The World's Most Beautiful Cities

Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:05:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location

Ontario, Canada.

Dialing code

Population

2,503,281 (city); 5,555,912 (metropolitan area).

Time zone

GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz; flat two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

- 4.5°C (23°F).

Average July temperatures

22°C (72°F).

Annual rainfall

689mm (27.1 inches).

Toronto: Overview

Toronto stands on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and the view of the city across the water is stunning and unmistakable - the CN Tower, thrusting skyward near the water's edge, was until quite recently the world's tallest tower. Framing it is a glimmering collection of skyscrapers, which give way to a dense city centre with pleasant, leafy residential areas and parks, notably along the ravines that cut through the city.

The capital of the Province of Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest city and the fifth largest in North America. A dominant force in the business and economy of the nation, it is also the cultural centre of English-speaking Canada.

Initially claimed by the French in the 18th century, it was not until the American Revolution caused hordes of United Empire Loyalists (loyal to the British) to escape to Toronto that the city became an established settlement. Then known as York, the town was exceedingly British in character, functioning as the administrative capital of English-speaking Upper Canada and becoming a thriving manufacturing centre by the 19th century. In 1834, the city was renamed Toronto, a Huron Indian word meaning ‘meeting place'.

The Toronto of the 19th and early 20th centuries was a law-abiding city, where rules were made and rarely broken and where the overriding concern was making money. As such, Toronto gained a reputation as a conservative, boring enclave of Protestantism, a reputation that still dogs it to some extent today. Older residents can remember the days when the city would come to a standstill on Sundays and only a handful of the very best restaurants served wine.

Towards the end of the 1950s, a surge in the arrival of immigrants infused Toronto with new foods, new languages and, most importantly, new attitudes. Italians, Portuguese and Eastern Europeans arrived first, followed by immigrants from the Caribbean, Asia and India. They settled into what would become the city's great ethnic neighbourhoods - Greektown, Little Italy and Chinatown.

Toronto gradually developed a multiethnic North American character - today, one in two of the city's residents was born outside Canada. It largely shrugged off its colonial identity, although vestiges still remain, such as the English-style pubs and the ingrained habit among conservative clubs and societies of toasting the Queen before eating.

There is a similar juxtaposition in the architecture of the city itself; at first glance, Toronto does not appear all that different from any other large American city, albeit a clean one, although closer inspection reveals preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings and a profusion of neighbourhood pubs.

The Toronto of today is a lively, cultured place with hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. It is the most economically important city in Canada, the centre of finance, media and services, and home to more corporate head offices than any other.

By night, its people indulge themselves at the city's numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, or at the symphony, opera and theatre. More than anything, however, Toronto is defined by its citizenry - friendly, efficient and one of the most multicultural in the world.

Toronto: Tourist Information

Toronto's Eaton Centre

Rogers Centre

Walking Tours
Walking tours of Toronto are available with A Taste of the World (tel: (416) 923 6813; website: http://www.torontowalksbikes.com/). True to its name, the company offers the ‘Kensington Foodies Roots Walk', a three hour 30 minute stroll through historic Kensington Market, sampling both the sights and the local delicacies. Tours are frequently sold out - advance reservation is recommended.

Genova Tours (tel: (416) 367 0380; website: http://www.genovatours.com/) offers a variety of year-round Toronto walking tours that cover all kinds of interests - food in St Lawrence Market, Chinatown and Little India; history at the Mount Pleasant and Necropolis Cemeteries; and star-gazing in the neighbourhoods of Yorkville and Millionaire's Row.

Ebullient tour guide Bruce Bell, the official historian of the St Lawrence Market, offers walking tours of that site and many other historic locations through Bruce Bell Tours (tel: (647) 393 8687; website: http://www.brucebelltours.ca/).

Guided tours of the city's natural heritage are available from Toronto Field Naturalists (tel: (416) 593 2656; website: http://www.torontofieldnaturalists.org/).

There are also a variety of signposted, self-guided walks that wind through the city's many parks and green spaces. Alternatively, visitors have the option of exploring the vast labyrinth of interconnected shopping areas that underlie downtown's office towers. The 27km (16-mile) PATH network (website: www.toronto.ca/path) links shopping, services and entertainment venues between the two branches of the Yonge-University-Spadina subway, south of Dundas Street.

Boat Tours
A boat tour of the harbour is a nice sightseeing experience. Toronto Tours (tel: (416) 869 1372; website: http://www.torontotours.com/) offers one-hour cruises of the inner harbour and out to the Toronto Islands, April to October.

Bus Tours
Grayline Tours (tel: (416) 594 3310; website: http://www.grayline.com/) runs hop-on, hop-off tours of the city centre in open-topped double-decker buses. A full circuit lasts two hours. The best places for passengers to hop on board are 123 Front Street West (corner of University Avenue) and the corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street (visitors should call ahead, seeing as the company recommends booking at least 48 hours in advance).

Toronto Hippo Tours (tel: (416) 703 4476 or 1 877 635 5510; website: http://www.torontohippotours.com/) offers an ‘amphibus' (amphibious bus) from May to October. Departing from 151 Front Street West (corner of Simcoe Street), the one-hour tour of the city takes in the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre and Toronto City Hall before entering the water at Ontario Place for an additional half-hour tour around Toronto's harbour.

Toronto's City Hall

Toronto's Castleloma

University Of Toronto Courtyard

The Bahamas Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:49:00 +0000

Country Statistics

Location

Chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba.

Time

GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).

Population

305,655.

Capital

Nassau. Population: 331,000.

Geography

Comprising 700 low-lying islands, mostly islets (cays or keys), atolls, and rocks, the Bahamas archipelago extends 970km (500 miles) southeastward from the coast of Florida. Sparkling, clear waters are home to vibrant underwater gardens on the world's third longest barrier reef, which contains about 14.5% of the coral on the planet. Fertile marine plains are split between two oceanic facets, the Little Bahama Bank and the Great Bahama Bank, where visibility of around 60m (197ft) is the norm. Exotic flowers, pine forest, rugged shoreline, barren savannahs, marshlands, and sandy beaches typify the landscape, on a bed of limestone and coral rocks.

Electricity

120-volts AC, 60Hz. US-style plug sockets and outlets are standard.

Bahamas Overview:

The quiet coves, sheltered bays, and crowd-free beaches of the Bahamas offer visitors the intimacy of a secluded retreat within a surprisingly expansive archipelago. Twice the size of Spain, the Bahamas is actually made up of over 700 palm-fringed isles.

Totally tropical
Named from the Spanish baja mar, meaning “shallow sea,” the Bahamas is blessed with clear, turquoise waters that are home to ancient shipwrecks and a rainbow of coral reefs teeming with fish. Pastel-colored seashells and clapboard houses painted in bubblegum hues sit amidst a tropical landscape dotted with vibrant blooms. On many of the Bahamas' most unspoiled coastal stretches, empty beaches offer total tranquility with the occasional squawking of an exotic bird and gently lapping waves as the only distraction.

Plenty to do
For a change of pace, head to one of the islands’ bustling straw markets to haggle over spices, ceramics, handicrafts, and local art. Enjoy diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, and parasailing or take to the fairways of a world-class golf course for ocean-facing holes.

Bahamian beats
Umpteen Bahamian bars and clubs pulsate with island rhythms, from pumping goombay and calypso to Junkanoo beats. Discover riotous dance festivals that mix African slave-trade rituals with Bahamian tempo and American hip-hop twists. Or experience the age-old traditions and legends of the islands at local cultural celebrations amidst costumes, food, and song.

Bahamas: Tourist Information:

Getting here:

There are airports located on several of the islands of the Bahamas. Nassau International (NAS) is located 16km west of the city. Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) is located 5km from the city of Freeport. The Exuma International Airport at Moss Town, Exuma (GGT), also offers a runway.

Of the many reasons why one should visit the Bahamas, here are a few:

Swimming and scuba-diving
Sharks lurking in the warm waters off Long Island are amenable to swimmers but if teeth aren’t your thing, you can explore shipwrecks or discover the stone ruins off Bimini, said to be the remains of the lost city of Atlantis. The underwater preserve of Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park are also open to divers.

Shopping
The dozens of colorful stalls at Nassau's bustling straw market are a perfect place for you to barter over local goods. For a sophisticated shop, splash some cash in the swish stores at Bay Street, a haven of designer brands.

Golf
Bahamas’ oldest golf course, at Cable Beach, has beautifully kept fairways, or there are five other world-class courses on Grand Bahama Island to choose from. Exuma’s course was designed by golfer Greg Norman, while the Abaco Club boasts a Scottish links-style course.
Blue Lagoon Island
At Blue Lagoon Island you can interact with sea-lions displaced by Hurricane Katrina and frolic with bottle-nosed dolphins in waist-high pools; many played starring roles in the movie Flipper.

Fishing
Fishing trips to Bimini’s world-class sport-fishing waters run regularly, or you can search for the elusive bonefish in Andros. At 1,800m (6,000ft), the fertile deep water trench dubbed Tongue of the Ocean is a prime deep-water spot for a major haul.

Sailing

The picture-perfect pristine cays and spectacular reefs of the Exumas archipelago are perfect for a leisurely sail. There’s also an upscale boating scene in the marinas, bays, and regattas of Nassau/Paradise Island to enjoy.

Junkanoo festivities
Street processions and dance bands fill the streets, along with a lively party crowd, at the Bahamian Junkanoo festivities on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. At the Junkanoo Summer Festival in June and July island music rages for days on end.

Rum cocktails
There are few pleasures in life as simple as sipping rum-laden cocktails on Abaco Beach at sundown, watching the golden sky turn a dramatic pink-crimson. To add to the magic, fairy-lights illuminate the shore as dozens of boats gently bob out in the harbor.

Get married
Couples can tie the knot on the sands, atop a wooden jetty, in a church, aboard a yacht, amidst tropical gardens, or wearing full scuba gear underwater.

Nightlife

Most hotels contain bars, lounges, and nightclubs. Live music, beach parties, and discos center on calypso and goombay bands with limbo dancing. Four casinos are spread across Cable Beach, Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama (Freeport and Lucaya) with festivals and live entertainment organized locally year-round.

More Places You May Want To Visit While You Stay In The Bahamas:

Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:19:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location
Southern shore of the Arabian Gulf, northeastern United Arab Emirates.

Dialing code
971.

Population
1,400,000.

Ethnic Mix:
60% Indian, Pakistani and Filipino, 25% Emirates, 12% Arab and 3% Western ex-pats.

Religion:
57% Muslim, 20% Hindu, 20% Roman Catholic and 3% other.

Time zone
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 or 240 volts AC, 50Hz; square three-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
24°C (75°F).

Average July temperatures
41°C (106°F).

Annual rainfall
300mm (11.8 inches).

Overview

The Palm Jebel Ali

Within hours of arriving first timers soon usually stop mouthing trite phrases like ‘but that is impossible' or ‘surely they couldn't'. In ultra ambitious Dubai nothing is impossible and they surely could. Think lush championship golf courses in the desert, massive manmade islands in the shape of the world and ski slopes in one of the most arid corners of the planet.

Dubai is no longer looking over its shoulder at ‘The West'; it is far too busy showing what an Arabic emirate can do on its own with what many observers are increasingly viewing as an insight into the future of cities the world over.

It is difficult to believe today that less than a century ago Dubai was little more than a desert-strewn wildscape where Bedouin tribes roamed the sands and a huddle of settlers crowded around the banks of the lifeblood creek. Even as Europe embarked on the mass industrial destruction of WWI, Dubai still had no running water, no real roads and the main mode of transport was the camel.

Dubai first grew as a hub on the ancient trading route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley and, by the 19th century, a small fishing village had taken root at the mouth of Dubai Creek. The village was inhabited by the Bani Yas tribe, who were led by the Maktoum family, the dynasty that still presides over Dubai today.

The city's remarkable success story really began in the 1960s. During the process of shaking off the shackles of British colonial rule, oil was struck in 1966 and Dubai has never looked back. Since the 1960s, the population has mushroomed to almost 1.5 million and now an ever-growing number of hotels welcome in the temporary expat workers and tourists who help propel the economy.

Indeed, only around a quarter of the emirate's population are actually ethnically Emirati in a population mixture that has to be one of the world's most cosmopolitan. This diversity discourages any real ethnic tensions and while conflict might rage further north in Iraq, Dubai so far has been trouble free.

Dubai's evolution has been dramatic, with sweeping skyscrapers and gleaming office blocks rising up everywhere. The rulers of Dubai have a penchant for grand projects - one year the world's tallest tower (Burj Arab), the next a string of offshore manmade islands (the three Palms and the World) and now Dubailand, a massive project that will bring over 45 major projects to a massive leisure oasis in the desert.
Dubai seems to know no end to its ambition, nor does it have any inhibitions, with more grand plans slated, such as Dubai Mall (the world's largest mall) and the colossal new airport at Jebel Ali, which will dwarf the existing one, already the Middle East's busiest.

Even with regional instability in recent years tourism (now responsible for 30% of the emirate's GDP) remains remarkably resilient in this tolerant and stable part of the Arab world with more and more tourists flocking to Dubai every year. This is unsurprising really, considering the idyllic climate for much of the year, with constant sunshine and only an average of five days of rainfall annually. During summer, however, the heat is extreme, making trips away from air-conditioned vehicles and buildings unbearable.

The future prospects of the emirate's tourist industry and its economic situation as a whole may ultimately be governed by developments in the rest of the Middle East, but for now Dubai is a city on the rise and rise.

Tourist Information

Lovely Utopia Of Dubai

Atlantis Hotel In Dubai

Walking Tours
Dubai is a sprawling city that can be difficult to walk around and there are no official signposted tours. However, a self-guided stroll around the older central parts of Deira and Bur Dubai is a great way of discovering the delights of the city, exploring its traditional souks or stumbling across hidden mosques or wind towers.

‘A Walk through the City of Contrasts’, covering Bastakiya and including an abra ride from Shindagha across the Creek and a walk through the gold and spice souks, is offered by Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com).
Bus Tours
A number of companies offer half-day city tours, including Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com) and Net Tours Dubai (tel: (04) 226 6655; website: www.nettoursdubai.com). Tours vary depending on the operator but most go to the old and new Dubai souks, Jumeirah Mosque, the thriving commercial area and include a creek crossing by abra (local water taxi). Another option is to see Dubai by night. Post-tour dinner in one of Dubai’s many restaurants is usually a feature of the night-time tours, which also incorporate the mosques, palaces and souks. The tours operate a very organized system, with pick-up at all main hotels.

Boat Tours
Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com) offers a variety of cruises on Dubai Creek, aboard a 20m (65ft) schooner, which sets off onto the Arabian Gulf. Alpha Tours (tel: (04) 294 9888; website: www.alphatoursdubai.com) operates evening dhow dinner cruises, which take 2 hours. Alternatively, tourists should go down to Dubai Creek and charter a traditional abra (water taxi), for a short river tour lasting 60-90 minutes. The length of the tour and the price should be agreed in advance. Otherwise, visitors can just ride one across the creek to the other side (journey time – 5 minutes).

Abit More On The Atlantis Hotel In The Dubai:

The is the the future, the future of wonders. Dubai built the futuristic hotel on one of its islands. Its stunning, breathtaking, and luxurious. The hotel is situated on 113 acres of the Palm Jumeirah, and has about 1539 rooms. The hotel opened its doors last year in September and already attracting many visitors from all over the globe.

Atlantis is the majestic focal point of Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island that has captured the world’s imagination with its magnificent scale and ingenuity. From the moment of arrival, you’re immersed in a dazzling world of imagination, pleasure and luxury. The resort offers relaxation and thrills for couples and families alike, including a landmark hotel, unique marine habitats, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, indulgent spa and cosmopolitan boutiques. To stay or visit is to live out your dreams amidst warm Arabian seas.

Atlantis Hotel In Dubai During The Day


Atlantis Hotel In Dubai Illuminates

Rio de Janeiro

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:38:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location

Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dialing code

Population

6,051,399 (city)

Ethnic mix

70% white, 20% black, 10% other

Religion

75% Catholic, 25% other

Time zone

GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Sunday in October to third Sunday in March)

Electricity

110 volts or 220 volts; two round-pin plugs are standard

Average January temperatures

30°C (86°F)

Average July temperatures

25°C (77°F)

Annual rainfall

1,086mm (42.4 inches)

Rio de Janeiro: Overview

Copacabana Beach

Rio is an awe-inspiring city where impossibly steep granite mountains rise from the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand. Brash skyscrapers vie for space with impeccable colonial buildings, and lush forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.

Its diverse cultures and peoples live in varying degrees of wealth or poverty. But no matter what their background or economic standing, the Cariocas (Rio's residents) are characterized by a passion and enthusiasm for life.

The cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city) revels in life, with the beach, football, samba and Carnival the principal diversions. High above all this fun and frivolity are Rio's ever-present landmarks - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the summit of Corcovado (hunchback) mountain and Sugarloaf with its historic cable car.

As well as these twin icons, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment - enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.

A natural port of the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay) in southeast Brazil, the city was founded by the Portugese on January 1, 1502. They named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth. Since then, it has grown to a city of over 6 million people, with a further 5 million in the greater metropolitan area.

In Rio's summer (December to February), temperatures regularly reach 40ºC (104ºF) or more. When the heat is on, tourists should follow the Brazilian example and hit the beach rather than rush around.

Rio de Janeiro: Tourist Information

Walking Tours
A number of companies provide specialist guided walks in Rio, available on request. Roteiros Culturais (tel: (21) 9911 3829; website: www.culturalrio.com.br) runs cultural sightseeing tours to Rio’s historic and colonial landmarks. Tours can be tailored to personal preferences and time available. The Downtown Rio Tour crosses the best areas of the oldest neighbourhood in town, from the Opera House District to the oldest and richest Baroque church in the city.

Rio Hiking (tel: (21) 2507 4417 or 9721 0594 (mobile); website: www.riohiking.com.br) provides English language guided walks in Tijuca forest and up Rio’s mountain peaks.

Jeep Tours
Several companies offer jeep tours to out-of-the-way attractions. Rio by Jeep (tel: (21) 2575 8626 or 9693 8800 (mobile); website: www.riobyjeep.com) specializes in in-depth tours of Tijuca National Park and out-of-town beaches. Rio by Jeep offers two ecological tours of Tijuca forest. The ‘National Park Tour’ takes three and a half hours, while the ‘Complete Tour’ is longer, at five and a half hours. Hotel pick-up can be arranged.

Jeep Tour (tel: (21) 2589 0883 (reservations) or 9977 9610 (mobile); website: www.jeeptour.com.br) offers a number of different jeep tours, as well as walking tours, panoramic helicopter tours and combined tours in Rio and further afield. Hotel pick-up can be arranged.

Helicopter Tours
For a bird’s eye view of the city, Helisight (tel: (21) 2511 2141 (week days) or 2542 7895 (weekends and holidays); website: www.helisight.com.br) offers sightseeing flights of various lengths and itineraries. A 15-minute flight covers the city centre, the Sambódromo, Maracanã stadium, Corcovado and the statue of Christ, Pão de Açúcar and Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Departures are from one of three helipads, located at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Dona Marta Belvedere (access route to the statue of Christ) and Sugar Loaf (cable car’s first stop). Helipads are open daily 0900–1800 and night flights are also available from the Sugar Loaf and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon helipads.

Boat Tours
Saveiros Tour (tel: (21) 2224 6990; website: www.saveiros.com.br) operates a cultural boat tour around Guanabara Bay, providing a unique viewpoint of the city and Niterói island. The two-hour trip departs from the Gloria Marina daily at 0930.

Helicopter Tours

Boat Tours

Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:38:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location

Kanto region, eastern Japan.

Dialing code

81.

Population

8,457,000 (city); 12,544,000 (metropolitan area).

Time zone

GMT + 9.

Electricity

100 volts AC, 50/60Hz; flat two-pin American-style plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

6°C (42°F).

Average July temperatures

26°C (78°F).

Annual rainfall

1,519mm (60 inches).

Tokyo: Overview

Japan's Tokyo Dome

Effortlessly blending the old and the new, Tokyo is a city that defies definition. Cutting-edge technology glitters beside ancient temples, flashing neon lights bathe kimono-clad women, and shining skyscrapers tower above stunning Shinto shrines.

At first glance a city crowded by cars and hurrying commuters, Tokyo has spots of tranquility and beautiful detail that amaze and astonish. Home to over 12 million people, this is a city with a history and a heart that captivates every visitor.

This sprawling megalopolis on the Pacific coast of Honshu is on the largest of the 6,800 Japanese islands.

In 1590, the city was founded as Edo, the capital of the shoguns, the succession of hereditary absolute rulers of Japan and commander of the Japanese army. Edo boasted its own vibrant culture, the celebrated ‘floating world’ of pleasure quarters, theaters and cherry blossoms, immortalized in the Japanese woodblock prints of the time.

Following the fall of the shoguns in 1867 (and the restoration of the power of the Emperor), the city was renamed Tokyo, the Eastern Capital, heralding its rebirth as a dynamic modern city and the showpiece of a rapidly modernizing country.

Despite the catastrophic 1923 earthquake and near obliteration during WWII, Tokyo rose from the ashes.

Now a bewildering amalgamation of districts and neighborhoods, Tokyo still thrives as a coherent whole, due to the extraordinarily efficient network of rail and underground lines that crisscross and encircle the city. These are Tokyo’s arteries, transporting legions of businesspeople, office workers and students from the suburbs and depositing them in vast stations. Two million people a day pass through Shinjuku Station alone.

The towering business districts swarm with soberly dressed corporate warriors and the demure young secretaries known as ‘office flowers’. The architectural anarchy and sheer crush of humanity assaults the senses. Amid the frenzy of consumerism, brash electronics outlets are crammed next to refined upscale boutiques and hordes of giggling schoolgirls swoon over pop idols and the latest fashions in glitzy emporiums.

Downtown, old neighborhoods cluster around antiquated shopping arcades and the clatter of the temple bell echoes across the rooftops. Here, the rhythms of the seasons are still observed. Tokyoites flock to ring in the New Year at the venerable Shinto shrines and springtime brings a flurry of flower-viewing parties and picnics under the cherry blossoms.

Traditional festivals punctuate the humid summers and the spirit of the old Edo also survives in the neon-bathed entertainment districts: modern-day ‘floating worlds’ of karaoke and cinemas, shot bars and bathhouses. Traditional kabuki theater thrives alongside opera, ballet and symphonic performances, and Tokyoites are passionate about sumo, baseball and now, thanks partly to the 2002 World Cup, football.

With the latest figures estimating an incredible 60,000 eateries in Tokyo and home to the world’s largest fish market, food is an obsession even closer to Japanese hearts. From bowls of steaming ramen noodles to delicate slices of sashimi, chefs compete to offer the freshest produce, and presentation is elevated to an art form.

Visiting the city is a pleasure at any time, except perhaps the sweltering heat of summer (July and August). While winter in the city is cold and crisp, spring (March to May) is the highlight of the year for many, with the arrival of delicate cherry blossoms inspiring sakepicnics in the city’s parks and avenues. Autumn (September to November) sees the oppressive summer heat give way to balmy days and golden leaves.

But avoid Golden Week (late April-May) and New Year (late December-early January), the two most important festivals in the Shinto calendar, because the city closes down. But with festivals celebrated almost every week, whenever you visit there is always something of the old Japan to experience.

Thanks to the determination of the Japanese government to attract foreign visitors, Tokyo is becoming ever easier to navigate. A recent redesign of the subway map makes traveling on the city’s excellent public transport extremely easy. English signage is good and getting better, while learning a few basics in Japanese will go a long way to help navigate the sprawling city’s streets.

With recent statistics heralding an unprecedented rise in tourist numbers, Tokyo is inspiring more western visitors than ever before. Hurtling towards the future while respecting its past, this unique city and the people that live there offer visitors an experience they will never forget.

Tokyo: Tourist Information

Tokyo's Museum

Walking Tours
The Tokyo Tourist Information Office (tel: (03) 3201 3331; website: http://www.jnto.go.jp/) provides a leaflet, ‘Walking Tour Courses in Tokyo’, outlining walking routes in several main areas of the city. Mr Oka’s Walking Tours of Tokyo (tel: 0422 51 7673; website: www.homestead.com/mroka/) offers free walking tours of the city. The historian runs a number of tours all over the city, and as they are free they are very popular.

Bus Tours
Hato Bus (tel: (03) 3435 6081; website: http://www.hatobus.co.jp/), JTB Sunrise Tours (tel: (03) 5796 5454; website: www.jtbgmt.com/sunrisetour/) and Japan Gray Line (tel: (03) 3595 5948; website: www.jgl.co.jp/inbound/index.htm) all offer a wide variety of half-day, full-day and evening bus tours, with English-speaking guides.

Boat Tours
The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company (tel: (03) 5733 4812; website: http://www.suijobus.co.jp/) runs a regular waterbus service along the Sumida River, between Asakusa, the Hama Rikyu Gardens, and Hinode Pier. The trip takes 40 minutes (one way). The company also operates a variety of other waterbus services around Tokyo Bay, lasting between 5 and 55 minutes. Vingt-et-UnCruises (tel: (03) 3436 2121; website: http://www.vantean.co.jp/) and Symphony Cruises (tel: (03) 3798 8101; website: www.symphony-cruise.co.jp/english/) offers daytime and evening boat cruises between 1 and 2 hours around Tokyo Bay. The latter depart from the Hinode Pier.

Other Tours
See Tokyo from a rickshaw and discover areas seldom seen by other tourists. Asakusa’s Rickshaw Tour Guides (tel: (03) 5806 8881; website: http://www.ebisuya.com/) operate daily from near the Asakusa pier on the Sumidagawa River and surrounding areas.

Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:37:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location: Ile-de-France region, France.
Country dialing code: 33.
Population: 2,144,700 (city); 11,500,000 (metropolitan area) (2005).
Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 4°C (39°F).
Average July temp: 19.5°C (67°F).
Annual rainfall: 642mm (25 inches).

Paris: Overview

Arc de Triomphe

The city center is actually surprisingly compact and the Métro system makes getting around fairly easy. A good way for first time arrivals to get an idea of how Paris fits together is to take a cruise on the River Seine or ascend the Eiffel Tower and take in a sweeping view of the city. With so much to see, time management is crucial and many people choose to concentrate on one or two of the arrondissements (districts).

The nostalgic should wander around the mansions of the Marais district, past the Musée Carnavalet, 23 rue de Sévigné, 3rd; Hôtel de Sully, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4th, and Place des Vosges, home to the Maison de Victor Hugo.

Those interested in modern art and design should opt for the Centre Georges Pompidou, place Beaubourg, 4th; Jean Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés-St-Bernard, 5th; or the Grande Arche de la Défense with its high-speed glass lift offering a spectacular view of Paris.

The Grande Arche, which lies along the same geographical axis as Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées, was built a century and a half later. This incongruity (the modern city juxtaposed with the old) is all part of the charm of Paris.

Paris overflows with museums, ranging from the vast collections of the Louvre to the small and quirky - such as the Musée des Arts Forains, 53 avenue des-Terroires-de-France, 12th, a shrine to fairground art, with something for everyone scattered through the metropolitan area. The Musée du Quai Branly,37 quai Branly, 7th, one of the newer museums, opened to much fanfare in 2006.

Repeat visitors to Paris usually end up uncovering something new, such as the rejuvenated Bercy district to the east with its green spaces, popular bars and development buzz or Belleville, with its grungy cosmopolitanism and ethnic restaurants.

Another popular attraction is Paris Plage in summer when the city’s inhabitants relax by the Seine amidst a world of sand and deckchairs.

Tourist Information

Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau
25 rue des Pyramides
Tel: 0892 683 000.
Website: http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/
Opening hours: (Jun-Oct) daily 0900-1900; (Nov-May) Mon-Sat 1100-1900, Sun 1000-1900.

Further tourist offices are located at the Gare de Lyon, 20 boulevard Diderot, 12th (open Mon to Sat 0800-1800), Gare du Nord, 18 rue de Dunkerque, 10th (open 0800-1800), Opera, 11 rue Scribe, 9th (open 0900-1830), Eiffel Tower(open daily 1100-1840 May to Sep).

Passes

The Museum Pass (website: http://www.museums-of-paris.com/) allows free unlimited access to more than 70 museums and monuments in the Paris region, including the Arc de Triomphe, Musée National du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin. The two-, four- or six-day pass is for sale from tourist offices, participating museums and monuments, the main métro stations and FNAC stores. It allows visitors to bypass queues but does not provide free admission to special or temporary exhibitions.

Paris: Tourist Information

Euro Star (High Speed Trains)

Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden)
This garden, part formal, part jardin à l’anglaise, was created for Marie de Médicis (Henri IV’s widow), along with the Palais du Luxembourg, which now houses the French Senate. It is a favored spot for a Sunday stroll, game of tennis, chess or boules, or a pony ride.
Boulevard St-Michel, rue de Médicis, rue Guynemer, rue d’Assas, rue Auguste-Comte or rue de Vaugirard, 6th
Tel: (01) 4234 2362.
Opening hours: Daily 0715-2130 (Apr-Sep); daily 0800-dusk (Oct-Mar).
Free admission.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This appealing park spreads over 23 hectares (57 acres) between Gare du Nord and Belleville. It was originally commissioned by Napoleon III and mixes grandeur with wildlife. Its walkways are alive with the likes of wagtails, gulls, geese and swans. In the lake pike, tench and roach abound. The park is perfect for escaping the city for a while, strolling around its lofty inclines or even popping on some in-line skates and heading around the skate trail.

Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk.
Free admission.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris (Paris Grand Mosque)
Built between 1922 and 1926, close to the Jardin des Plantes, this Hispano-Moorish mosque caters for France’s Muslim community. There is free access and guided tours to the sunken garden and patios. The prayer room, however, remains closed to the non-Muslim public. There is also an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) with masseurs at hand, as well as a wonderful mosaic courtyard complete with fig trees and a fountain - the perfect setting for enjoying a sweet mint tea served in tiny gilded glasses with some honeyed baklava. In the adjoining restaurant, couscous and other Arabic dishes are served.

1 place du Puits-de-l’Ermite (access via 39 rue Géoffroy-St-Hillaire), 5th
Tel: (01) 4535 9733.
Website: http://www.mosquee-de-paris.org/
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 1000-2100, Fri 1400-2100 (women); Tues 1400-2100, Sun 1000-2100 (men); tours Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-1800 (winter), Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-2200 (summer); closed Muslim holidays.
Admission charge; free to tearoom.

Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architecture and Heritage Museum)
This museum, which spans from the 11th century through to the future, is devoted to France’s architectural heritage. Twice a year architects are invited to transform part of the museum space into a world of their own creation.

Palais de Chaillot, 1 place du Trocadéro, 16th
Tel: (01) 5851 5200
Website: http://www.citechaillot.fr/
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 1200-2000; Sat, Sun 1100-1900; Thurs 1200-2200; Tues closed.
Admission charge.

Paris: Sightseeing

The Effeil Tower

The city centre is actually surprisingly compact and the Métro system makes getting around fairly easy. A good way for first time arrivals to get an idea of how Paris fits together is to take a cruise on the River Seine or ascend the Eiffel Tower and take in a sweeping view of the city. With so much to see, time management is crucial and many people choose to concentrate on one or two of the arrondissements (districts).

The nostalgic should wander around the mansions of the Marais district, past the Musée Carnavalet, 23 rue de Sévigné, 3rd; Hôtel de Sully, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4th, and Place des Vosges, home to the Maison de Victor Hugo.

Those interested in modern art and design should opt for the Centre Georges Pompidou, place Beaubourg, 4th; Jean Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés-St-Bernard, 5th; or the Grande Arche de la Défense with its high-speed glass lift offering a spectacular view of Paris.

The Grande Arche, which lies along the same geographical axis as Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées, was built a century and a half later. This incongruity (the modern city juxtaposed with the old) is all part of the charm of Paris.

Paris overflows with museums, ranging from the vast collections of the Louvre to the small and quirky - such as the Musée des Arts Forains, 53 avenue des-Terroires-de-France, 12th, a shrine to fairground art, with something for everyone scattered through the metropolitan area. The Musée du Quai Branly,37 quai Branly, 7th, is Paris’s newest museum, opened to much fanfare in 2006.

Repeat visitors to Paris usually end up uncovering something new, such as the rejuvenated Bercydistrict to the east with its green spaces, popular bars and development buzz or Belleville, with its grungy cosmopolitanism and ethnic restaurants.

Another popular attraction is Paris Plage in summer when the car takes a back seat and the city’s citizens relax by the Seine amidst a world of sand and deckchairs.

Tourist Information

Passes

Paris: Culture

Museum In Paris

French Dancers Performing Live

Parisians are almost as passionate about their culture as they are about their restaurants. The French government takes art and culture very seriously, pumping money into the arts, supporting French cinema against Hollywood imports, and embarking on extravagant grands travaux (large projects), such as the new Bibliothèque Nationale de France, quai François-Mauriac (tel: (01) 5379 5959; website: http://www.bnf.fr/). The Opéra Bastille (see Music below) opened in 1989, on the bicentennial of Bastille Day, although the merit of its architecture and the quality of its productions have since been questioned.

Major venues, in addition to those detailed below, include the Palais des Congrès, 2 place de la Porte-Maillot, 17th (tel: (01) 4068 0005; website: http://www.palaisdescongres-paris.com/), for opera, ballet and pop-star performances, and the enormous Palais des Sports, Porte de Versailles, 15th (tel: (01) 4828 4010; website: http://www.palaisdessports.com/).

Tickets for concerts of all kinds can be purchased at FNAC Forum des Halles, 1 rue Pierre Lescot, 1st (tel: (01) 4041 4000; website: http://www.fnac.com/), or FNAC Musique, 2 rue Charenton, 12th (tel: (01) 4342 0404). There is also the Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 1st (tel: (01) 4316 4747 or 7272 1700; website: http://www.carrouseldulouvre.fr/), located directly beneath the Louvre, or Virgin Megastore, 52 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th (tel: (01) 4953 5000; website: http://www.virginmega.fr/). However long the queue, ticket touts at the Opéra and concert venues are to be avoided due to high prices and the prevalence of worthless fake tickets.

Listings are to be found in Pariscope (website: http://www.pariscope.com/) and L’Officiel des Spectacles. Classical concerts are listed in the monthly Le Monde de la Musique.

Music: The Paris Opéra (tel: 0892 899 090; website: http://www.opera-de-paris.fr/) performs ballet and opera at the Opéra Garnier, place de l’Opéra, 9th, and Opéra Bastille, place de la Bastille, 12th. Large opera productions are also performed at the Châtelet Théâtre Musical de Paris, 1 place du Châtelet, 1st (tel: (01) 4028 2840; website: http://www.chatelet-theatre.com/). The varied programme at the Cité de la Musique, at La Villette (website: http://www.cite-musique.fr/), is strongest in contemporary music and home to the internationally renowned Ensemble Intercontemporain (website: http://www.ensembleinter.com/). It also features ancient music, jazz, chansons and world music. The Citéhas two important venues - the Conservatoire National de Musique, 209 avenue Jean Jaurès, 19th (tel: (01) 4040 4545; website: http://www.cnsmdp.fr/), and the Salle des Concerts, 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 19th (tel: (01) 4484 4484).

A series of orchestras, including the Orchestre Colonne (website: http://www.orchestrecolonne.fr/), Orchestre Lamoureux (website: http://www.orchestrelamoureux.com/) and Orchestre de Paris (website: http://www.orchestredeparis.com/) are based at Salle Pleyel, 252 rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré, 8th (tel: (01) 4561 5300). Other prestigious venues for classical music include the Salle Gaveau, 45 rue de la Boétie, 8th (tel: (01) 4953 0507), Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, 15 avenue Montaigne, 8th (tel: (01) 4952 5050; website: http://www.theatrechampselysees.fr/), and the Théâtre Musical de Paris, 1 place du Châtelet, 1st (tel: (01) 4028 2840; website: http://www.chatelet-theatre.com/).

Theatre: The Comédie Française, 1 place de Colette, 1st (tel: (01) 4458 1515; website: http://www.comedie-francaise.fr/), is the national theatre, renowned for its production of the classics. Théâtre National de la Colline, 15 rue Malte-Brun, 20th (tel: (01) 4462 5252; website: http://www.colline.fr/), plays contemporary French drama. New talent is sought out at fringe theatres, such as Guichet-Montparnasse, 15 rue du Maine, 14th (tel: (01) 4327 8861; website: http://www.guichetmontparnasse.com/) and the Bouffes du Nord, 37 bis boulevard de la Chapelle, 10th (tel: (01) 4607 3450; website: http://www.bouffesdunord.com/). The Odéon, 1 place de l’Odéon, 6th (tel: (01) 4485 4000; website: http://www.theatre-odeon.fr/), hosts foreign-language productions.

Dance: The main ballet venue is at the Opéra Garnier (see Music above). Major productions are also held at the prestigious Théâtre de la Ville, 2 place du Châtelet, 4th (tel: (01) 4274 2277; website: http://www.theatredelaville-paris.com/), where the works of high-profile choreographers, such as Karine Saporta, Maguy Marin and Pina Bausch, are frequently shown. The theatre has another venue, Les Abbesses, with the same contact details at 31 rue des Abbesses, 18th. The Théâtre Musical de Paris (see Music above) hosts ballet companies from abroad.

Film: The first public film screening ever (‘Le train entrant en gare’) was shown by the Lumière brothers in Paris in 1895. Today, Paris remains an important cinema capital - in any given week, over 300 films are shown. Hundreds of movies have been shot in Paris since then, but the most recent one to cause a stir was TheDa Vinci Code (2006), starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, in which the Louvre features prominently. The scenes of the interior of the Ritz, incidentally, were filmed in a mock up room in a UK studio, with all the furnishings brought in from Paris). There is no English-language cinema in the city; however, most films are shown in the original language, with French subtitles. UGC (website: http://www.ugc.fr/) have a major presence in Paris with the city’s largest (18-screen) cinema UGC Ciné Cité Bercy, 2 cours St-Emilion, 12th (tel: 0892 700 000). There is also a 16-screen UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles, place de la Rotonde, Nouveau Forum des Halles, 1st (tel: 0892 700 000). Although the multiscreen UGCs and Gaumonts are on the increase (many based on the Champs-Elysées and in Montparnasse), Paris is still teeming with small arthouse cinemas, clustered in the 5th and 6th arrondissements. Among these are Le Champo, 51 rue des Ecoles, 5th (tel: (01) 4354 5160; website: http://www.lechampo.com/), near the Sorbonne, and Racine Odéon, 6 rue de l’Ecole-de-Médecine, 6th (tel: 0892 689 325), known for its all-night showings. Some cinemas are worth seeing just for their decor - one such is kitsch Le Grand Rex, 1 boulevard Poissonnière, 2nd (tel: (01) 4508 9358; website: http://www.legrandrex.com/). Amélie or Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001), directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (of Delicatessen (1991) fame) and Moulin Rouge (2001), directed by Baz Luhrmann, were both set in Montmartre and took box offices worldwide by storm. Paris, je t’aime (2006) is a filmic tour of the city, consisting of 18 short films of the capital’s 20 arrondissements. A stellar cast including Gérard Depardieu, Nathalie Portman and Marianne Faithfull worked with celebrated directors such as Gus Van Sant and the Coen brothers.

Literary Notes: The written word and those uttered during long café discussions on the Left Bank have done much to create the mythical Paris that visitors still hunt out today.

Victor Hugo’s historical novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) is set in 15th-century Paris and his Les Misérables (1862) in the poverty-stricken Parisian underworld. Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast (1964) depicts the bohemian Paris of the inter-war years. Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer (1934) and Tropic of Capricorn (1939) portray a sexier city. A more reflective image is portrayed in Anais Nin’s interlocking works. For Nin, Paris allows the development of her sexuality and (perceived as equally sinful) creativity. George Orwell describes the poverty of the 1920s in Down and Out in Paris and London (1933).

Traces of literary heroes and heroines and their fictional creations are sought throughout the city - in the lingering smoke of the Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, boulevard St-Germain, 6th, where the existential discussions between Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir used to rage. James Joyce used to drink at chic Le Fouquet’s, 99 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th, while such luminaries as Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Oscar Wilde frequented Le Procope, 13 rue de l’Ancienne-Comédie, 6th. Ernest Hemingway dined at the La Cloiserie des Lilas, 171 boulevard du Montparnasse, 6th, still popular with the publishing world, and Samuel Beckett’s favourite haunt was Le Select, 99 boulevard du Montparnasse, 6th.

The place of literary pilgrimage par excellence is the Père Lachaise Cemetery, presumed resting place of medieval lovers Abélard and Héloïse. They lie in good company, along with the great 17th-century playwright Molière and fable-teller La Fontaine, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Champollion, Delacroix, Ingres, Géricault, Bizet, Balzac, Proust, Colette and Edith Piaf. Contemporary poet, singer and icon Jim Morrison was famously buried here in 1971. Heather Reyes’Zade (2004) is set in Père Lachaise and swirls around the ghosts of Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust and Oscar Wilde

Paris: Restaurants

One Of Many Restaurants In Paris

Hotel Raphael
(The Gastronomic Restaurant)

Restaurants

Most restaurants include tax and a 12-15% service charge in their prices. If service is good, guests will often leave an extra €2 tip or the small change from their bill, if they pay in cash. If service is not included, it is customary to leave a 12-15% tip.

The following hotels have been grouped into four price categories:
$$$$ (over €100)
$$$ (€60 to €100)
$$ (€30 to €60)
$ (under €30)
These prices are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they include tax and service charge.

Gastronomic

L’Ambroisie
The atmosphere in place des Vosges (one of the most beautiful and intimate squares in Paris) exudes into the ultra chic L’Ambroisie, which is situated in a genuine hôtel particulier (private hotel). Classic French cuisine is served to pure perfection in these refined interiors decorated with rich tapestries. The menu changes according to the best fresh produce available and prices are steep. Diners can expect such delights as sea bass with olive oil emulsion, chanterelle and boletus mushrooms, and millefeuille with crystallised rhubarb. Wines are likewise expensive but the range is exceptional. Closed Sunday and Monday.

9 place des Vosges, 4th
Tel: (01) 4278 5145.
Price: $$$$
L’Arpège
Alain Passard has drawn on his family history to produce a restaurant renowned for superb, seasonal cuisine. His grandmother’s portrait hangs on the otherwise minimalist walls and it is her cooking and joie de vivre that is the source of Alain Passard’s inspiration. The restaurant is named in honor of his musical parents and to set the tone for the harmony of flavors. Passard’s menu places emphasis on fresh vegetables, fish and white meat. Dishes include lobster carpaccio with olive oil and caviar, fragrant stuffed tomatoes or strawberries scented with hibiscus petals. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

84 rue de Varenne, 7th
Tel: (01) 4705 0906.
Website: http://www.alain-passard.com/
Price: $$$$
Pierre Gagnaire
This sumptuous restaurant has the reputation of being among the most exciting gastronomic addresses in Paris and it is certainly one of the most fashionable. Formerly based in St-Etienne, near the gastronomic capital Lyon, Gagnaire brought flavours of that region to Paris in his imaginative menus, which hold dear both tradition and innovation. A simple but refined décor, with spotless white tablecloths, makes the perfect setting for his challenging but impeccable cuisine. Specialities include suprême de poularde macérée au lait d’amande (chicken supreme cooked in almond milk) and pesto de roquette sauvage (wild rocket pesto). Look out for the ‘grand dessert’ - an indulgent dessert that includes pistachio ice cream and an explosion of chocolate. Closed Saturday.

Hotel Balzac, 6 rue Balzac, 8th
Tel: (01) 5836 1250.
Website: http://www.pierregagnaire.com/
Price: $$
Restaurant Plaza Athénée
Alain Ducasse was awarded three Michelin stars within eight months of first opening his Paris restaurant in 1996, at 59 avenue Raymond Poincare, 16th, where he took over from star chef Joel Robuchon after moving to the capital from Monte Carlo. In 2000, Ducasse moved the restaurant to a chic new venue in the 8th, opening the Restaurant Plaza Athénée - a sumptuously stylish venue with soaring ceilings, warm tones and splendid chandeliers. Dishes include creations such as langoustine avec une crème citronnée (langoustine in a lemon cream sauce). Advance booking is strongly recommended. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Hotel Plaza Athénée, 25 avenue Montaigne, 8th
Tel: (01) 5367 6500.
Website: http://www.alain-ducasse.com/
Price: $$$$
Senderens
Alain Senderens’ three-Michelin-starred restaurant is at the pinnacle of Parisian gastronomy, situated in a grand fin de siècle-setting in chic place de la Madeleine. The first of the Michelin-starred restaurants to serve wine by the glass, Senderens believes that each dish deserves a wine of its own to perfect the flavors, though the prices may put off those not dining on expense accounts. The wine list is outstanding, with vintage Bordeaux from the 1940s. Dishes include pan-fried chicken with cep risotto, roast duck with honey and spices, roast lamb with aubergines or pan-fried lobster served with polenta. No lunch Saturday and Monday. Closed all day Sunday.

9 place de la Madeleine, 8th
Tel: (01) 4265 2290.
Website: http://www.lucascarton.com/
Price: $$$$

Business

Bistrot de l’Etoile
Some Parisian brasseries have become a little old fashioned and bistros are now all the rage for filling up late at night. Meals, such as duck foie gras with rocket salad, are served until 2330/2400, well after traditional restaurants have closed. Other highlights on the menu include langoustine ravioli with red peppers and a divine crème brulée. The atmosphere here is best described as chic decontracté(smart but relaxed) with a light and airy feel to the main dining room.

75 avenue Niel, 17th
Tel: (01) 4227 8844.
Website: http://www.bistrotetoile.com/
Price: $$$
Bofinger
Frédéric Bofinger first set up a restaurant on this Bastille location in 1864. This convivial art nouveau brasserie exudes the unique atmosphere of Paris, as the business community forgets about the office for an hour or two, while tucking into classics such as steak tartare, salade mixte or shellfish. The highlight for real seafood lovers is Le Prestige - that features lobster, crab, langoustines, a dozen oysters, mussels and sea snails amongst other fresh delights. Another speciality is the sauerkraut dishes. There is a real buzz here that is so sadly lacking in many of the rival brasseries and booking ahead is advised. The two- and three-course menus are excellent value. There are 15% discounts for Internet bookings.

5-7 rue de la Bastille, 4th
Tel: (01) 4272 8782.
Website: http://www.bofingerparis.com/
Price: $$
Le Carré des Feuillants
One of the least understood chefs in Paris (perhaps because he avoids snobbery at any cost) Alain Dutournier brought his love of meat and fine fresh ingredients from the Basque country. The wooden interior of Le Carré des Feuillants is cosy but stylish with Murano glass chandeliers and contemporary artwork, though it is not by any means as lavish as many of the city’s finest restaurants. Specialties include roast guinea fowl in a wild mushroom sauce or roast lobster with garlic and pepper nougatine, but this is really the place to enjoy a steak to remember. Fixed priced menus can be of varying quality, so it is best to stick to à la carte.

14 rue de Castiglionne, 1st
Tel: (01) 4286 8282.
Website: http://www.carredesfeuillants.fr/
Price: $$$$
Chez Justine
If entertaining a ‘new media’ client, or just needing a venue out of the ordinary for a client low on formality, then Chez Justine fits the bill. In raffish Menilmontant this fun and funky café opposite the legendary Café Charbon serves up some of the best value lunches in Paris. Where else can diners enjoy a starter of bone marrow and toast, a rack of veal and dessert for under €20; they even throw in a cup of coffee afterwards. The only danger in this genuinely bohemian haunt is that savvy clients may want to stay all day and start on the similarly good value wines and cocktails.

96 Rue Oberkampf, 11th
Tel: (01) 4357 4403.
Price: $-$$

Trendy

Georges
Georges, decorated in a style that matches the modern Centre Georges Pompidou, is the latest creation from the trend-setting Costes brothers. The restaurant’s location on the sixth floor of the Pompidou Centre draws huge crowds, who come for the superb views across the city. A chic but trendy clientele dine here, while students often come to take a coffee break before diving back into their studies at the Pompidou library. The menu, which includes both French and international cuisine, changes frequently, although the duck, the lobster risotto and the chocolate tart are firm house favourites. Closed Tuesday.

Centre Georges Pompidou, 6th floor, rue Rabuteau, 4th
Tel: (01) 4478 4799.
Price: $$-$$$
Spoon, Food & Wine
Star chef Alain Ducasse forsakes classic French food for an Asian-inspired international cuisine where anything goes but it is all blended beautifully together. Expect copious portions and a trendy crowd. Guests can take a quick bite to eat from Japanese-style bento boxes at the bar, or indulge in a leisurely meal in the main area. Dishes in this minimalist-style restaurant include tofu and noodles or spiced chicken in coconut milk. The wine list is extensive, with a particularly wide choice of Californian wines. Closed weekends.

14 rue Marignan, 8th
Tel: (01) 4076 3444.
Website: http://www.spoon.tm.fr/
Price: $-$$

Paris: Nightlife

Moulin Rouge

Anyone wanting to really mix it with the style crowd and have an ‘authentic’ Parisian night out should break east to raffish Ménilmontant, which boasts a sophisticated and eclectic nightlife scene that was kicked off by the legendary Café Charbon on rue de Oberkampf, a street now overflowing with bars. The smart money is on Belleville being the next new ‘in’ place, though the scene in this rough-around-the-edges part of town is far less obvious and it is just that bit further from the center.

Back in the heart of the city, the Marais has managed an impressive renaissance of late and now offers plenty of bars, chic cafes and a perhaps surprisingly active gay and lesbian scene.

A Parisian Bar

The minimum legal age for drinking alcohol (beer and wine) is 16 years of age, rising to 18 years for stronger drinks and spirits. The average price of a drink while out and about in Paris is €5, although prices can vary dramatically depending on the location. Bars are usually licensed until 0100 but this does vary according to the individual venue and area. Bouncers frequently turn potential punters away and many of the smarter clubs are (or claim to be) private. There is no sure way of gaining admission, although being foreign, dressed identically to everyone inside, accompanied by a regular or simply beautiful helps. Admission prices (usually around €15-20) often include one free drink. Clubs open at around 2300 and tend not to close until dawn.

Pariscope (website: http://www.pariscope.com/) is one of the best sources of information for nightlife listings.

Bars: The lines between cafés and bars in Paris are very blurred, with cafés where you can settle in with a beer and a croissant for breakfast and bars when you can enjoy a late night sandwich along with your cocktail.

Night Club In Paris

The once trendy Buddha Bar, 8 bis rue Boissy d’Anglas, 8th, has lost much of its shine, with the bars in Ménilmontant now the place to see and be seen. Café Charbon, 109 rue Oberkampf, 11th, the bar that kicked the rejuvenation of the area is still going strong and has stayed at the head of the game by adding a club venue, while Le Mecano Bar, 99 rue Oberkampf, 11th, so called because of its toolbox decor, is one of most popular bars in the area with a grungy feel. The scene in Ménilmontant is constantly evolving so visitors are advised to just wander around rue de Oberkampf and explore some its side streets for the latest ‘in’ bar as the cool crowd increasingly move away from the bright lights and tourists on the main drag. For those wanting something more central, the people behind Café Charbon have recently opened a funky new bar/restaurant, De la Ville Café, 34 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, which is a current favouite of the Parisian smart set and savvy visitors.

The Marais (3rd and 4th) is packed with a happy mélange of gay and straight bars. Vibrant gay bars include the Coffe Shop, 3 rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, and Amnesia, 42 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 4th. Le Central, 33 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 4th, is one of the city’s oldest gay bars, with a more sedate clientele. There are also a number of quirky little straight bars in and around rue Vieille-du-Temple, including La Chaise au Plafond, 10 rue du Trésor, 4th, with its ceiling decorated with Frisian cows and a lovely terrace, Au Petit Fer à Cheval, 30 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 4th, named after its huge horseshoe-shaped bar, and L’Etoile Manquante, 30 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 4th.

Clubs: Techno, house, garage and Latino are the popular sounds of Paris and, to a lesser extent, hip hop and drum and bass. Top DJs play house tunes at Le Queen, 102 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th, a gay club that is still considered one of the best clubs in Paris despite the influx of tourists. Thursday and Saturday is gay only, with drag queens in profusion. Le Divan du Monde, located in the Pigalle district, at 75 rue des Martyrs, 18th (website: www.divandumonde.com), once hosted Toulouse-Lautrec but now draws a crowd that changes radically according to the evening’s programme - Brazilian, tango, indie, rock, house and hip hop nights alternate with top French and international DJs. Le Saint, 7 rue St-Séverin, 5th, which plays disco, house and salsa, is inexpensive and relaxed. Les Bains Douches, 7 rue du Bourg-l’Abbé, 3rd (website: www.lesbainsdouches.net), a former Turkish bathhouse transformed into the most pretentious of clubs, is enjoying renewed popularity under new ownership. Batofar, 11 quai Francois-Mauriac, 13th, is a fun little club housed in a boat on the Seine that boasts a wide range of musical styles.

Live Music: Le Divan du Monde (see Clubs above) hosts intimate pop concerts, providing a chance to see the stars close up. Live jazz is played by local and international high-calibre musicians at Le Bilboquet, 13 rue St-Benoît, 6th, nightly (from around 2200 onwards). There is no admission charge but drinks are priced at about €20. A young, unsophisticated crowd is drawn to La Flèche d’Or, 102 bis rue de Bagnolet, 20th (website: www.flechedor.fr), a converted station turned live-music venue, on the edge of trendy Ménilmontant. Concerts run from Thursday to Sunday evenings and the music ranges from rock to blues or reggae and satirical French chansons. Chesterfield Café, 124 rue La Boétie, 8th, situated just off avenue des Champs-Elysées, is popular with expats and hosts US rock and blues bands. To guarantee a seat, it is wise to book a table. Major rock concerts take place at the Palais des Congrès, 2 place de la Porte-Maillot, 17th (website: www.palaisdescongres-paris.com). The Opus Jazz and Blues Restaurant, 167 quai Valmy, 10th, in the upcoming Canal de Saint Martin area, offers good food and an eclectic selection of music, from aspiring Parisian youths through to more established acts.

New York

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:35:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location

New York State (NY).

Dialing code

Time zone

GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

Electricity

110-120 volts, 60Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

0°C (32°F).

Average July temperatures

25°C (77°F).

Annual rainfall

1,200mm (47.3 inches).

New York: Overview

Empire State Building Glows At Nights

The great metropolis of the USA, New York casts a long shadow over the cities of the world. Besides being a global financial capital, the urban island of Manhattan is an unrivalled dynamo for the arts, making it one of the world's great cultural centers.
The restless city moves at a frenetic pace, ever on the edge of invention. Its creativity has secured the reputation of its venerated restaurants, chic nightspots and cutting-edge theatre. Architectural masterpieces abound, with Manhattan a veritable drawing board for the great architects of the 20th century.
New York has always been a city of the world with multinational, multicultural inhabitants. Residents from some 170-odd foreign countries, speaking over 130 languages, call Gotham home. Like millions of immigrants who came before them, they help make the city what it is today, working among the 20,000 restaurants, 10,000 stores and 150 museums scattered about the metropolis.
The epicenter of New York life always has been the island of Manhattan, which is surrounded by four other distinct city boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) all of which have their own character and attractions.

The first European settlement on Manhattan was by the Dutch, during the 1620s. They named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British took over and renamed it New York. The settlement rapidly flourished, expanding from south to north along the island. Over the next few centuries, Manhattan rapidly developed into the USA's economic and cultural capital, housing an entire world within its 58 sq km (23 sq miles).
Today, New York still grapples with the events of 11 September 2001, when the USA suffered its worst ever terrorist attack. Although New Yorkers will never forget that day, the city has regained its vitality, and marches forward to confront a new set of issues (among them, making the city 'greener' in the face of global warming). After years of wrangling, construction finally began in 2006 on the 541m (1,775ft) Freedom Tower (a name that strikes many New Yorkers as rather Orwellian), which will rise above the former site of the World Trade Center.
New York is an excellent place to visit at any time of year, although it is particularly pleasant during the spring and autumn, when temperatures hover around 21ºC (70ºF). New York winters tend to be unpredictable, although cold temperatures bring less snow here than to other nearby cities, while summers are hot and muggy, often lasting until September.

New York: Tourist Information

Trump International Hotel & Tower

Most tourists focus on Manhattan, where the iconic attractions are located. The remaining four boroughs are primarily residential (the Bronx to the north, Queens to the east, Brooklyn to the southeast and Staten Island to the southwest), although it's worthwhile exploring them all - particularly Brooklyn.
Mostly flat and easily navigated, Manhattan itself is great for walking, with the excellent subway system handy for longer hops between attractions. The city is packed with things to do and places to see - each street and neighborhood offers its own varied sights and flavors. Top attractions, like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, are world renowned, but there are enough less heralded places to fill weeks of sightseeing.
Manhattan has many distinct neighborhoods that are worth exploring, from the ritzy shopping and residential districts uptown, to the financial district of downtown, taking in the villages in between.
Soho (which got its name because it is south of Houston Street, pronounced HOW-stun) is famous for its shopping. Greenwich Village traditionally contains a literary and gay community and has the quaint bookstores and cafes to go with it. The young-and-hip East Village retains its edginess, which is reflected in its quirky shops, record stores, nightclubs and drinking spots.
Historical Lower East Side, once an immigrant neighborhood, is now filled with boutiques and vintage shops, nightclubs and restaurants. Chelsea, the centre of the city's gallery scene, is another gay-friendly neighborhood.
Away from the city, Long Island and a number of city beaches provide an escape on hot and humid summer days.

Tourist Information
NYC & Company - Convention and Visitors Bureau
810 Seventh Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets
Tel: (212) 484 1222.
Website: www.nycvisit.com or www.nyc.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1800, Sat-Sun 0830-1700.
Visitor Information Kiosks
NYC Heritage Tourism Center
Southern tip of City Hall Park on the Broadway sidewalk at Park Row
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat-Sun and holidays 1000-1700.
Chinatown
At the junction where Canal, Walker, and Baxter Streets meet
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800.

Passes
The City Pass (tel: (208) 787 4300 or 1 888 330 5008; website: www.citypass.com) offers a combined ticket to selected New York attractions, including the American Museum of Natural History, the Empire State Building Observatory, Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and either Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises or the Statue of Liberty plus Ellis Island. The pass is valid for nine days and is available for purchase at any of the attractions or online.

New York: Culture

New York City continues to be one of the most diverse and heavily textured urban cultural centers in the world. As author Tom Wolfe wrote: ‘Culture just seems to be in the air, like part of the weather.
The principal entertainment district is the Theater District in the Broadway/42nd Street/Times Square area, with Off- and Off-Off-Broadway theatres sprinkled throughout Manhattan. More high-brow culture is headquartered in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, Columbus Avenue at 64th Street.
You can buy tickets through Telecharge (tel: (212) 239 6200 or 1 800 545 2559; website: www.telecharge.com) and Ticketmaster (tel: (212) 307 7171; website: www.ticketmaster.com). Reduced-priced tickets for same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway are available for purchase at the TKTS booth, near 46th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue (open Monday to Saturday 1500-2000, also Wednesday and Saturday 1000-1400, Sunday 1100 until 1930). Cash or traveler’s checks only.
Information on cultural events in the city is available online (website: www.nycvisit.com). Time Out New York (website: www.timeoutny.com) also is a good source of information published weekly and sold at newsagents and kiosks.

Music: The Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, Columbus Avenue at 64th Street (tel: (212) 875 5456; website: www.lincolncenter.org), is the permanent home of the New York Philharmonic (tel: (212) 875 5656; website: www.newyorkphilharmonic.org) and a temporary one to visiting orchestras and soloists.
The greatest names from all schools of music, from Toscanini to Gershwin, have performed at Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street, at Seventh Avenue (tel: (212) 247 7800; website: www.carnegiehall.org), which boasts an astonishing and eclectic repertoire.
Known as the Met, the Metropolitan Opera House, in the Lincoln Center (tel: (212) 362 6000; website: www.lincolncenter.org), is New York's premiere opera venue and home to the Metropolitan Opera (website: www.metopera.org), from September to late April. The New York State Theater, also in Lincoln Center (tel: (212) 870 5570; website: www.lincolncenter.org), is where the New York City Opera (tel: (212) 870 5570; website: www.nycopera.com) perform. Its wide and adventurous program varies wildly in quality but seats go for less than half the Met's prices.
Theatre: Theatre venues in the city are referred to as Broadway, Off-Broadway or Off-Off-Broadway - groupings that represent a descending order of ticket price, production polish, elegance and comfort and an ascending order of innovation, experimentation, and theatre for the sake of art rather than cash.
Manhattan Theatre Club performs at the Biltmore Theatre, 261 West 47th Street, and Stages I and II at City Center, 131 West 55th Street (tel: (212) 581 1212; website: www.mtc-nyc.org), produces some of the finest new plays in American theatre. For a more ethnic flavor, Harlem's Apollo Theatre, 253 West 125th Street (tel: (212) 531 5300; website: www.apollotheatre.com), has celebrated the legacy and culture of African-American music and entertainment since 1934.
Dance: New York has five major ballet companies as well as dozens of contemporary troupes. The Metropolitan Opera House, in the Lincoln Center (tel: (212) 362 6000; website: www.lincolncenter.org), is the home of the renowned American Ballet Theater (tel: (212) 362 6000; website: www.abt.org), which performs the classics from early May into July. New York State Theater, also in the Lincoln Center (tel: (212) 870 5570; website: www.lincolncenter.org), is home to the revered New York City Ballet (website: www.nycballet.com), which performs more contemporary ballet for a nine-week season each spring.
Universally known as BAM, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Street, between Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street, Brooklyn (tel: (718) 636 4100; website: www.bam.org), is America's oldest performing arts academy and one of the busiest and most daring producers in New York. During autumn, BAM's Next Wave Festival showcases the hottest international attractions in avant-garde dance and music.
The most eminent and celebrated troupes in modern dance perform at New York City Center, 131 West 55th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues (tel: (212) 247 0430; website: www.citycenter.org). Big-name companies include Merce Cunningham Dance Company (tel: (212) 255 8240; website: www.merce.org), Paul Taylor Dance Company (tel: (212) 431 5562; website: www.ptdc.org), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (tel: (212) 405 9000; website: www.alvinailey.org), Joffrey Ballet (tel: (212) 254 8520; website: www.joffreyballetschool.com) and Dance Theater of Harlem (tel: (212) 690 2800; website: www.dancetheatreofharlem.com).
Film: New York has hundreds of modern cinema complexes and art house cinemas. Cinemas worth visiting include Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street (tel: (212) 727 8110; website: www.filmforum.org), the IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue at Third Street (tel: (212) 924 7771; website: www.ifccenter.com), and the Angelika Film Centre, 18 West Houston Street (tel: (212) 995 2000; website: www.angelikafilmcenter.com), all of which screen independent and art house cinema. General information, show times and advanced tickets are available from Moviefone (tel: (212) 777 3456/FILM; website: www.moviefone.com).
New York has been portrayed through celluloid in a number of ways, beginning most famously with King Kong, swinging from the Empire State Building, in the 1933 classic starring Fay Wray. Other intriguing films include Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976), where Robert De Niro plays the part of a mentally isolated New York cabbie amid the decadent metropolis. More recently, films shot in NYC have included Gangs of New York (2002), Spiderman 1, 2 and 3 (2002, 2004 and 2007 respectively), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), I Am Legend (2007) and Sex in the City (2008).
Literary Notes: New York has spawned some of America's most celebrated writers. Washington Square, at Fifth Avenue and Waverley Place, was home to the 19th-century aristocracy and provided the inspiration for the classic study of the American upper classes, Washington Square (1881), by New Yorker Henry James. Bohemian Greenwich Village has long been the favored haunt of America's literati and is featured in the works of writers like Dawn Powell and later Jack Kerouac. The Chelsea Hotel, on West 23rd Street, is something of a writers' emporium. Here Arthur Miller penned After the Fall (1964) and William Burroughs worked on Naked Lunch (1959). One of New York's top contemporary novelists is Paul Auster, who won acclaim for The New York Trilogy (1987), a book comprising three novellas all set in New York. Recent novels set in the city include Richard Price's Lush Life (2008) and The Invention of Everything Else (2008) by Samantha Hunt.

New York: Getting Around

Public Transport

Public transport in New York is run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA),New York CityTransit (tel: (718) 330 1234; website www.mta.nyc.ny.us). Services are cheaper and more efficient than the number of private companies also operating in the city.

New York’s subway is fast, air-conditioned and inexpensive. The vast network of 24 routes, identified by letters or by numbers, serves almost 500 stations throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Staten Island is served by the small-scale MTA Staten Island Railway (tel: (718) 966 SIRT or 966 7478; website: www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/sir/index.html), operating 24 hours a day. Entrance is gained from a subway MetroCard, available at subway stations and newsagents. Services operate 24 hours; on average, subway trains run every 2 to 5 minutes during rush hour (every 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak times and every 20 minutes daily 0000-0500).

Bus services are extensive and bus stops are located on street corners approximately every two or three blocks. Fares are paid with a MetroCard or exact change. If you buy the ticket aboard the bus, you will get a transfer that cannot be used on the subway without paying an additional charge. Buses operate 24 hours daily.

There are three kinds of MetroCard passes. Unlimited Ride MetroCards are valid for seven or 30 days respectively and expire at midnight on the final day of validity. The one-day unlimited-ride Fun Pass is valid until 0300 the following day. Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards offer 20% discount and are available in US$10 or US$20 increments – free transfers to connecting bus or subway routes is included if used within two hours. All passes are available for purchase at subway stations and newsagents.

Taxis

A trip to New York is not complete without a ride in one of the city’s famous yellow cabs. Taxis are governed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (tel: (212) NYC TAXI (692 8294); website: www.nyc.gov/taxi) and are hailed on the curb, preferably at intersections. Drivers are required to take passengers to any destination within the five boroughs of New York City or Nassau County, Westchester County and Newark Airport. Passengers should provide drivers with the street address and with the nearest cross streets of their destination (for example: ‘Fifth Avenue, between 22nd Street and 23rd Street’). A 10-15% tip is expected, and there is a surcharge for trips between 1600 and 2000.

Private car services, unlike taxis, can be called directly and offer point-to-point pre-arranged transport for a fixed rate throughout the five boroughs and beyond. The cost is comparable to that of a metered taxi trip and should be confirmed before pickup. Car services are particularly handy in the outer boroughs, where taxi service is unavailable for trips into Manhattan, or when pre-arranged transport is needed. There are numerous car service companies and hotel concierges can recommend a reliable one.

Car Hire

A valid national driving licence is required for driving in New York, although an International Driving Permit is required by some car hire firms. Minimum third-party insurance is required and drivers must be at least 25 years old. Branches are located throughout the five boroughs.

Major providers include Alamo (tel: 1 800 327 9633; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 4000; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: 1 800 RENT-A-CAR (736 82227); website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: 1 800 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com).

Bicycle Hire

Many New Yorkers brave the traffic on bicycles, and there are 40km (25 miles) of bike paths around the city, where no motorized vehicles are allowed. Cycling around one of New York’s parks is also a safe and pleasant option. Central Park Bicycle Tours/Rentals (tel: (212) 541 8759; website: www.centralparkbiketour.com) offers individual bicycle hire for the day, as well as a leisurely two-hour guided bike tour of Central Park (summer only), including bicycle hire. Pedal Pusher Bike Shop, 1306 Second Avenue (tel: (212) 288 5592) rents bikes too.

Barcelona

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:34:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location:

Catalunya (Catalonia), Northeast Spain.

Dialing code:

34.

Population:

1,582,738 (city); 4,618,257 (metropolitan area).

Time zone:

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity:

220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures:

10°C (50°F).

Average July temperatures:

25°C (78°F).

Annual rainfall:

590mm (23.2 inches).

Barcelona: Overview

Just a few decades ago, few tourists would have considered visiting the northern Spanish city of Barcelona. However, the city underwent an immense change that culminated in the hosting of the Olympic Games in 1992, an event which completely transformed Barcelona. As well as a string of purpose-built sporting developments springing up all over the city (with the epicenter on the slopes of Montjuïc) Barcelona also benefited from major investments.

The city has since become something of a mecca for the world's top architects, who have flocked here to conjure up an array of modern structures and avant-garde designs. Many have drawn their inspiration from the seminal work of Barcelona's most famous son, the modernist architect Antoni Gaudi, whose unique style can still be savored in a number of key buildings around the city. His masterpiece is the unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral, but his work can be seen even in the lampposts and fountains of Plaça Reial.

Fortunately, the rush of construction has not completely dwarfed the older buildings, as the old and new architectural styles harmoniously combine. Barcelona is the kind of city where a contemporary glass and steel office block can rest happily within sight of a gothic cathedral, a city where the old port has been rejuvenated without losing any of its charm.

As the capital of Catalunya, the city is also solidifying its position as a major regional economic power, tucked strategically close to the French border and with a wide Mediterranean coastline.
The locals are very aware of the city's potential. A strong desire still remains among some to create an independent Catalan state with Barcelona at its helm, instead of the current Spanish set up, where Barcelona plays second fiddle in political terms to Madrid. Some observers believe that the desire for outright independence has waned since the death of General Franco and the granting of a greater deal of autonomy to the region.

With a balmy year-round climate (not too steamily hot in summer and with few genuinely cold days in winter) it is not surprising that Barcelona is attracting an increasing number of visitors. Indeed, with the increased availability of low cost air transportation, Barcelona has become one of Europe's most popular short break destinations.

Barcelona: Tourist Information

Hotel Palace

One Of Many Magic Water Fountains In Barcelona

Official guides can be hired from the Barcelona Guide Bureau, Via Laietana 54 (tel: (93) 268 2422 or 310 7778; fax: (93) 268 2211; e-mail: bgb@bgb.es; website: www.bgb.es).

Walking Tours
La Ruta Modernista is a book containing a map and details of Modernista sights around the city, linking 50 key Art Nouveau buildings, including La Sagrada Família and sites not usually open to the general public. The self-guided tour departs from outside Palau Güell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, and costs just €3. The time required to complete the walk depends on whether or not walkers chose to complete the whole walk or simply a section of it – the entire walk would take a day. The book also includes half-price entry to various sights en route, including the Palau de la Música, La Pedrera and the Sagrada Família. The Ruta Modernista pass is available from the Centre del Modernisme, inside Casa Amatller, Passeig de Gràcia 41, Monday to Saturday 1000-1900 and Sundays 1000-1400.

Bus Tours
Two companies run identical tours of the city. Julià Tours (tel: (93) 317 6454) departs from Ronda Universitat 5, while Pullmantur (tel: (93) 318 0241), sets off from Gran Viá de les Corts Catalanes 645. A morning tour concentrates on the Gothic Quarter and Montjuïc, while an afternoon tour includes visits to key examples of Barcelona’s architectural heritage and the Picasso Museum.

The Barcelona Bus Turístic, operated by TMB (tel: (93) 285 3832; website: www.tmb.net), allows visitors to hop on and off designated tourist buses, at the sites of their choice. The buses ply two routes at 30-minute intervals or every 10 minutes in peak season. The first buses for each route leave Plaça de Catalunya, daily at 0900.

Boat Tours
There are boat trips around the harbor, offered by Golondrinas (tel: (93) 442 3106; website: www.lasgolondrinas.com). These depart regularly from the Port Olímpic, Monday to Friday 1100-1400 and Saturday to Sunday 1145-1700 (November to March); Monday to Friday 1100-1800 and Saturday to Sunday 1145-1900 (April to June); daily 1145-1930 (July to September); and daily 1100-1800 (October).

London

noreply@blogger.com (Mafioso) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:34:00 +0000

City Statistics

Location:

Southeastern England, United Kingdom.

Dialing code

44.

Time zone

GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz; square three-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

5°C (41°F).

Average July temperatures

18°C (64°F).

Annual rainfall

585mm (23 inches).

London: Overview

Buckingham Palace

Eye Of London

The Rubens At The Palace

Tower Bridge

Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the world’s great cities. Located in the southeast of England, on the River Thames, it is the capital of the United Kingdom (UK) and has been the heart of its political, cultural and business life for centuries.

It was the Romans who established ‘Londinium’ as an important fortress town, guarding the Thames and protecting against any Celtic tribes trying to invade the then untamed island.

Over the centuries, London has developed and expanded, despite the many dangers that might have defeated a lesser place – the Great Plague, the Great Fire, the bitter English Civil War, a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and the ‘Blitz’ during WWII.

Nowadays, the sheer scale of Greater London can be daunting at first, although it is a city that is surprisingly easy to get around, with the comprehensive and easily navigated London Underground or ‘Tube’.

The twin axes on which London rests are the Houses of Parliament to the west and the City of London to the east. The seat of government (not far from the home of the royal family) is connected to the City (the financial engine room of London and the whole of the UK) by the River Thames.

In between lie most of the tourist attractions and the busiest, liveliest entertainment areas, such as Knights bridge and Soho. But London’s vivacity and charm stretch far beyond the Circle Line – the Underground route that rings the inner city. Residential areas outside the city center, such as leafy Richmond (southwest) or Hampstead (north), trendy Hoxton (east) or Notting Hill (west), each have their own beating heart.

And as the population of the greater London area pushes inexorably towards the 10 million mark, the city continues to grow and thrive. Home to 37 distinct immigrant groups, each consisting of more than 10,000 people, this is a city where some 300 languages are spoken.

This very real multiculturalism is evident on every street (and many restaurant plates) and is a key reason why people love the city. Tourists come for London’s history or London’s royal pageantry but they return for all the charms of the modern London, not least the extraordinary breadth of London’s cultural life, with world-class art galleries and theaters, vibrant nightlife, film, music, culinary and fashion scenes.

But the city skyline is the place where the London’s rapid change and optimism is most visible – the Docklands and the City (with its now famous ‘Gherkin’ tower) have shot up over the last few years.

After an enthusiastic campaign endorsed by a wealth of sporting celebrities and fervently supported by the majority of residents, London won the bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012, which will have a significant impact on the future of the city in terms of both tourism and investment.

During summer, London’s bountiful green spaces fill up with office workers and tourists enjoying the surprisingly balmy days as café tables sprout across a multitude of pavements. During winter, the grey skies and rain can be forgotten for a while in numerous cozy pubs. But spring or autumn are probably the best seasons to visit the city, when clear, crisp, sunny days often illuminate London and its landmarks, old and new.

London: Tourist information

WalkingTours
A variety of guided walks is available from several operators, although the most comprehensive tours are offered by TheOriginalLondonWalks (tel: (020) 7624 3978 or 7624 9255 (recorded information); website: www.walks.com) (duration: 2 hours). The company also offers themed tours on a huge variety of subjects, including ‘Jack the Ripper’ and ‘The Beatles’. Tours start and finish near a Tube station; there is no need to book and walkers can just turn up at the appropriate station, all of which are listed on the website’s ‘timetable’. LondonMysteryWalks (tel: (020) 8526 7755; website: www.tourguides.org.uk) also offer ‘Jack the Ripper’ tours, as well as ‘Haunted London’. Both take approximately two hours and depart from Aldgate station and St Paul’s station respectively. Booking is required for the ‘Haunted London’ tour.

Alternatively, for self-guided walks, the SilverJubileeWalkway (website: www.jubileewalkway.com) has been extended from the original 3km (2miles) along the South Bank of the River Thames (between Lambeth and Tower bridges) to include much of the City and the West End. It now covers 23 km (14 miles). Also, starting at the Tower of London, 21 explanatory plaques trace a route along the Roman LondonWall.

BusTours
Various companies offer bus tours of London’s sights. Tickets are usually valid for 24 hours and passengers can hop on and off at various attractions en route. The BigBusCompany (tel: (020) 7233 9533; website: www.bigbus.co.uk) offers three different 90-minute sightseeing routes, with departure points close to many of London’s attractions. OriginalLondonSightseeingTours (tel: (020) 8877 1722; website: www.theoriginaltour.com) also offers various sightseeing bus tours, including a Da Vinci Code route.

BoatTours
Westminster Pier is the main embarkation point for river trips. From here, there are services east (downstream) or west (upstream). CityCruises (tel: (020) 7740 0400; website: www.citycruises.com) operates sightseeing cruises east to Tower Pier (journey time – 30 minutes each way), and Greenwich Pier (journey time – 1 hour each way). CityCruises also offers a ‘Red Rover’ day pass for its tours, enabling visitors to hop on and off at four different stops. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket office before boarding.

Going west, summer services by WPSA (tel: (020) 7930 2062; website: www.wpsa.co.uk) depart from Westminster Pier upriver to Kew Gardens, Richmond and Hampton Court. Tickets must be purchased before boarding and the journey time is 90-minute to Kew, and 3 hours to Hampton Court.

CatamaranCruisers (tel: (020) 7987 1185; website: www.catamarancruisers.co.uk) provides 50-minute non-stop multilingual cruises from Waterloo, Westminster and Embankment Piers. CatamaranCruisers also operates a hop-on, hop-off service, covering Embankment Pier, Waterloo Pier, Bankside, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier. The ‘Hopper Pass’ allows for a day’s worth of free travel, otherwise individual tickets are available. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket office before boarding.

OtherTours
LondonDuckTours (tel: (020) 7928 3132; website: www.londonducktours.co.uk) runs unconventional tours on an amphibious craft, which depart from Chichley Street (the street behind the London Eye) and rumble through London’s streets, taking in Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, before plunging into the River Thames for a 30-minute cruise.

For those who like to experience life in the fast lane, London RIB Voyages (tel: (020) 7401 8834; website: www.londonribvoyages.com) offers small group tours on the Thames onboard purpose-built rigid inflatable boats (very similar to those used by the police and emergency services). The tour lasts for an hour, takes in all the main sights and includes a running commentary (in English only) by a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.
London taxi drivers’ unsurpassed understanding of the city has been tapped by BlackTaxiTours (tel: (020) 7935 9363; website: www.blacktaxitours.co.uk), London sightseeing tours in a black cab.

London: Culture

Wembley Stadium

Bus Tours

London Bridge Along With Boat Tours

Tube Train Station In London

London's cultural scene combines the assurance of long-standing tradition with the verve of regained creativity. The sheer breadth of cultural activities on offer in the capital is breathtaking, with over 150 theatres and 300 art galleries.
The hulking concrete mass of the South Bank Centre, South Bank, SE1 (tel: 0871 663 2500; website: www.sbc.org.uk), is one of the city's cultural meccas. It houses the Hayward Gallery (website: www.hayward.org.uk) and three concert halls. Next door is the flagship Royal National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 (tel: (020) 7452 3400 (information) or 3000 (box office); website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk). Flying the cultural flag north of the river, the labyrinthine Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2 (tel: (020) 7638 4141; website: www.barbican.org.uk), is an all-inclusive performing and visual arts venue with a varied all-year program of events.
The weekly Time Out magazine (website: www.timeout.com) provides details of the week's entertainment. So does the website of Visit London, www.visitlondon.com. Ticket agencies include Ticket Switch (website: www.ticketswitch.com) and Ticketmaster UK (tel: 0844 847 2455; website: www.ticketmaster.co.uk).
Music: The world-famous Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (tel: (020) 7304 4000; website: www.royalopera.org), is home to the excellent Royal Opera. However, despite some attempts to cut the price, ballet and opera tickets are still often fairly expensive. More accessible are performances by the English National Opera (tel: (020) 7632 8300; website: www.eno.org) at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2.
Large-scale concerts are staged at the Royal Festival Hall (see above), home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (tel: (020) 7840 4200 or 4242 (box office); website: www.lpo.co.uk), or the Barbican (see above), home of the London Symphony Orchestra (tel: (020) 7588 1116 or 7638 8891 (box office); website: www.lso.co.uk). The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 (tel: (020) 7589 8212 (box office); website: www.royalalberthall.com), can also stage huge concerts, including London's annual musical highlight, the summer series of the Proms.
Music connoisseurs should head for the traditional but friendly surroundings of the Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, W1 (tel: (020) 7935 2141; website: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk), to hear impeccable chamber music and solo recitals. More informal concerts take place in halls and churches all over the capital, including St Martin-in-the-Fields (off Trafalgar Square), St John's, Smith Square, SW1, and St James's, Piccadilly, W1.
Theatre: Within the extraordinary diversity of London's theatre scene (there are over 100 theatres in the capital, including 50 in the West End), the Royal National Theatre (see above) and the Royal Shakespeare Company (tel: (01789) 403 404; website: www.rsc.org.uk) compete for audiences with commercial West End theatres, repertory companies, 'off-West End' productions and fringe theatres. The National Theatre's three auditoria allow productions of different scale, from classics to new writing. The Royal Shakespeare Company, performing primarily Shakespeare and based out of Stratford-upon-Avon, performs in a range of venues including the Barbican.
The Old Vic, The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 (tel: 0870 060 6628; website: www.oldvictheatre.com), offers inspired traditional drama. Meanwhile, down the road, at 66 The Cut, the Young Vic (tel: (020) 7922 2922; website: www.youngvic.org) presents modern productions of contemporary and classic plays. The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1 (tel: (020) 7565 5000; website: www.royalcourttheatre.com), continues to foster excellent new writing.
Quality innovative productions can also be expected from 'off-West End' theatres, such as the Donmar Warehouse, Earlham Street, WC2 (tel: 0870 060 6624; website: www.donmarwarehouse.com) and the Almeida, Almeida Street, N1 (tel: (020) 7359 4404; website: www.almeida.co.uk). Fringe theatre, ranging from the inspired to the insane, is performed in dozens of local venues, including the King's Head, 115 Upper Street, N1 (tel: 0844 412 2953; website: www.kingsheadtheatre.org), which is the oldest pub-theatre in London, and the Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 (tel: 0844 847 1652; website: www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk).
From May to September, the Globe Theatre, New Globe Walk, SE1 (tel: (020) 7902 1400; website: www.shakespeares-globe.org), stages open-air productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. There are also outdoor summer performances at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, NW1 (tel: 0844 826 4242; website: www.openairtheatre.org).
You can buy West End theatre tickets in advance from the theatre box office. Alternatively, for tickets on the day of the performance, there is a booth on the south side of Leicester Square, called tkts (website: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk). It is open Monday to Saturday 1000-1900 and Sunday 1200-1500. This is the official Society of London Theatre's booth; visitors should avoid touts and other outlets in the area. The booth sells mainly half-price tickets, although some tickets at 25% discount and some full-price tickets. Because of the booking fee, when only full-price tickets are available for that night's performance, visitors are advised to go to the actual theatre box office. There is another tkts outlet in Canary Wharf DLR Station.
Dance: Touring dance companies perform mostly contemporary dance at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1 (tel: (020) 7863 8198 or 0844 412 4300 for tickets; website: www.sadlers-wells.com). Ticket prices are usually more reasonable than at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (tel: (020) 7304 4000), which is home to the Royal Ballet (website: http://info.royaloperahouse.org/ballet). The Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road, Camden (tel: 0844 482 8008; website: www.roundhouse.org.uk), has reopened after a £30 million refurbishment and will be showcasing new talent in various cutting edge productions, many of which will be dance.
Film: Local cinemas are less expensive than those in the West End, where tickets can cost over £10. Two main cinema chains are Odeon (tel: 0871 224 4007; website: www.odeon.co.uk) and Vue (formerly Warner) (tel: 0871 224 0240; website: www.myvue.com), with venues all over London, their biggest in Leicester Square, WC2. Barbican Screen, Silk Street, EC2 (tel: (020) 7638 8891; website: www.barbican.org.uk/film), is London's leading independent cinema showing independent, art house and blockbuster movies, along with the National Film Theatre, on the South Bank, SE1 (tel: (020) 7633 0274; website: www.bfi.org.uk). For more art house films try the Curzon, which has several branches including at Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (tel: 0871 7033 988; website: www.curzoncinemas.com) or the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts), Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y (tel: (020) 7930 3667; www.ica.org.uk). You can experience IMAX magic at the largest cinema screen in the UK, the BFI London IMAX Cinema, South Bank, SE1 (tel: 0870 787 2525; website: www.bfi.org.uk/imax). For cheaper seats, try the Prince Charles off Leicester Square on Leicester Place (tel: (020) 7494 3654; website: www.princecharlescinema.com); it shows mainstream movies later than the bigger cinemas, but you can catch a film for under £5.
The Ealing Studios in west London presented English eccentricity and black humor in a distinctive London setting in the 'Ealing Comedies', such as Passport to Pimlico (1949) and The Ladykillers (1955). Before the war, Alfred Hitchcock established his reputation at Elstree Film Studios, with London-based thrillers such as The 39 Steps (1935), featuring Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) hanging precariously from the clock face of Big Ben. More recently, Sliding Doors (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Notting Hill (1998) have achieved huge success by combining a London setting with the box-office draw of Hollywood stars. The compelling gangster face of East End London has also been portrayed in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000). London has also been portrayed in Blow Up (1966), Mona Lisa (1986) and Wonderland (1999). Recent movies shot in the capital include Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), Dirty Pretty Things (2002), About a Boy (2002), 28 Days Later (2002) and its sequel 28 Weeks Later (2007), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Love Actually (2003), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Closer (2004), Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005), Match Point (2005), Breaking and Entering (2006) and Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).
Literary Notes: London has sheltered and inspired writers for centuries. Bunhill Fields' graveyard has monuments to John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. Bloomsbury gave its name to a literary set that included Virginia Woolf, while the leafy suburb of Hampstead was once home to John Keats, H G Wells and D H Lawrence. Some of the country's most famous writers are commemorated in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.
The seething mass of 19th-century London life (and its legendary fog) is vividly recreated in the novels of Charles Dickens. Sinister goings-on in the capital surface in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stephenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) and The Secret Agent (1923) by Joseph Conrad. Graham Greene captured the unique atmosphere of wartime London in The Ministry of Fear (1943).
More recently, Martin Amis' London Fields (1989), a depressing portrait of a London in pre-millennial decline, Chris Petit's Robinson (1993), which delves deep into Soho life, Tobias Hill's Underground (1999), a poetic murder mystery woven around the Tube, Jake Arnott's The Long Firm (1999), set in the London underworld of the 1960s, and Zadie Smith's White Teeth (2000) a tale of life in multicultural London, have added their names to the rich London literary canon.
A lively and impressively detailed history of London that captures the essence of the city's spirit is Peter Akroyd's London: A Biography (2000). If you are into travel writing with a twist, try Tim Moore's Do Not Pass Go (2002), a travelogue of one man's journey around the Monopoly board and an epic history of London's progress since the launch of this very popular game. Also worth mentioning is Brick Lane, by Monica Ali (2003), a moving account of a young woman's journey from her native Bangladesh to the East End of London and Saturday by Ian McEwan (2006).