TOURISM IN FRANCE

Paris is and will always be the dream destination for many tourists of whatever age group or travel plans. The city has become synonymous over the years with finesse, expensive taste and the good life, and for a good reason: It doesn’t take much to feel classy in the capital city of France. A whiff of Parisian air combined with hints of Chanel perfume, the aroma of freshly-cooked crepes and brewed coffee in the outdoor cafes, and the breeze from the River Seine is a constant reminder that the City of Lights is also the City of Life.



A big problem in Paris is that there are a lot of beautiful places to visit and there are almost always a lot of tourists all year round. Some of these places of interest are far away from the city center. Take Basilique de Sacré-Coeur in the Montmartre area, for example. It is famous not only for it spectacular view of Paris but also for the angelic voices of the Benedictine nuns that sing the liturgy of the hours. The Versailles and Eurodisney are also far and can be reached through a combination of subway, train and buses. If you have limited time in the city, you may have to choose which of these places to visit.



The city also offers many opportunities to get acquainted with the divine. The Cathédrale Notre Dame de París, the setting of Victor Hugo’s classic story on a hunchback, is also the repository of many Catholic relics such as the Crown of Thorns (housed in the nearby Sainte-Chapelle). Also recommendable is the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse on the Rue du Bac where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to St. Catherine Labouré and entrusted to her the miraculous medal. You could also be a bit more secular, follow the Da Vinci Code route and visit the Église Saint-Sulpice on the Rue de Vaugirard.


Now many people think that most emblematic monuments are expensive. Au contraire. The Arc de Triomphe and the Seine River, for example, can be admired from the outside. A walk along the famous Champs-Elysées (altogether now, shamps-e-LI-seh) is gratifying and free, and is a feast for the eyes. There are also many green spaces and parks like the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Jardin des Tuileries where you can while away your time. It’s pronounced roughly as (jzar-DAHN), in case you’re interested. Cap the day off by walking through the charming Boulevard St-Michel.



Finally, the world’s largest museum, the Louvre, is definitely a must-see. No one, and I insist no one, should leave Paris without entering the Louvre. The museum is very big so if you really are hell-bent on becoming cultured but are pressed for time, I say you should devote at least four hours to see a fraction of the museum’s art collection. The so-called “Louvre Light” route consists of: the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo and Leonardo’s enigmatic magnum opus, the Mona Lisa. I also recommend seeing the Code of Hammurabi, the world’s first written law, and the statue of Cupid and Psyche, a strong artistic personification of love. If you still haven’t got enough, try visiting the Musee d’Orsay for your Renois and Gauguins and the Hôtel des Invalides for a healthy dose of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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TOURIST SPOTS IN FRANCE

THE PANTHENON OF PARIS



Örebro
I've visited Örebro in the middle of August to do some shopping, but I also took the time to visit some tourist spots while I was there. All in all it was a great day!

Örebro has 125,000 inhabitants, which makes it the seventh largest town in Sweden. It is also a university city, which gives it a bit of a lively feel to it and a nice atmosphere. Örebro is located about 200 km from Stockholm and 300 km to both Gothenburg and Oslo. I've put Örebro in the region of Lake Mälaren on my webpages, although I know it is not exactly located in this region. It is actually located west of Lake Mälaren on the shores of lake Hjälmaren.

Örebro has some interesting tourist attractions and the most famous is the castle, which dates back to the 13th century. The other one that I want to write about on this page is Wadköping, the old town.



THE BEACH OF MITSMUN



Wanna visit Paris? Prepare your classiest ensemble, practice your snootiest “Bonjour!” and conquer Paris with a bang!

It’s impossible to see Paris without proper planning. Take it from me: I flew in the now defunct Air Madrid that left for Paris with a three-hour delay. Upon arriving I didn’t even have a printout of the map of the city. And, to make matters worse, I wasn’t sure about the schedule of the tourist spots so it took me six hours to get up the Eiffel Tower and go back down. The view from the top, however, made my stresses evaporate right away.



Pont du Gard, Roman aqueduct across the Gard River, Gard dept., S France. Built in 19 B.C. to supply Nîmes with water, it consists of three tiers of arches and is c.900 ft (270 m) long and c.160 ft (50 m) high. This famous construction is admired for its architectural proportions. The lowest tier is now used as a road bridge.
It was constructed entirely without the use of mortar. The aqueduct's stones – some of which weigh up to 6 tons – are held together with iron clamps. The masonry was lifted into place by block and tackle with a massive human-powered treadmill providing the power for the winch. A complex scaffold was erected to support the aqueduct as it was being built. The face of the aqueduct still bears the mark of its construction, in the form of protruding scaffolding supports and ridges on the piers which supported the semicircular wooden frames on which the arches were constructed. It is believed to have taken about three years to build, employing between 800 and 1,000 workers.

The Pont du Gard was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985.

The Pont du Gard is today one of France's top 5 tourist attractions, with 1.4 million visitors.

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Wyoming

The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve is one of the most scenic and pristine areas in the Grand Teton Park. The preserve opens this summer and offers miles of walking and hiking trails enhancing the already endless opportunities in this region.



If you are more advanced, we will be using an excellent local guide who also leads more advanced hikes. Last September, our women travelers thoroughly enjoyed this diverse week of activities in the expansive landscape of The Grand Tetons. Women travelers who wish to unwind, relax and spend a week in the outdoors will relish the Serendipity Traveler trip for women to Wyoming this fall. Our accomodations are luxe and we'll dine around in the Jackson Hole regions excellent restaurants and cafe's.



I am not going to rag on Wyoming but what the heck is there. I can't even name a city in Wyoming. Oh wait, Cheyenne Wyoming is the capital I think. Well, at least I am smarter than I had thought. Just so people in Wyoming don't hate me. My Grandfather visits a dude ranch there and is supporting the economy. He has said the countryside there is absolutely beautiful. I am pretty sure he goes every year.



The Wild West and The Grand Teton National Park

Our women's travel adventure to Wyoming will introduce us to the autumn wonders and wild beauty of The Grand Teton National Park. You will enjoy walking in The Grand Teton National Park as well as take guided hikes led by experts in the region. We will savour a leisurely float trip down the pristine Snake River and travel with Park Rangers for exquisite wildlife viewing. If you are an average walker, this trip is fine for your ability.



I have said in a previous post that I like the Google Maps feature when using Google Analytics. Well I have had visitors from all of the world. From third world countries and some countries I haven't even heard of before. You would think that I would have a visitor from every state, and in fact in most states I have over 50 visitors. Well I have at least three visitors in every state with the exception of one. Wyoming.

Alabama

Visit Alabama
There are few places in the American south that can match Alabama for fun on and in the water. Pictures of Alabama beaches don’t do them justice; Alabama beaches are some of the best on the east coast, from the sparkling quartz sands of Orange Beach, with its 225-foot long boardwalk, to the fishing spots on Dauphin Island Pier, where the waters team with sheephead, mackerel and flounder. Anglers know that Alabama lakes are nothing to sneeze at either, especially those who’ve reeled in a 30-pound striped bass from Lake Lewis Smith, and Alabama maps of the Shoals are chock-full of lakes, creeks and rivers enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year.



For tortured souls tired of city lights, Alabama is the place to reclaim your sang-froid. From the fresh, crisp air of the mountains and lakes of north-central Alabama to the glistening sun-soaked beaches of the state’s southern Gulf coast, the state has a whole dazzling array of attractions to offer to the tourist seeking solace in Nature’s arm. It is also a state with a rich history and heritage. So, whether it is just a weekend trip or a longer vacation, smart folks check out Alabama before deciding where to head when the well-earned break comes. And I say ‘smart’ folks, because a vacation in Alabama doesn’t hurt your pocket – you can have a wonderful time at a much lower cost than comparable vacation spots!



Ask anybody and the typical answer you will get is that there is nothing in Alabama that is of special interest to the tourist. Yet tourism happens to be big business in the state and is, in fact, the state’s biggest industry, generating well over $10 billion in revenue each year.



The key to Alabama’s attractiveness as a tourist destination is above all its rural and agricultural orientation punched with great hospitality, delectable cuisine, top notch Alabama motels, hotels and resorts, and a globally well-known events calendar with many festivals and performances thrown in.



The tranquil pace of life in Monroe County, Alabama, has nurtured some notable literary figures. Harper Lee and Truman Capote have called the county home.

ZAMBIA

Zambia sits on an undulating plateau in South-Eastern Africa, bordered by eight different countries: Angola to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the North- West, Tanzania to the North-East, Malawi to the East and Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the South.

Most of Zambia is moist savanna woodland, and in the drier areas, especially the valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa Rivers, the stout baobab trees grow, some of which are thousands of years old.

Since 1000 AD, Zambia has been populated by myriad tribal groups coming in from all of the neighbouring countries and kingdoms i.e.: Congo, the East African coast, and the Zulu nation and now there are about 35 different ethnic groups in Zambia, all with their own
languages.

Following Livingstone’s trip up the Zambezi in the mid 1850s, hunters and prospectors began coming in droves and much of the area, known at the time as Northern Rhodesia, came under the control of the British South Africa Company. Zambia achieved independence in 1963.



Newly circumcised young drummers greet their first dawn as men with voices raised in ceremonial song. The ritual is a tradition of the Bantu-speaking Luvale tribe.Zambia’s National Parks teem with wildlife, the most well-known being the South Luangwa, home of one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, and it appears that the country is rapidly becoming an adventure centre for tourists. Zambia is sometimes referred to as ‘the real Africa’. Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, continues to be a major draw - the town of Livingstone
is experiencing something of a renaissance - with many of the
activities centred around water sports on the Zambezi River. Zambia is rich in natural resources and mining is an important industry for the country.

Most farms include substantial areas of natural forest, indigenous trees and veldt (plains) grasses which provide both safe havens and safe passage for many indigenous species of wildlife, birds and insects.



Photography in Zambia with the Peace Corps

Please forgive me, but I submitted a similar question to this one a few days ago with some general information, but have since been able to add some details to the mix. I'll be leaving for Zambia (South-Central Africa) in a month to volunteer there with the Peace Corps for two years. Apparently, Zambia has a 5-6 month rainy season, but is otherwise reasonably mild in climate. I will be taking a Nikon-based system consisting primarily of an FM, N90s, T4, and assorted (4) Nikon lenses. I am thinking that I'll take three film types: B&W, slide, and print (P&S). I do not have details yet regarding my living arrangements. I think that it is safest to assume that they will be rustic, at best. Any advice on long term photography in a developing nation, specifically Central Africa will be very much appreciated. I'm particularly interested in how to handle my film before and after exposure and in how to prevent damage from humidity and water.


zambia Victoria Falls


For a long time Zambia has been a well kept secret by those who live there and those who visit. However, this is changing rapidly as increasing numbers of birders and ecotourists are discovering this wonderful country. Zambia is safe and very friendly. It is accessible and the infrastructure is reasonable. It still supports huge areas of wilderness and it holds 750 species of bird, many of which are difficult to see anywhere else. Amongst its attractions are the spectacular Victoria Falls and some of the very best game-viewing safaris anywhere in the world. For birders, highlights include endless miombo woodland full of tantalising bird parties, vast wetlands, sweeping grasslands, the most southerly tracts of the great equatorial forests and some remote and challenging montane wilderness areas.



Yesterday I visited Liz Brookes, Principal Teacher of Outdoor Education within East Lothian Council. The reason for my visit was that Liz had very kindly offered to talk to me about the various qualifications I would need in order to become GTC recognised as a Teacher of Outdoor Education.

We are very lucky in East Lothian as we have a very good and busy Outdoor Education Team who not only provide lots of opportunities for our pupils but also provide a wide variety of staff development opportunities. I intend to book onto various courses over the coming months in order to build up my qualifications. In addition, Liz is also allowing me to help the team out during my spare time to build up my experience.

ZIMBABWE

Remember the good old days, when TKZee used to start and end the party....when Mandoza's Nkalakatha was the song to be played? Ahhh infact, I visited my old high school a few months ago, and found them still playing the good old kwaito beats lebesi jam-ma ngawo back in the day! Then again, the UWC is a whole new environment. They'll stay playing Mandoza and Tribal Blast. But as I joined in with kids from over 100 countries, watching as the sweet Lebanese girl and the chemistry geek from Uganda tried their luck at doing the "kwaito dances" that I once went crazy for, I could only wonder...Where did Kwaito go?



With more than a passing resemblance to a National Geographic best-of issue, Zimbabwe is a beautiful country to visit. It boasts the majestic Victoria Falls, magnificent wildlife preserves and the medieval ruins of Great Zimbabwe, as well as the bustling city of Harare. Read Zimbabwe introduction



Its been about...emm...7 years since I finished high school in Manzini, Swaziland...All-girl Anglican school. No nonsense, don't-mess teachers and matrons. Best results in the country (may I boast a lil, dust my shoulders a lil?)...One thing St Michaels girls were known for...well, actually 3. Beauty (check), brains (check) and dancing (um, working on it to be dishonest). Do not even mess, besiba bontsa! We had school concerts, where students danced, performed skits, plays and had fashion shows...Ours was always the last. Of course ke, it was the grand finale. We danced to the likes of Boom Shaka, Mandoza, TKZee, Trompies, Mdu, E'smile, and that group....var vas jy....where were u! We even had the hair styles, I remember my first Boom Shaka braids, thick, black and long to the waist. Was I not feeling myself?? And then, of course, I had to borrow the "tsotsi" hat ('idori') and colorful all stars from my brothers closet. Well, by borrow, i mean steal and return before dark. They were the rockas...Trompies' "Sweety Lavo" was the anthem of all who had boyfriends. I remember mine coming early for the concert to make sure he got good seats and enjoyed a little "private moment" with me (Private means 'in disguise" from our nasty headmaster -- thats when the back of the hall was populated by lovebirds and the like). To top it off, I'd get a letter slipped into my bag with Sweety Lavo lyrics dedicated to me.



The foreign currency black market booms as the economy goes into freefall.

A shonky market fringing Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo, shows little enthusiasm for selling its hoard of clothing, kitchenwares and stereos: The real business here is the deals behind the stalls - selling foreign cash.

With the devastated economy plunging further into the financial abyss since last month's disputed elections, the black market is increasingly eager for US dollars, British pounds and euros.

Dubbed "The World Bank", Bulawayo's illegal foreign exchange dealers run the only bank without a queue and ready stocks of foreign cash.

This is a seller's paradise, securing up to three times more than the official rate, with a staggering 30 per cent rise in black market payments for foreign cash since the March 31 election.



Zimbabwe Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordering Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia. It has an area of 390,580 km2 and a population approaching 13 million. The Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia and when in full flood in the February to April period, the massive Victoria Falls on the river form the world's largest curtain of falling water. The climate is tropical and moderated by altitude with the hot, wet season between November and March, followed by a cool, dry season from April to July and a hot, dry season from August to October.

The terrain is mostly high plateau with a T-shaped upland plateau called the "Highveld" running north-east to south-west across the country. Much of this plateau is ancient granite with sandy soils and many exfoliated domes, locally called Dwalas and balancing rocks, locally called Kopjes. The major river valleys lie at much lower elevations and are called the "Lowveld". The Zambezi Valley is bounded by large fault scarps of the African Rift System and the Chizarira Massif is also part of this system.

United states of america

The United States of America, more often referred to as the "USA," the "U.S.," the "United States," "America," or simply "the States") is a large country in central and north-western North America.
The Grand CanyonIt has a land area of about 9.6 million sq km(about half the size of Russia and about the same size as China). It also boasts the world's third largest population after China and India, with over 300 million people. It includes both densely-populated cities with sprawling suburbs, and vast, uninhabited and naturally beautiful areas. With its history of mass immigration dating from the 17th century, it is a "melting pot" of cultures from around the world.
Regions

The contiguous U.S. (Lower 48) stretches across the midsection of North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the southern borders of Canada to the northern frontier with Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Alaska, separated from the continental states by Canadian territory, borders both Canada and Russia (maritime border) in the far northwest. Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific, and the unincorporated Caribbean territory (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) is found in the region' southeast near the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The United States is composed of 50 states, as well as the city of Washington D.C., a federal district and the nation's capitol. Its many geographic regions are varied. Below is a rough grouping of the country into regions, from the Atlantic to the Pacific..........

African continent

ABOUT AFRICA

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.[2] With about 922 million people (as of 2005)[3] in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.2% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 46 countries including Madagascar, and 53 including all the island groups.

Africa, particularly central eastern Africa, is widely regarded within the scientific community to be the origin of humans and the Hominidae tree (great apes), as evidenced by the discovery of the earliest hominids and their possible ancestors, as well as later ones that have been dated to around seven million years ago – including Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Australopithecus africanus, A. afarensis, Homo erectus, H. habilis and H. ergaster – with the earliest Homo sapiens (human) found in Ethiopia being dated to ca. 200,000 years ago.[4]

Africa straddles the equator and encompasses numerous climate areas; it is the only continent to stretch from the northern temperate to southern temperate zones.[5] Because of the lack of natural regular precipitation and irrigation as well as glaciers or mountain aquifer systems, there is no natural moderating effect on the climate except near the coasts