Experience a Vacation of a Lifetime in These Popular Cities

For an experience of a lifetime on your next vacation schedule a trip to one of the following cites. Get to see how other people in other parts of the world live. Enjoy their culture, food, and country where fabulous arts and wondrous buildings, some that dates back to the early Greek and Roman era.

Alexandria Egypt has a population of 3.8 million people and is the second largest city in Egypt and third largest in North Africa. Three quarters of all Egyptian exports go through the harbor making it one of the major Mediterranean harbors. Alexandria boasts extensive beaches, luxury hotels and many nightclubs along with the traditional coffeehouses and markets. A tour to Midan Saad Saghlul should be high on your list of places to visit. It is a square that opens onto the East Harbor and has hotels and coffeehouses that dates back to the turn or the nineteenth century. You can walk all the way out to the Isle of Pharos, which was site of a lighthouse that was once one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Cleopatra was born in Alexandria and was the last pharaoh of Egypt; she took her own life in 30 BCE. Some of the places that will be interesting to visit are the Library of Alexandria, Tombs of al Anfushi, Greco-Roman Museum and el-Shatbi Cemetery.

Tokyo Japan has a population of 8.3 million people. A visit to Tokyo will be a unique and exhilarating experience, where a visitor could get lost but for a few signs that are in English. A visit to the Ginza, the central district of Tokyo with its exclusive shopping area and elegant boulevards, boutiques, department stores along with the large crowds will be one of your unforgettable experiences. For the younger visitor, the Shinjuku district is the place to go. It is filled with many places to eat and drink, everything from gigantic beer halls to small intimate theme bars, also there are modern shops, sports facilities and beautiful parks. For an entrance fee, the visitor can visit the Shinjuku Gyoen Park, 143 acres, which is one of the largest in Tokyo. In early times it was reserved for use by the royal family and only opened to the public in 1945. Among the modern skyscrapers, you can visit the historical buildings of Tokyo, one of them is the Senso-ji in Asakusa, is a temple dedicated to the Kannon Buddha (Buddha of Mercy). Only a few gates, towers and imposing graves and some ramparts remain of the old Edo Castle, which was replaced by the Imperial Palace under the Meiji emperors is still of interest to visitors. In the Shibuya District is the Meiji Shrine, which is visited often by the local people, a shrine is to the Shintoists, is what a church is to a Christian. Surrounding the Meiji Shrine is a very nice park and a relaxing place to sit and relax. There is so much to do and experience in Tokyo, the old and the new, that you may not want to leave once, a visit to Tokyo is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Oslo Norway has a history dating back to 1000 CE when it was founded by the Vikings. It has a population of 550,000 and only a quarter of Oslo is paved and occupied by buildings, the rest is forests, lakes and ski jumps. If you're into skiing this will be the place to visit, from about anywhere in the city you can see the world famous ski jumps on the slopes of Hausberg. Oslo is the capital of Norway, which gained its independence from Sweden in 1905. A visit to the symbol of Oslo, which is the city hall that has two massive towers, is a very beautiful building for taking photographs and will be very enjoyable. Other places of interest are the Royal Palace, National Theater, the History Museum, the National Gallery and the University of Oslo. To experience the old Oslo, visit Kvadraturen, which is the section of Oslo that has many preserved buildings from the seventeenth century. Also the Theater Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the stock exchange is located in the Kvadraturen section. To experience Norwegian cuisine, visit the Cafe Engebret and Det Gamle Raadhus restaurants known for serving genuine Norwegian specialties.

Tallinn Estonia is the capital of Estonia and has a population of 403,500. Because of Tallinn's pleasant atmosphere, aesthetic beauty and reputation for hospitality it is the opinion of many tourist that Tallinn is the most beautiful city in the Baltic region. The city at the beginning was called Reval and was politically part of Russia but controlled locally by German land barons. In 1918 the Estonia's Independence Manifesto temporarily freed the country from foreign control, and the name was changed to Tallinn. During World War Two the Germans occupied it from 1941 to 1944, and then it became a member state of the Soviet Union until 1991[1]. To visit the past, one must visit the Old City, with its visible tower measuring 521 feet; St. Olai's Church was once the tallest building in Europe. Cathedral Hill is a massive sharply sloping limestone block hill with its onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a wonderful sight. Kadriorg Palace was built by Peter the Great for his summer home is a remarkable structure to visit. Pikk Street with tall unique building of each side is one of the most visited tourist attractions.

Havana Cuba is sometimes called the Gateway to the New World. It has a population of 2.2 million people and it was founded in 1515 where the Cuban capital now stands. Traveling around the city is easy because of the grid-plan with its broad avenues and side streets. In the early twentieth century American tourism came to Havana for the first time. Many jet setters wanting a drink of rum visited the Vedado district with its 466-foot tall memorial to national hero Jose Marti. If you're looking for culture you will find many places to visit, churches, palaces, markets, castles and monuments are all available. Cathedral Plaza boasts on of the most beautiful squares in Havana, with the steeples of the Cathedral of San Cristobal de La Habana looking over the square. For the history buff the 1588 Real Fuerza Castle, the oldest colonial fortress in the New World will provide a pleasant side trip. Last but not least is the majestic Capitanes Generales Palace, which is the home of the National Museum and is located on the west side of the Cathedral Plaza. Oh, don't forget the cigars!

Las Vegas USA is a city that never sleeps, with its famed strip that glitters with lights of one wonderful establishment after another. Sometimes Las Vegas is called the wedding capital of the world with its many wedding chapels. When people thinks of Las Vegas they think of gambling, but the city has allot more to offer its visitors. There are many great shows with top stars every night, boxing matches and unforgettable sights to see. For the tourist there is shopping galore along the Strip and in the hotels and casinos, the main retail area is along Fremont Street. For those who want to explore, there is the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area all within easy drive of the city. A walk at night along Fremont Street with its 2 million lights will be an unforgettable experience. There is so much to do and see in Las Vegas that you will want to spend as much time as possible there. For the adults and children alike, a vacation to Las Vegas will be a vacation to be remembered.

No matter what city or part of the world you pick for your vacation, always take time to meet and talk to the local people. You will find that most people will be very helpful and enjoy talking to tourist visiting their city and country. Take time to enjoy the local cuisine, try something different and take back memories with you that will last a lifetime

[1] 100 Cities of the World by Falko Brenner