Sunday, May 17, 2009

LISBON

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The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a contemporary culture that is alive and thriving and making its mark in today's Europe. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare Western European cities that face the ocean and uses water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy going charm that makes it a popular year round destination.

Places to visit:

* The Gulbenkian Museum
* Castelo de São Jorge

* Santa Justa's Elevator
The Santa Justa Elevador is a romantic way to discover the city of Lisbon from high above the city.

The mistake you make when you first see the elevator is to say "funny how much that looks like the Eiffel Tower, it must have been built by him". Though there is some truth to that. The elevator was designed by a student of Gustav Eiffel, Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard. It was put in service for the first time in 1902.

Made entirely of cast iron, the work is a real pleasure for the eyes. An elevator allows you to ascend to the very top of the belvedere, where you'll find a cafe and a beautiful view of Lisbon, as well as the Carmelite convent, behind, which was destroyed by a fire.

It's a building that fits perfectly into the style of the period, even the ticket punch is no exception.

* Praça do Comércio
The praça do Comercio is the symbol of the historical power and grandeur of the country of Portugal.

As most visitors arrived by boat, the praça do Comercio, located on the banks of the Tagus, was considered the entry gate into the city of Lisbon. It was therefore important that it be GRANDIOSE, and that is exactly the word that comes to mind when you see it for the first time...

In the center of the square, the statue of Dom José I towers over you, then, in front of that, there is a gigantic arch, which symbolizes the gates to the city: the Arco da victoria, created by Verissimo da Costa.

The square is surrounded by the colorful ministerial buildings. Underneath, you can walk through a magnificent archway of impressive architectural attributes.

The square opens out on to the pedestrian street Augusta, which takes you to the Rossio district. These places are very popular among the people of Lisbon. The praça do Comercio is also the spot where most of the tramways stop, as well as the buses.


* Belém
The entire area of Belem is closely associated with the Portuguese Age of Discovery. The natural harbor made it an ideal launching point for the exploratory voyages which turned Portugal into a major economic force. These days, though, it hardly seems possible Portugal was once a dominant world power. Her global influence has waned, but the Portuguese people remain justly proud of their sea-faring heritage and it shows. The former prosperity has been transformed into a more subtle, enduring quality.

In 1755, Lisbon and the surrounding region including the Belem area, suffered through a devastating earthquake. As fate would have it, much of Belem was spared. Luckily, the primary historical points of interest were not toppled into dust.

The Tower of Belem is the sentinel over the Tagus river that protects the entrance into Lisbon ; a city that has always been the object of much covetousness.

Built between 1514 and 1520 under the supervision of the architect Francisco da Arruda, the tower Sao Vincente de Belem was the essential part of the defense complex built to protect the mouth of the Tagus river. Even today, its forms evoke the traditional dungeons of medieval castles. This very singular Manueline style building went through many architectural changes due to the development of artillery, and it presents certain structural aspects of modern bastions.


* Chiado
Chiado is nowadays a noble shopping area with all sorts of facilities and street entertainment. Here you will find hotels, theatres, bookshops, museums, restaurants, famous Portuguese fashion houses and the famous haunt of personalities like Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queiroz, in a location actually chosen by the city's art students: the café "A Brasileira".

This area has that 'special something' and you can see it in the buildings and live it in the story of the 1988 fire.

On the 25th of August 1988, Chiado was devastated by a fire that started in a store in Carmo Street and that spread to Garrett Street. Even though there are still some scars of that disaster, a massive renovation programme has brought todays Chiado back to life and it is better than ever!

* Downtown (Baixa)
This part of the city was completely rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake by the Marquis de Pombal. The planned layout, greatly different from what you will see in the more ancient neighborhoods, is a testimony to the ideas of the Enlightenment.





* Ponte 25 de Abril
The 25th of April Bridge, also known as Bridge over the Tagus (Ponte sobre o Tejo), was inaugurated in 1966 with the name 'Salazar Bridge', the dictator who had it built. It was later renamed to commemorate the 'Carnation Revolution' that happened on the 25th of April 1974. This was a day of "bloodless revolution." In the Carnation Revolution, the soldiers placed carnations in the muzzles of their rifles as they led the revolt against the world's longest dictatorship.

This suspension bridge is very similar in appearance to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is 2.278km long and leaves Lisbon at high level above Alcântara and makes landfall at Almada on the southern bank of the river.

Particularly busy during weekends, traffic jams can be avoided by taking the recently-built Vasco da Gama bridge or leaving your car on a parking lot and taking the train that passes on the under side of the bridge since 1999.
On the Almada side you will be able to see the towering monument of Cristo Rei, similar to the Redentor in Brazil, overlooking the Tagus. If you wish to go there, a lift will take you up 82m to the top of the pedestal, offering excellent views of the city and the river.

Cristo Rei

* Jardim Zoológico
The main attractions are:
Dolphins Bay: the Dolphins Bay was begun in 1995 and is now one of the biggest attractions of the Zoo. Don't miss a funny and interesting show that takes place in the scenery of a fishing village! This show combines the acrobatics of the dolphins and the sea-lions with some interesting information about the characteristics of these animals, their adaptation to marine life and some ecological elements. Give yourself the opportunity to come and learn in a very amusing way!

Cable car: Opened in 1994, the cable car also became one of the biggest attractions. In two persons cabins, visitors can enjoy a 20 minutes ride over the Zoo offering a most unique view of the zoo gardens. Passing over the hippopotami, the tigers, the lions and many other animals will surely leave you breathless.
Sea-lions: In the sea-lions area you can see a daily show where the relationship between the coach and these affable animals is quite unique. As he introduces each sea-lion to the public, he makes them do some acrobatics and he teaches children about the habits of these fantastic animals.

Reptile land: From the beginning of cellular life on Earth, about 4 thousand million years ago, life was only present in the sea. Around 370 million years ago the first vertebrate animals came to land and reptiles where the first terrestrial animals. They dominated life for most of the periods, including the Jurassic period, and dinosaurs reached the climax of the reptile evolution. Since then no other species has ruled the Earth for as long as they did. Killed by a still-unknown phenomenon, dinosaurs existence ended many, many years ago.... but some reptile species resisted all the adversities and manages to survive until today. Visiting reptile land in Lisbon's Zoo means going back in time and learning all this and more.

Macaw Show: In the Little Theatre of Nature (Teatrinho da Natureza) an ostentatious and cheerful group of macaws, cockatoos and parrots ride bicycles, do roller-skating, drive jeeps, while others show their intellectual capacities by making calculations and some just sit lazily on sun beds.

Little farm (Quintinha): The little farm was created in 1996 to bring people back to the 'countryside'. Within this area the intention is to stimulate close contact between children and domestic animals frequently seen on rural properties and allow children to see a wide variety of vegetables and fruit in a natural environment.

* Parque das Nações
* Lisbon metro
* Lisbon Botanical Garden
* Fundação Arpad Szenes / Vieira da Silva

* Alfama
Visiting Alfama is to visit the architecture, the sounds and the smells of old Lisbon. This is one of the most typical quarters of Lisbon. On its narrow and winding streets you'll find the hidden treasure of Alfama and on its steep stairs you will be able to breathe the soul of Lisbon.

In Alfama, it is still possible to see Roman and Arab remains, two of the most dominant civilizations in Lisbon's past. There are narrow streets resulting from Muslim culture, guided by individualistic rules where public spaces are not important. The narrow streets are a mark of the Coran, where little value is given to facades but a much greater value is given to the interiors of the houses.

Alfama was once home to the unlucky, delinquents or non-grateful and due to its proximity with the river it was also the home of many sailors.

Rebuilt by the local population after the 1755 earthquake, Alfama was to be demolished but the decision didn't go through as this region of Lisbon was thankfully considered to be a living history book where the past blends with the present.

Friday, May 1, 2009

53 PLACES TO VISIT

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53 places to visit according to The NewYorkTimes

Laos
Lisbon
Tunisia
Mauritius
Mid-Beach, Miami
South Beach Miami
Maldives
Death Valley
Courchevel
Libya
Hivar
Puerto Vallarta
Sylt
Prague
Quitto
Liverpool
Munich
Iran
Tuscany
Anguilla
Bogota
Playa Blanca, Panama
Alexandria
Mazatlan
St. Lucia
Oslo
Buenos Aires
Rimini, Italy
Malawi
Roatan
Mozambique
Kuwait City
Verbier
Lombok
Northwest Passage
Easter Island
Virgin Gorda
Namibia
San Francisco
Detroit
Itacare, Brazil
Kilimanjaro
Algeria
San Diego
Malaga
Puerto Plata
London
Vietnam
Essaouira
Las Vegas
Barossa Valley, Australia
Tokaj, Hungary
New York


http://www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/20071209_WHERE_GRAPHIC.html

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

PARIS

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PARIS

Paris
Arc de Triomph
Basilique Du Sacré-Coeur
Centre Pompidou
Eiffel Tower
St. Louis des Invalides
Musée du Louvre
Musée National de Moyen Age
Musee d'Orsay
Musée National Picasso
Notre Dame Cathedral
Ile St.-Louis
Jardins des Tuileries
Le Lapin Agile
Marché aux Puces
Musee Marmottan Monet
Palais Garnier
Place des Vosges
la Sainte-Chapelle
Hôtel De Crillon


Latin Quarter
Eiffel Tower
Montmartre
Centre Pompidou
Disneyland
Pigalle
Hotel des Invalides
La Madeleine
Orsay Museum
Notre Dame


Les Invalides
Eiffel Tower
The Bastille Opera
Arc de Triomphe
Notre Dame Cathedral

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

TOKYO

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PLACES TO VISIT

Conveyor belt Sushi restaurant, kai-ten Sushi
Mt. Takao; Mt. Mitake, Mitake shrine; Mt. Gozen, Tama river
Ueno Onshi Park
Yoyogi-koen (Yoyogi Park)
Tokyo's Countryside, Hatonosu-keikoku (literally "Pigeon's Nest Valley
The National Museum of Modern Art
Okonomiyaki literally means "cooked as you like it"
Kichijoji
Ikebukuro's Sunshine City
Odaiba, a futuristic city on Tokyo Bay.
Tokyo Midtown
Shibuya: The trendsetting place of Japan
Japanese fast food

PLACES BY AREAS

Minato-ku area

Sengakuji Temple
Minato Shichifukujin-Meguri
Minato Citizen's Festival
Minato City Local History Museum
Tokyo Tower

Shinjuku-ku

Takigi Noh in the woods, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Bunkyo-ku

Kyu Iwasaki-tei Gardens
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
Rikugien Gardens
The University of Tokyo Akamon and Yasuda Koudo (Main auditorium)
Shin-Edogawa Garden
Nedujinja Shrine
Koishikawa Botanical Garden
Yushima Tenmangu Shrine

Taito-ku

Edo Shitamachi Traditional Museum
Ueno Park
Ameyoko (Shopping Street)
The Shitamachi Museum (Popular customs and manners in old downtown)
Ichiyo Memorial Hall
Shotaro Ikenami Memorial Museum
Asakusa
Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center
Sumida Park
Asakusabashi Toys, dolls, tools and stationary wholesalers

Sumida-ku

Kyu Yasuda Gardens and Noryo no Yube (Enjoyment of a summer evening)
The Kinshicho Kawachi Ondo Bon Dance Festival
Sumidagawa Shichifukujin Tour and "Kototoi course", a walk in the city of history and culture
Koubaien Ume Matsuri (Plum blossom festival)
Sumida Heritage Museum
umida River and Sumida Park
The 19th Kokugikan Concert of Beethoven's "The Nine Symphonies" performed by 5000 singers
Ryogoku Firework Museum
Self-guided tour of small museums in Sumida-ku
Ryogoku course of 100 attractive walking "the town of Edo culture"

Koto-ku

Koto City Basho Museum
Fukagawa fudoudo
Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum

Shingawa-ku

Shinagawa Waterfront - Tennozu Isle and Museum of Maritime Science (Fune-no Kagakukan) -
Shinagawa Aquarium and Shinagawa Kumin Park
Shinagawa Historical Museum and Omori Shell Mounds Park
Shinagawa Tenno Matsuri festival
Old and New Shinagawa
Tour of Tokai Shichifukujin (seven gods of good fortune)
Musashi Koyama Shopping Street / Koyama Ryosha Matsuri
Togoshi Koen Park / Togoshiginza Shopping Street
Tour of Ebara Shichifukujin (seven gods of good fortune)
Oi Keibajo Horse Race Course and Twinkle Races

Ota-ku

Folk Museum of Ota City
Omori nori-no-furusato kan (Seaweed museum)
Ikegami Honmonji Temple

Setagaya-ku

Setagaya Art Museum
Setagaya Art Museum Mukai Junkichi Annex
Setagaya Literary Museum
Setagaya Museum of History
Okamoto Parks Old Farm House Garden
Jidayubori Park's Old Farm House Garden
Setagaya Boroichi Fair
Ume (Plum Blossom) Festival
Karasuyama Teramachi
Todoroki Valley

Shibuya-ku

Shoto Museum of Art
Omote-sando Avenue
Nabeshima Shoto Park
Yoyogi Park
Statue of Hachi-ko (Hachi the Loyal Dog)
Toguri Museum of Art

Suginami-ku

Suginami Animation Museum

Toshima-ku

Fukuro Matsuri (Festival)
Otsuka Awa Odori Dance
Togenuki Jizo
Kishibojin (The guardian diety of children)
Nagasaki Shishimai (Lion Mask Dance)
Zoshigaya Missionary Museum
Sunshine City
Myonichikan of Jiyu Gakuen

Arakawa-ku

Roses along the Toden Arakawa Line
Fujimizaka
Arakawa Yuen
The Nurie Museum

Itabashi-ku

Itabashi Fireworks Festival
Itabashi Kumin Matsuri (Itabashi Festival)
Itabashi Agricultural Festival
Jourenji Temple (Tokyo Daibutsu)
Shogetsu-in Temple
Kyu Nakasendo Itabashi-jyuku
Yakushino Izumi Garden
Cherry trees along Shakujii River
Akatsuka Botanical Garden
Akatsuka Tameike Park (Art Museum, Historical Museum, Ume Festival)
and site of Akatsuka Castle

Nerima-ku

Shimizuyama Ikoino Mori (Shimizuyama Recreation Forest)
Counseling Center for Flowers and Foliage and Greenhouse Arboretum
Heisei Tsutsuji Park (Heisei Azalea Park)
Makino Memorial Garden
Nerima Art Museum
Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo
Hikarigaoka Museum of Art
Musashino Music College Musical Instrument Museum
Karasawa Museum
Toei Animation Gallery

Adachi-ku

Nishiaraidaishi (Gochisan Henshoin Shrine Sojiji Temple)
Entenji Temple
Senju Shichifukujin Tour (Seven Deities of Good Fortune)
Adachi Fireworks Festival
Festival of Light
Adachi Museum
Ikou Iseki Park
Adachi Park of Living Things

Katsushika-ku

The Katsushika-ku Yamamoto-tei (House and Garden)
Katsushika Shibamata Tora-san Museum
Shibamata Shichifukujin (Seven Deities of Good Fortune)
Horikiri Shobuen Iris Garden
Mizumoto Park

Edogawa-ku

Edogawa DentoKogei+vol.6

Hachioji-shi

Mt. Takao hiking trails
Yuyake Koyake Fureainosato
Mt. Jimba
Murauchi Art Museum
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
Takaosan Yakuoin Temple
Takaosan Cable Car and Lift
Tama Forest Science Garden
Avenue of Ichou (ginkgos) in Koshu Street
Musashi Mausoleum Graveyard

Tachikawa-shi

Showa Kinen Park
Kominkaen (Old Farm House)
Faret Tachikawa & works of art
Tachikawa Bosaikan
Tachikawa City Historical Folk Museum
Yagawa Green Belt
Tamagawa Josui

Mitaka-shi

Mitaka Awa Odori Festival
Tamagawa Josui (Canal)

Ome-shi

Shiofune Kannonji Temple and Kasumi Hill Natural Park
Yoshino Baigo (Yoshino Plum Park)
Mitake Valley
Mt. Mitake
Iwakura Hot Springs
Yoshino Baigo Ume-matsuri (Plum Blossom Festival)

Fuchu-shi

Fuchu Art Museum
Baba Daimon keyaki(zelkova) Avenue
Ookunitamajinjya Shrine
Tokyo Race Course
Kyodo-no-mori Museum
Kosatsuba (Old public notice site)
Koanji Temple
Zenmyoji Temple
Togoji Temple
Tama Cemeteries
Fuchu-no-mori Park (Fuchu Forest Park)
Fuchu-no-mori Art Theatre
Kurayami Matsuri (Dark Night Festival)

Chofu-shi

Jindaiji Temple

Machida-shi

Machida Peony Garden
Yakushi-Ike Park
Machida Dahlia Garden

Koganei-shi

Koganei Cultural Assets Center

Kodaira-shi

Tamagawa Josui (Green Road)
Fureai Gesuidou-kan (Museum of the Sewerage)
Kodaira City Hirakushi Denchu Museum
Kodaira Furusato Mura
Rune Kodaira (Kodaira Citizens Cultural Hall

Hino-shi

Takahata Fudo-son
Hino Shinsengumi Festival

Higashimurayama-shi

Shofukuji Temple and the Sentai Jizodo
Kitayama Park

Kokubinji-shi

Otakano-Michi and Masugatano-ike (flowing spring waters)
Former Site of Musashi Kokubunji Temple

Higashiyamato-shi

Lake Tama (Murayama Reservoir)
Nobidomeyosui (Nobidome canal)
Higashiyamato City Museum

Nishitokyo-shi

Tamarokuto Kagakukan (Tamarokuto Science Center)
Field Production Science Center, The University of Tokyo

Kiyose-shi

Kiyose Katakuri (Japanese dogtooth violet) Festival
Keyaki (zelkova) Road Gallery
Kiyose Seseragi (brook) Park

Tama-shi

Sanrio Puroland
Benesse Star Dome
Parthenon Tama
Tama Central Park and Green Live Center
Tama Yokoyama Footpath
Wan Nyan World Tama
Well Sun Pia Tama
Fureai Flea Market
Tama Art University Museum
Tama Center Illumination
Tokyo Metropolitan Archaeological Center
Kyu-Tamaseiseki memorial museum

Hamura-shi

Negarami-mae-suiden ( A fallow rice field)
Hamurazeki

Akiruno-shi

Akigawa Valley
Akigawa Valley Natural Human Race
Riverside Park Ichinotani
Akigawa Fureai Land
Akigawabashi Kasen Park (River Park) Barbecue Garden
Seoto-no-yu in Akigawa Valley

Mizuho-machi

Rokudoyama Park

Hinode-machi

Hinode Mitsuzawa Tsuru-tsuru Onsen (Hot springs)
Mt. Hinode-yama (Hiking)
Hinode Kanyou no Sato

Okutama-machi

Okutama Onsen Moegi-no-yu (Moegi-no-yu, Okutama hot spa)
Okutama-ko (Lake Okutama)
The Nippara-Limestone Cave

Hinohara-mura

Hossawa-no-taki Falls Summer/Winter festival
Kazuma-no-yu (Hinohara hot spring center)
Kanotoiwa Rock

Oshima-machi

Palais La Mer
Oshima Hot Springs Motomachi Hamanoyu
Ai-land Center: Gojinka Hot Springs
Mt. Mihara crater walk and tour of Urasabaku
Izu-Oshima Museum of Volcanoes
Habu Port

Niijima-mura

Habushiura Coast

Kouzushima-mura

Mt.Tenjhou
Kouzushima Hot Spring Recreation Center
Kouzushima West Coast Promenade Course
Akasaki Shiokaze's Mokudo and Small bay
Maehama Beach
Monoimino-mikoto Jinja Shrine
Toukouji Temple
Kouzushima-mura Hometown Museum
Mt. Chichibu 34 Kannon-reijo (Hallowed ground)
The obsidian stratum of Sanukasaki

Miyakejima

Miyakejima Island Shizen Fureai Center Akakokko-kan

Hachijo-machi

Muikagahara Sakyu (Sand hill)
Karataki (Waterfall)
Nambara Senjouiwa Beach
Mt. Hachijo-Fuji (Nishiyama)
Jinya-ato (Tamaishigaki)
Furusato Mura
Sueyoshi Michigasawa Onsen, Miharashi-no-Yu (hot springs)
Hachijo-jima Freesia Festival
Healthy Festa Aloe & Ashitaba in Hachijo Island
View of Noboryou Touge (Noboryou Pass)

Ogasawara-mura

Minami-jima
John Beach & Jinny Beach
Sekimon
Hahajimameguro (Bird-watching)
Hirashima
Dolphin watching & dolphin swimming
Whale watching

TOP METROPOLITAN CITIES

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1 Tokyo
2 Paris
3 New York
4 London
5 Beijing
6 Seoul
7 Toronto
8 Madrid
8 Zürich
9 Houston
9 Osaka
9 Munich
9 Atlanta
10 Rome
10 Düsseldorf

Saturday, March 28, 2009

OCEANIA

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AMERICAN SAMOA
CHATHAM ISLANDS
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
COCOS KEELING ISLANDS
COOK ISLANDS
EASTER ISLAND
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
FIJI
FRENCH POLYNESIA
GUAM
HAWAII
KIRIBATI
LOYALTY ISLANDS
MARSHALL ISLANDS
NAURU
NEW CALEDONIA
NEW ZEALAND
NIUE
NORFOLK ISLANDS
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
PALAU
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
SAMOA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
TOKELAU
TONGA
TUVALU
VANUATU
WAKE ISLAND
WALLIS AND FUTUNA

WALLIS AND FUTUNA

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