether you’re strolling through downtown, catching a rodeo or exploring one of its many top-notch museums, you’ll love the diversity that Houston has to offer. The locals help make the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo an amazing success. It is the perfect place to cool off from the Houston sun with fantastic water rides that’ll get you soaked.
Houston is filled with parks for you to explore. Located along the banks for the Buffalo Bayou, you’ll find seven stainless steel structures, which represent the foundations Houston was built on. You’ll find the Kennedy Bakery, the oldest commercial structure in Houston, as well as the Rice Hotel, where President John F. Houston is also home to many fascinating museums. Ranging from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum to the American Cowboy Museum, the Art Car Museum to the National Museum of Funeral History, you’ll have a huge selection to choose from.
Houston has an amazing array of choices for entertainment. Houston is also well known for its amazing dining options. Whatever your tastes and budget, Houston has got you covered.






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USA-East Coast

I Love New York

When someone considers a trip to New York City, they usually think of the major tourist spots such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. Those sights, although timeless and truly New York, may eat up a considerable chunk of time and may not be as important to a visitor as other offerings of the city.
The first thing that should be done when planning a jaunt to NYC is to consider the mode of travel; with 3 major airports serving the area, it may make a difference which airline to utilize, if a specific airport is to be avoided or is preferred. (JFK is considered the most difficult to enter and exit, while some consider Newark too far.) With all, however, convenient ground shuttles to the midtown area are available for less than $50 US round trip. If you wish to drive, it's important to check to see if the hotel that's being considered offers parking, and the price. The high priced designer shops are found along 5th Ave. and throughout midtown, but areas downtown offer less expensively priced attire that may be considered trendier.
Some of the more interesting-and free-sights one should not miss would include Ground Zero, Grand Central Station, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and Trump Tower. Its incredible architecture, including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, the thrilling performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Broadway and off Broadway theaters provide unlimited cultural and aesthetic possibilities. This city of contrasts also contains the SoHo section, with its stylish art galleries, boutiques, and bistros housed in historic cast iron buildings among cobblestone streets.
The Statue of Liberty can be visited and climbed or simply viewed from the water on a tour boat cruise or from the Staten Island ferry (which is free). Ellis Island Immigration Museum, near the Statue of Liberty, conveys the experiences of our forebears as they came to the end of their perilous journey and embraced the promise of a better life in the New World.
Among the 150 museums in New York City is one of the world's greatest: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere displaying more than 100,000 works from artists such as Picasso, Monet, Matisse, and Warhol Nearby is Times Square, the brightest symbol of New York's revitalization. Most of New York's best known tourist attractions are concentrated in Manhattan. It has its own civic centers, cultural institutions, shopping district and residential neighborhoods. Its major attractions include: Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation and Coney Island. Flushing Meadow-Corona Park and Shea Stadium are major attractions.
Winter in the big apple is glorious. Crisp, sunny days light up its major attractions, basking the Statue of Liberty in a soft winter glow, glinting off the skates of the ice skaters at the Rockefeller Center and lighting up the sprinkling of snow that has stuck to the trees in Central Park.




Sun, Sand and Miami Florida


Miami is the city of Hummers and the famous beach. Blessed with year-round mild climates and unrivaled ocean access, America's southernmost resort city is also a sought-after international recreation destination. Ranked the nation's #1 Healthiest City by Natural Health Magazine in 2002, Miami caters to action-oriented visitors from around the globe with some of the world's top golf, tennis and sporting facilities. Add sparkling waters that are a magnet for boating enthusiasts, fishermen, divers and water sports aficionados to the equation and it is easy to see why Miami is a number one choice for active travelers of all ages and skill levels.
Nothing is staid or boring in Miami, least of all its museums. The Museum of Science north of Coconut Grove, contains more than 140 exhibits, all designed to be hands-on and interactive, coupled with live demonstrations and collections of rare natural history specimens that make discovering and learning a great deal of fun. Other activities include watching the latest IMAX films or visiting the high-tech games at entertainment venues. A few indispensable spots of Miami are mentioned below:
Miami Seaquarium
At least a half a day is required to fully enjoy south Florida's premier attraction. The Seaquarium is world-renowned for its marine life shows and attractions, including performing killer whales and television aquatic star and dolphin, Flipper. Another favorite star is the sea lion Salty and his colleagues, who amuse and amaze with their antics
Miami-Dade Cultural Center
The outwardly unattractive complex of the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, in the rather unsavory area of West Flagler Street, is worth a visit because it houses a plethora of interesting artistic and historic exhibits. The Center contains the Miami Art Museum (www.miamiartmuseum.org), featuring a collection of modern and contemporary works by American, Latin American and Caribbean artists. The Cultural Centre also contains the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (www.historical-museum.org) with exhibits that relate to the fascinating history of the area and the culture, folklore and archaeology of South Florida and the Caribbean.
Vizcaya Villa
Lovers of antiques revel in visiting the magnificent 34-room Vizcaya bayfront villa, built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1916 as a winter retreat for wealthy industrialist, James Deering.
Spanish Monastery
Miami boasts the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere. Dating from 1133 the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux in North Miami Beach is a hugely popular tourist attraction, although not quite indigenous to the area. The monastery stood originally in Segovia in Spain, but in the early 1950s the medieval building was bought by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, disassembled, shipped to Miami and rebuilt on its present site.
Coral Castle
Moon Pond, Coral Castle
Legend has it that unrequited love led a Latvian immigrant to spend 25 years single-handedly carving a castle out of rock between the Florida Keys and Miami, on the South Dixie Highway.
Greater Miami has miles and miles of beaches beckoning sun seekers, and nearby parks luring nature lovers to discover a fascinating variety of flora and fauna. Miami: the city to which J-Lo fled when she and Ben Affleck were on the outs; the place where the paparazzi camps out for days hoping to catch a glimpse of something or someone fabulous. Beyond the whole glitz, Miami has an endless number of sporting, cultural, and recreational activities to keep you entertained. The sparkling beaches are beyond compare. Plus, there are excellent shopping and nightlife activities that include ballet, theater, and opera as well as all the celebrity-saturated hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs that have helped to make Miami so famous. For sun, sand, tropical beauty and a whole lot of fun, Miami is the place to be.





Amazing Atlanta

Atlanta is a lively, thriving city, the capital of Georgia, and a center of commerce and the arts. Many visitors come to Atlanta looking for the Old South stereotypes: white columned mansions surrounded by magnolias and owned by languidly moving, elegantly dressed ladies wearing white gloves and hoop skirts, and speaking in a southern drawl.
Atlanta has spent the last 135 years building what has been described as the Capital of the New South and the Next Great International City. Atlanta is the city of Martin Luther King, Jr., father of one of the country's most important social revolutions, and of Ted Turner, who brought the world a revolution of another sort.
The 1960's saw the beginning of downtown development with the rise of the million-square-foot Merchandise Mart, designed by an innovative young Atlanta architect named John Portman. Today, Peachtree Center, a 14-city-block pedestrian village, contains three Portman designed mega-hotels as well as the Atlanta Market Center, 200,000 square feet of retail space, many restaurants, and six massive office towers. MARTA rapid-transit trains began running in 1979, and today most of Atlanta: city center and vast suburbs, is accessible by bus or subway.
There are major art, science, nature, and archaeology museums, a vibrant theater community, an outstanding symphony, a well-regarded ballet company, opera, blues, jazz, Broadway musicals, a presidential library, Confederate and African-American heritage sites, and dozens of art galleries. Add to that entertainment attractions such as Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, a regional theme park, a botanical garden, and major league sports teams, and you have the ingredients for a family friendly city. The culinary spectrum ranges from grits and biscuits to caviar and sushi. Fried chicken and barbecue are available, but Atlanta also serves up Thai, Ethiopian, and Russian cuisine.
Media mogul Ted Turner inaugurated CNN in Atlanta in 1980, following with Superstation TBS, Headline News, and TNT. In 1989, Underground Atlanta, a retail / restaurant / entertainment complex with a historical theme, came into being. In the center of downtown is Woodruff Park, which recently underwent a $5 million renovation. South of the Olympic Village and stretching to CNN Center is the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park: a major gathering place during the Olympics, with its dramatic Olympic Ring fountain, lawns, and gardens. The Olympic Stadium, the site of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the track and field events, has been reincarnated as Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
Atlanta enjoys four definite seasons. Families keep a lively pace visiting the bounty of fun - filled and educational offerings from the Atlanta zoo to Cyclorama and SciTrek. There is no limit that can be placed on the possibilities of an Atlanta vacation!

USA-West Coast

Las Vegas:Enjoying the Spectacle

Few cities bring to mind such images of sheer excess as Las Vegas. Located in the middle of the arid Mojave Desert, at the southern tip of the state of Nevada, Las Vegas is an oasis of life, energy and money - a city whose raison d’être is entertainment. With soaring temperatures during the summer and moderate winters, the city is visited all year round. Over 35 million people visit Las Vegas every year, staying in the city’s 130,000 hotel rooms.

According to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas is now the fastest growing city in North America with an estimated two acres of land being developed every 24-hours and seeing approximately 50,000 people annually choosing to make the city and suburbs their home. At the outset, Las Vegas drew the droves of workers building the nearby Hoover Dam. Soon, it became a gambling and vacation Mecca for the entire country - it attracted stars like Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Liberace and became America’s premiere entertainment hub.

If you're a shopper, or going with one, check out the Forum Shops attached to Caesars Palace. There is an animated statue show every hour on the hour from 10 am to 11 pm in the first rotunda and one in the fourth rotunda near the large aquarium. The attractions and most of the shops are on the second level. They have circular escalators that take you up from the Strip-level entrance. Not surprisingly, the layout and strategic positioning of benches, etc. forces you to walk past all the shops on the first level to get to the escalators, and then go a round-about way past even more shops to get to the first rotunda.

If you're an art lover, or going with one, check out the Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio which routinely features works by van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Gauguin. There's a $15 fee. Even if you're not an art lover you'll enjoy the painted ceilings in the Venetian. The painted ceilings are actually in three areas; the main casino entrance, the hotel lobby, and the Galleria hall that connects the two. Once you go in the main casino entrance and view that ceiling, the Galleria will be off to your right.

If you're a gear-head, or going with one, check out the auto collection at the Imperial Palace featuring antiques and vehicles owned by celebrities and presidents. Stated admission is $6.95 but you can go to their "players desk" in the casino (across from the Mai Tai bar) and ask for a free pass or go to their Auto Collections Website and print out the free pass available there. If you like roller-coasters, New York New York, Sahara, and Circus Circus (indoor) have them. If you're a hard core thrill-seeker, there's a roller-coaster (called the "High Roller") and a tower launcher (called the "Big Shot") on the roof of the Stratosphere Tower, and bungy jumping at Circus Circus.

If you plan to go "downtown" do it at night so you can check out the Fremont Street Experience. The canopy over the Fremont Street pedestrian mall is the giant "screen" several blocks long for a great, free light and sound show with 2 million individual bulbs. Shows start at dusk and are repeated until 11 pm Sunday thru Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. Another neat lighting display is at the south end of the Strip at night. While not a "show", the intersection bounded by the MGM Grand, New York New York, Excalibur, and Tropicana is a sight to behold at night with all the buildings illuminated in a rainbow of colors. This intersection has pedestrian bridges between all four corners so it's easy to stroll over all four of them to take in the sights.


Entertainment so dominates Las Vegas that it is the backbone of the city’s economy, creating vibrant hotel, retail and hospitality industries. Other industries, such as construction, to a large degree owe their existence to the fact that hotels need to be built or expanded. Its residents lead normal lives in normal suburbs but to visitors, it is an endless playground of neon lights, hotel lounges, topless revues, live entertainment and casinos.