Cabins | Miranda Gardens Resort

Author Linden Gray founder of Mexican Insurance Store.com is an international online insurance veteran with over 29 years of wholesale, retail, and direct insurance experience. Mr. Gray has been featured in numerous offline & online publications including RV Magazine, The Press Enterprise, PE.com, Google News, Yahoo News, Reddit, Digg and Buzzle. Visit Mexican Insurance Store.com for more facinating information about Mexico and Mexico Auto Insurance.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Taxco Mexico – Rejuvenate your Senses!

Do you love wearing jewelry? Are you still relying on expensive diamond and gold jewelry? If you think silver does not add fashion statement to your style, you should visit the colonial town of Taxco. The picturesque view and silversmith workshops in Taxco bring large number of US and Canadian nature and jewelry lovers to the city every year. Besides silver ornaments, you will found historic monuments and great architecture in the streets of the city. The city is located on a mountain range where cobblestone streets, beautiful parks and old buildings will allow you to relax, explore and enjoy without any hiatus.

Preparing for a Mexican trip? If you think you have taken everything which is required on your vacation, check again to make sure you have obtained Mexican auto insurance online to stay away from any kind of legal mess while driving your vehicle in the country. You can save few pesos by buying Mexico insurance online and you don’t even need find a booth, wait in lines and purchase potentially much less reliable coverage at the border. For more information, visit Mexican insurance Store.com.

Taxco has been declared as “Magic Town” because of its historic monuments, fantastic museums and architecture. One of the most famous monuments in the city is Cristo Monumental which is located on the Hill of Atachi. You will get most panoramic view of the city from the top of the hill; that’s why it is becoming the top choice of Canadian photographers. If you want to explore through the Mexican architecture, visit Santa Prisca Parish Church. The baroque architecture well complimented by Churrigueresque style. The magnificent building has been constructed under the supervision of numerous artists therefore; you will find a distinctive touch in the shape and design of the church.

Holy Trinity temple is another architectural attraction in the city. The 16th century building has been remodeled numerous times but still colonial elegance can be felt once you visit the temple. City of Taxco is home to several museums as well and most of the museums are built in old buildings. So, while exploring through the arts and history, you will get chance to walk through the alleys of old mansions and houses of Taxco. One such museum is Viceroyal Art Museum of Taxco which is located in Humboldt House, a 17th century building. Canadian wanderers never miss out on capture the Baroque styles façade in their Cameras. There 14 exhibition halls in the museum where you will come across objects and pieces that depict the mining growth in Taxco.

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Michael Ortiz –
About the Author:

Author Linden Gray founder of Mexican Insurance Store.com is an international online insurance veteran with over 29 years of wholesale, retail, and direct insurance experience. Mr. Gray has been featured in numerous offline & online publications including RV Magazine, The Press Enterprise, PE.com, Google News, Yahoo News, Reddit, Digg and Buzzle. Visit Mexican Insurance Store.com for more facinating information about Mexico and Mexico Auto Insurance.

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Cozy Inn Offers Mendocino Gourmet Surprise

Cozy Inn Offers Mendocino Gourmet Surprise

Mendocino is a prime candidate for a memorable California getaway — it’s dramatically situated atop a bluff with spectacular views of the pounding surf and picturesque coastline.

Located near coastal wine country about 150 miles north of San Francisco, Mendocino has long been a darling of Hollywood movie-makers who know a spectacularly scenic coastline when they see one. While the area has been featured in various movies, its biggest claim to fame is serving as the backdrop for all the exterior shots on the television series Murder She Wrote. Who can forget the scenery of Cabot Cove – supposedly in the state of Maine – which was woven throughout these popular murder-mystery episodes during the series hay day back in the 1980s?

Today Mendocino is the destination of choice for travelers wanting a more intimate bed-and-breakfast kind of experience in one of dozens of inns along this stretch of California coastline. The typical Mendocino visit might include time spent in front of a warm fireplace along with walks down many trails that offer breathtaking views of the craggy Mendocino coastline. Most visitors combine that with a little time spent perusing the unique, generally upscale shops in the historic village of Mendocino and some fine dining.

On our most recent visit we stayed at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, a collection of cozy cottages and rooms perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean in the town of Little River, a few miles south of Mendocino. It’s all about the trees along this part of the Mendocino coast and the inn’s nine acres include plenty of these living art forms that each show a long history of struggle against the powerful winds coming off the Pacific Ocean. Tree trunks around here come in sets and a typical tree might have a half-dozen trunks with branch formations that have been shaped by the winds for many decades or even longer.

While the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek is a bed-and-breakfast inn, it’s not one big gingerbread house as you might envision. The individual accommodations are spread out and each offers a particular charm. There are cute little Hansel-and-Gretel cottages as well as buildings with two or three units, each comfortably furnished to make your getaway feel like it’s your own small cabin or cottage. This is an unpretentious place to stay – not the kind of luxury you might experience in a Ritz-Carlton, but still a cozy place with upscale charm that is anything but cookie-cutter.

The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, we think, would be an especially good spot for a romantic getaway. Our room, for example, had a double Jacuzzi tub that was just the right size for two people, with a fireplace not too far away. The room came fully stocked with numerous board games and, for those who can’t break away from civilization, a small flat-screen television. Two reclining wooden chairs were just outside the front porch offering a view of the ocean. There was lots of grass between us and our neighbors and pathways leading to lush gardens located near small groves of those ubiquitous trees.

The romantic theme is carried even further with the inn’s spa facilities – actually a “yurt” that is used as a treatment room where guests can enjoy ocean views and the natural feeling created by a nearby canopy of trees.

The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek also has become a destination for gourmet diners and is known among locals for serving some of the best cuisine in the area. The scrumptous and very complete hot breakfast you get at the inn is provided by La Petite Rive, but the restaurant – located on the inn’s property — gets three-quarters of its diners from the nearby community or from other nearby inns. It’s said that even Robert Redford fell in love with the place and once drove from San Francisco to Mendocino only to be turned away because the restaurant was fully booked.

It’s not hard to see why this restaurant is constantly booked to capacity. For one thing, it’s quite small with room for maybe 25 people at a time. Of course, the other reason is that the food is done to perfection.

La Petite Rive is an experience, not just a dinner. Plan on spending at least two hours as the restaurant takes you through the various courses, allowing plenty of time in between for good conversation and soaking up the views of the Pacific coastline. For around , guests are treated to a complete dinner that includes an entrée with four additional courses: amouse-bouche, soup, salad and a palate refresher. Entrees are presented with the chef’s choice of a side dish, a fresh vegetable and warm bread. For our entrees, we tried the Filet Mignon Pepper Steak and the Cilantro Scampi – both of which were prepared to perfection. Alex, our server, helped make the dinner memorable with her engaging personality and attention to detail.

Of course a trip to Mendocino is not just curling up in a cozy bed-and-breakfast or enjoying a gourmet meal – the area is considered a paradise for visitors who love to hike and enjoy the seashore. For example, the Mendocino Headlands Park surrounds Mendocino on three sides and there are three miles of trails that offer amazing views of the ocean and, during winter, you can even spot whales offshore during their annual migration.

Nearby Russian Gulch State Park offers 1,305 acres to explore, including a blowhole where the Pacific Ocean has burrowed a 200-foot tunnel inland. At high tide, visitors can look through a wide hole to see the ocean thrashing and churning below. There are about 10 miles of trails in the park, including one to a picturesque waterfall.

We took a few minutes to walk a half-mile out to the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Preserve, just outside of Mendocino. The lighthouse was first illuminated in 1909 and it has since been completely restored and opened to the public. In addition to the lighthouse there are many historic buildings in the immediate area including the innkeeper’s house which is available for vacation rental. While you’re out at the lighthouse there are lots of coastal areas to explore as well. Altogether there are 270 acres in the preserve offering access to windswept bluffs, meadows and forested areas.

About 10 miles up the coast from Mendocino is Fort Bragg, where we found the Guest House Museum, a fascinating look at life on the coast dating back to the 19th Century. The museum is a house that was built for the Fort Bragg Redwood Company and later used as a guest house for the company. Today it houses an elaborate photographic exhibit of early times along the coast. The collection of photographs shows old-time lumber workers and their families and the various buildings in the area as they appeared in the 19th Century. For history buffs, the Guest House Museum is a must-see.

Whatever your reason for visiting Mendocino, the area will not disappoint you. The combination of unique lodging, fine dining, interesting shops and many diverse forms of outdoor recreation and scenery is a powerful attraction for people who make it a point to visit Mendocino on a regular basis.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Mendocino is about 150 miles north of San Francisco or about 100 miles north of Santa Rosa. There are a couple of routes to get there from Highway 101 – Highway 128, which takes you over 60-plus miles of curvy mountain roads, or Highway 20, about 33 miles of curvy roads, but a bit out of the way and 37 miles further.

WHAT: Mendocino is known as an artists’community and one of the most naturally beautiful places along the California coast. The scenery in this part of California is incredible and the ocean and forests combine to offer a multitude of recreational options, not to mention the great bed-and-breakfast inns.

WHEN: Any time of year.

WHY: Mendocino is a get-back-to-Nature kind of place, but that doesn’t mean you have to rough it. In fact, most people stay in comfortable bed-and-breakfast inns and enjoy fine dining at places like La Petite Rive and MacCallum House.

HOW: For more information on the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, please phone 800-731-5525.

Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , a popular California travel guide, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering northwest travel deals and other travel destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

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Choose The Right Furniture For Your Outdoor Retreat In 3 Easy Steps

Choose The Right Furniture For Your Outdoor Retreat In 3 Easy Steps

The great outdoors is the place to relax, but with everyone’s busy schedules, no one has the time to do that weekend trip to the mountains or the beach. After reading this article you should be able to create your own weekend retreat, right in your backyard. With a little bit of guidance on decorating themes, furniture selections, and placement, you should be on your way to have the backyard everyone envies.

STEP 1

The first step is to find the Decorative Theme. At this point you may want to determine what kind of theme or style you want your backyard to take on. Some examples may include, creating a touch of Paradise, Bohemian Chic, French Country, Southern Plantation, Classic Cottage, Shabby Chic and the list goes on forever. The main focus is to find the look that reminds you of relaxation and comfort. For this article, we are going to go with a Southern Plantation look.

STEP 2

The second step is to find the furniture that goes with your outdoor theme. While searching for the perfect furnishings, keep in mind that comfort should always come first before the appearance. Also, make sure to always do some research on the type of wood used in the construction. Wood choices to consider:

Southern Yellow Pine

Provides a long-term protection from rot, decay and termites. The yellow pine is from the southeast region, where temperatures range from extreme cold to extreme heat, this allows the wood to adjust to any climate. All wood patio furniture is subject to a natural process called “checking”. Checking occurs when the wood releases its moisture through its growth rings. This is a normal process and occurs only on the surface of the wood. Checking does not affect the wood’s structural integrity.

Teak Wood

Contains natural oil and Silica (sand), which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. These substances also help it to maintain its luster for many, many years. Teak will turn to silver gray if left unsealed.

Cedar

Is a softer wood, but repels insects and rot just like the other types of wood. With Cedar being a very lightwood, it is easy to work with and will always have that uncommon smooth-surface. The two most used types of Cedar are the Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar, both known for their great color. Left outside in its natural state, cedar will change to silver gray. You can also stain cedar in the color of your choice to match your decor.

Cypress

Is extremely resistant to decay and insects. With its ‘grown-in-the-wood’ preservative oil, there is no further chemical treatment needed, unless the cypress lumber is in direct contact with the ground. It is dimensionally stable and naturally resistant to splitting and warping. If left unsealed cypress will turn silver gray.

Redwood

Is a natural alternative to pressure treated lumber. It is known that Redwood resists decay caused by the environment and insect infestation. Over time Redwood will weather to a natural silvery-gray tint.

Once you have chosen your decorating theme, the furniture selection should come naturally. Today’s interior designers have made it simple for people to find what they want, by making collections under a particular design theme. Since, we have chosen the Southern Plantation theme as the model, we need to look for furniture that represents the Old South. Rocking chairs or primitive furniture will give the look of old, yet classic.

STEP 3

The third and final step is to place the furniture to complete the atmosphere. Furniture placement is very important and one really needs to put some thought into the best place. If you put your furniture to close to the noisy neighbors, you will lose the feel of relaxation and maybe even privacy. The arrangement of furnishings should be tucked away in a spot where you can escape from the outside world. You want your nights of family dinners or reading a book to be enjoyable. Another issue is, if you plan to entertain, positioning the furniture to make a more welcoming setting is the key. Putting the furniture away from the house will make an open invitation to the glare from the sun or the army of insects at night. You want to create a feeling of comfort, so by doing that with the theme chosen, you would put the rocking chairs facing each other for the look of open conversations. By putting all the furniture in groups you are allowing guests to feel at ease to have a chat and the party will be a hit.

With all the information combined, you should be getting closer to your outdoor dream. Just remember to do your research on the type of furniture you may want first, so will enjoy it for years to come!!

TotalBackyard.com is your complete source for patio furniture, rocking chairs, hammocks and more.

Great Reasons to Choose to Go to School on the West Coast

Great Reasons to Choose to Go to School on the West Coast

Lots of East Coasters go west for college, but they head back home once they have graduated. There is an excellent chance, however, if you get your university degree in California, Oregon or Washington, you will fall in love with the West Coast lifestyle and will want to stay there forever. Even if you have firm plans to go back east to start your career, be aware that you might meet your life partner while in school, and if they want to stay on the West Coast, you’ll end up staying too.

Lots of Schools

All along the Pacific seaboard you’ll find lots of state schools and private schools that offer medical assisting education. The state universities can be expensive for out-of-staters, so it’s a good idea to investigate how to establish residency in the state to cut your tuition costs.

Even if your ideal school is right on the beach, I would suggest also looking at schools an hour’s drive from the beach. You can always drive over to go surfing on the weekends. The upside is not having to live in a place where housing and other services are expensive because of their proximity to popular vacation areas. By choosing a college campus in a town that is not a major tourist destination you will cut your housing costs. You also will have better opportunities for quality part-time job opportunities that are not tied to the tourism business.

The Different Areas of California

Most Californians identify themselves as being Northern or Southern Californians. If you don’t mind traffic and smog and want surfworthy beaches pretty much all year around, look at schools in LA or San Diego. If you crave beaches but also want to hike in forests, go north to Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sonoma or Humboldt. If you want the best of both the SoCal and NorCal worlds, look into schools around Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo or a Fresno school.

Outside of Portland and Eugene, much of the state of Oregon is rural and has a more relaxed pace. Oregon is a good choice for people who are nature lovers and who don’t need all the bells and whistles that busy metropolitan areas offer. In Washington, there are a huge cluster of excellent schools around Seattle and if you can stand the winter damp, you might find it’s the best place for you.

Schools on the West Coast are the best for medical assisting education. Among all the schools in the West Coast, Fresno school is the best.

Pleasure Point roadhouse – Multifunctional Drilling Rig manufacturer – Top Head Drive Drilling System manufacturer

Pleasure Point roadhouse – Multifunctional Drilling Rig manufacturer – Top Head Drive Drilling System manufacturer

Henchy
The house was built between 1902 and 1904 by a former San Francisco saloon owner named John J. Henchy
He bought the land that now spans 38th Ave. to 41st Ave. on the coast of Pleasure point, santa cruz, california. Henchy built his home on the property he bought from N E Neary, thus acquiring a natural view of the cove and Monterey Bay. Henchy home
He built his home in a trapezoidal form that aligned with East Cliff Dr. The second story living area and master bedroom have great ocean views. A long enclosed light-filled gallery wrap around the east and south sides of the main floor and create a sun porch. The front deck affords an expansive ocean view.
1st floor Roadhouse.
2nd floor Roadhouse
Attic, reading room
The dining room opens off the living room and is adjacent to the kitchen. The kitchen opens into the windowed breakfast area with views to the natural setting and mountain views behind.
Kitchen
Breakfast room off kitchen
Bath tub in bathroom next to fire place
bath room sink
The wood panelled attic room with its hardwood floors and windows taking advantage of the natural, wooded ocean setting was used as the reading room.
Attic stairs
upper Attic stairs
Attic room door
attic
His large Shingle sided house and drive through Carriage house were the first large impressive buildings in this area. Arts and crafts influence
It has many elements derived from the Early Craftsman Style thinking.
Although the A&C philosophy focused on “revolution through art,” its principles were formed by a set a great overarching values:
Find joy in work
Create objects that are not only well-designed, but affordable to everyone
Live simply
Stay connected to nature
Maintain integrity of “place”
These ideals were expressed in artistic endeavors through hand-crafted objects, an uncluttered style of home decor, landscape art that was actually created on-site outdoors, and homes that were built of local materials and fit the landscape.
Bungalows that best exemplified the Movement’s philosophy were well crafted, and used materials left as close as possible to their natural state. Cobblestones were used in foundations and broad chimneys
while the rest of the home was constructed of wood or shingles in a natural shade of brown.
Back deck entry
Front deck
Front deck view
The long pitched roof displayed exposed rafters or braces along its wide eaves and there was an abundance of outdoor space consisting of a broad front porch as well as a rear patio with a pergola.
The front door opened directly into the living room, which in turn connected to the dining room. Often, the two rooms were separated only by a half wall.
As in all Arts and Crafts-style homes, the fireplace was a prominent feature and special attention was paid to the location and construction of the hearth. Like the rest of the house, the fireplace was to be utilitarian and was built of local stone or clinker brick, but in more affluent homes the fireplace would sometimes be embellished with decorative tiles and mantles.
]
Ken Lonsinger Arts and crafts features
The Roadhouse pre-dates the American Craftsman style, yet contains many of the elements that are found in it.
From the flared “Oriental” eves, to the “clinker” brick fireplace. The use of natural redwood shingles and the windows to take in the light and warmth. The interior wainscoting and the hardwood floors which were covered with oriental rugs. The placement of the house and its longer western wall, take advantage of the natural oceans setting. The placement above a natural cove that was accessed by stairs to the beach below.
The Roadhouse maybe the trend setter that led to the Craftsman shingle style Berkeley style made well known by Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck and Greene and Greene. It reflects many of the concepts found in The Simple Home, Charles Keeler, 1906a great influence on the Craftsman School. Architect
This century old home, with the visual clues and the proximity of this site to Esty/Houghton home,leads historians to believe that is an L D Esty home. (see Ross)
HisPogonip Clubhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. Houghton
His father-in-law A D Houghton was architect and engineer for J D Rockefeller. Houghton’s house sat on over 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land at the tip of Soquel Pt. It was noted as a beautiful home when it burned in 1915. The Roadhouse and the Houghton house have many visual similarities. Pogonip
The Pogonip Clubhouse and the Roadhouse also have many similarities. Both are Brown Shingle construction in Natural settings. Very striking is the visual connection between the back of the Clubhouse and the side of the Roadhouse. Esty
L D Esty went on, in 1931, to work with C J Ryland. A former employee of Julia Morgan. Esty went on to rebuild the Santa Cruz Mission and to build the City Halls in Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Whoever the Architect was, if not L D Esty, the Roadhouse is a great example of the[Arts and Crafts] thinking of its day. A great home for a successful businessman, Henchy, who developed this area of Soquel/Pleasure Point. History of ownership
It was owned and occupied by a number of locally successful families.
1908 N Neary
1921 J Menzel
1926 Anton V Peterson Built the gas station, store and Cosy Cottage Resort
Cottages and barn from East Cliff Dr
1st cottage
2nd cottage
3rd cottage
1971 Liela Naslund of Los Gatos bought the property. She removed the gas station and store. She rented the rooms and cottages and kept an apartment on the lower back floor. Effort for historic listing
2007 The county in updating historic property inventory had the Roadhouse nominated by the Live Oak History group as one of its highest priority for listing
The owners daughters gave the tenents 60 days to vacate and fenced the property with chain link and barbed wire. They hired an attorney and an historian, Anthony Kirk PhD to challenge the Historic designation.
The County of Santa Cruz is considering it as a park
It was torn down on September 27, 2008.
Broken wood from the destruction of the Roadhouse
Despite the Public appeal to the Coastal Commission it was destroyed and not recycled or moved
The County said the structures could not be moved. Even thought the Cottages could have been. The next day the buildings were destroyed. References
^ Historic Pleasure Point Roadhouse torn down
Sources
Ross Gibson HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLEASURE POINT ROADHOUSE, 2007 2007 DPR for 2-3905 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, Ca 95062
Norm Poltevan 2007 research for History Journal
Carol Swift 2007 DPR for 2-3905 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, Ca 95062 External links
Pleasure Point Roadhouse article in National Preservation Trust online http://www.preservationnation.org/Magazine
Phil Reader http://www.mcpost.com/article.php?id=295
It has been nominated to be listed as a Cultural Resource.
National Trust Magazine: Santa Cruz Considers Landmarking 1902 Saloon
The County of Santa Cruz is considering it as a park site.
In 2006, it became the focal point in a local debate over property rights, eminent domain and historic preservation. In 2007, while being consider for listing, the long term renters were evicted by the absentee landlords and the property became off limits to the public. References to County record at links found on ipetitions.com/petition/saveroadhouse/
Craftsman Perspective
http://www.craftsmanperspective.com/ Categories: American craftsman style | House types | House styles | American architecture

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Berlin

Berlin

Berlin, city in northeastern Germany, capital of a united Germany from 1871 to 1945 and again since 1990. It lies on the flatlands of the North German Plain at the confluence of several rivers and amid many lakes. The city’s slight elevation made it a site for human settlement even in prehistoric times. Berlin has a population of about 3,454,200 (1992 estimate) and an area of approximately 889 sq km (343 sq mi).

After World War II (1939-1945) Berlin, badly damaged during the war, was situated within the German Democratic Republic (GDR; also known as East Germany). The city was subsequently partitioned into East Berlin and West Berlin. The divided city not only symbolized the collapse of the German Empire, of which it was the capital, but also became a focus of Cold War tensions between the Communist nations led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the group of Western nations led by the United States. The Berlin Wall, a barrier separating East and West Berlin built by the East Germans in 1961, blocked free access in both directions until November 1989; during the time it stood, at least 80 people died attempting to cross from East to West Berlin. By the time Germany was unified in October 1990, much of the wall had been torn down. A few small segments remain as memorials.

Economy

Following the division of the city of Berlin in 1949, the economies of the two halves of the city were integrated into the economies of the two newly separated republics of Germany.

The economy of East Berlin was totally integrated with that of East Germany and also benefited from a steady stream of visitors from West Berlin and West Germany. East Berlin was the hub of East Germany’s commercial, financial, and transportation systems, and, although it comprised less than one-half of the former unified city, it was also a huge manufacturing center. Among its principal manufactures were steel and rubber goods, electrical and transportation equipment, chemicals, and processed food. The Spree River, which is connected by waterways with the Baltic Sea, widened in East Berlin to form a major inland harbor. An airport at Schönefeld, just south of the city, served both East and West Berlin.

Much of West Berlin’s industrial capacity was destroyed in World War II, and its economy suffered again during 1948 and 1949, when the USSR blockaded the area in an attempt to drive out the Western powers. Beginning in the 1950s, however, West Berlin’s economy was revitalized with a great deal of assistance from West Germany and from the United States, which provided support under the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan). The city soon became an important manufacturing center, producing electrical and electronic equipment and substantial quantities of machinery, metal, textiles, clothing, chemicals, printed materials, and processed food. The city also developed as a center for international finance, for research and science, and for the important West German film industry. It was linked to West Germany by highways, canal systems, a railroad, and airplane services, which used Tegel, Tempelhof, and Gatow airports in West Berlin and Schönefeld airport in nearby East Germany.

With the destruction of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the two halves of the city were once again physically integrated. Their economic integration became official in July 1990. East Berlin underwent a greater economic upheaval, with many formerly state-owned businesses succumbing to privatization.

While reunification (Die Wende, or “the change”) allowed many families and friends long separated by the Berlin Wall to reunite, it also brought with it numerous economic and social problems. Berlin has been forced to deal with housing shortages, strikes and demonstrations, unemployment, and increases in crime and right-wing violence against foreigners. Unification costs in Germany have led to increased taxes, reduced government subsidies, and cuts in social services.

Points of Interest

The imposing Brandenburg Gate (1788-1791), inspired by the Propylaea of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, is located at the western end of Unter den Linden, a famous boulevard in Berlin that extends east to Museum Island, in the Spree River; the Brandenburg Gate was closed to free access until December 1989. On or near the boulevard are the classical-style State Opera House (1743); the State Library (1774-1780); the baroque Arsenal building (1695-1706; designed by Andreas Schlüter), now housing a historical museum; Saint Hedwig’s Cathedral (1747-1773); the Gothic Church of Saint Nicholas (late 14th-early 15th century); the French Cathedral of the Platz der Akademie area, the heart of the French quarter in the 17th century; and the University of Berlin (1810), whose faculty has included 27 Nobel Prize winners and philosopher G. W. F. Hegel. Well-known streets crossing Unter den Linden are the Friedrichstrasse and the Wilhelmstrasse, on which once stood the Reichschancery of Adolf Hitler.

Berlin’s most famous boulevard is the Kurfürstendamm, which is lined with fashionable hotels, restaurants, shops, and movie theaters. At the boulevard’s eastern end is a ruined tower, all that remains of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (1891-1895; destroyed during World War II), maintained as a reminder of the destructiveness of war. Adjacent to the ruins are a polygonal church and its separate campanile (1959-1961). Branching from the Kurfürstendamm is the Tauentzienstrasse, a major shopping street and the site of the Europa Center (1963-1965): a 22-story complex of restaurants, shops, offices, cinemas, a planetarium, and an ice-skating rink. To the northeast is the Tiergarten park, largest of Berlin’s nearly 50 parks, which extends about 3 km (about 2 mi) to the Brandenburg Gate. In the Tiergarten are the large, modern Congress Hall (1957); the Reichstag building (1884-1894), once the seat of the German parliament, which was gutted by fire in 1933 and again damaged at the end of World War II, but which has since been largely restored; the Berlin Zoological Garden, the largest and one of the oldest in the world; and an aquarium. Near the Tiergarten is the Kulturform complex, including the Museum of Applied Arts; the Bauhaus Archives and Museum, commemorating the Bauhaus school of architecture and design (1919-1933); the Musical Instrument Museum; the National Library; the New National Gallery (1968), designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, housing a collection of 20th-century art; and the striking Philharmonie Concert Hall (1963), an asymmetrical structure that serves as the home of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Southeast of the Tiergarten is Oranienburger Strasse and environs, the heart of prewar Berlin’s Jewish district. Revitalization of the area has included restoration of the New Synagogue (1866), which was badly damaged on Kristallnacht (see Holocaust) and by bombing. The synagogue is now a center for the study and preservation of Jewish culture. The area is also known for its art galleries, cafés, bars, and artists’ studios. Berlin’s oldest Jewish cemetery is nearby.

Museum Island, in eastern Berlin, is the site of the Pergamon Museum (1930), with a fine collection of Greco-Roman and Asian art; the Bode Museum, with displays of ancient Egyptian and Byzantine art; and the National Gallery (1866-1876), with exhibitions of 19th-century painting.

On the eastern bank of the Spree is Alexanderplatz, a large square with restaurants and stores; nearby are the Television Tower (365 m/1197 ft) and Red Town Hall. A statue facing the eastern entrance to the town hall commemorates the Trummerfrauen (Rubble Women), thousands of women of all ages who cleared up vast quantities of rubble left in Berlin after World War II.

Forests and farmland cover nearly one-third of Berlin. In the southwestern part of the city is the vast Grunewald forest, which contains a great deal of woodland and the large Wannsee, formed by the Havel River, as well as a Renaissance-style hunting lodge (principally mid-16th century, with 18th-century additions), the large Olympic Stadium (built for the 1936 Olympic Games), and a broadcasting tower (1924-1926) measuring 138 m (453 ft) high. Other points of interest include Charlottenburg Palace (begun 1695), which houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the neoclassical Humboldt.

In the Dahlem district of western Berlin, near the Grunewald, are a group of famous institutions, which include the Painting Gallery, with displays of European painting from the 13th to the 16th century; the Ethnological Museum; the Sculpture Gallery; museums of Indian, Islamic, and East Asian art; and the German Folklore Museum. North of the Dahlem district is the Bridge Museum, displaying 20th-century German Expressionist art by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and others. Other museums in the city include a museum of Greek and Roman antiquities; the Bröhan Museum, with Art Deco and Jugendstil collections displayed in period settings; and the Egyptian Museum, which contains a world-famous bust of Nefertiti, queen of Egypt in the 14th century BC.

Besides the University of Berlin, institutions of higher education include the Bruno Leuschner College of Economics (1950); the Hanns Eisler College of Music (1950); the Free University of Berlin (1948), founded mainly by professors and students dissatisfied with conditions at the University of Berlin in East Berlin; and the Technical University of Berlin (1879). Additional cultural facilities include museums of Berlin and German history, the Comic Opera, and the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, home of the Berliner Ensemble, noted for productions of plays by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht, its founder. Also located in Berlin are the German Film and Television Academy (1966) and the College of the Arts (1975). Additional performing-arts facilities include the German Opera and the Hebbel Theater. The city is the site of an annual film festival and numerous other festivals. Berlin hosts the annual Grüne Woche, Germany’s largest agricultural fair.

In Berlin’s northern suburb of Sachsenhausen is the site of one of the first concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936; the site is now a memorial. After the war Soviet secret police used the camp to house war criminals, former Nazis and military officers, and opponents of the occupying regime. The camp was closed in March 1950. In 1992 arsonists set fire to the camp museum during a wave of attacks against foreign asylum-seekers.

Berlin has an efficient integrated system of subways, elevated train lines, buses (including all-night service), and trams.

European Metropolis

In 1871 Berlin became the capital of the unified German Empire. During the following decades the city grew into a major industrial center, specializing in machinery, electrical goods, and textiles. Culturally, Berlin won worldwide fame for its excellent theaters, concerts, and exhibitions; commercially, it benefited from a wide network of railroads converging at the city. Extensive construction of factories and commercial buildings attracted thousands of workers, most of whom were housed in large tracts of shoddy tenements.

After World War I (1914-1918) Berlin’s adjacent communities were incorporated into the city, increasing its population to 3,850,000. Berlin suffered economic setbacks during the troubled Weimar Republic (1919-1933), but the wealth of its theatrical, musical, and other cultural offerings remained unrivaled.

During the restrictive Nazi years (see National Socialism), Berlin’s cultural life lost much of its prestige. An ambitious building program, by which German dictator Adolf Hitler aimed to make the city the world’s foremost capital, was architecturally uninspired and never completed. In 1936 the city was host to the Olympic Games. During World War II large parts of Berlin were destroyed by air raids and, toward the end of the war, by artillery fire and street fighting. By 1945, about 50,000 prewar buildings had been destroyed, many were in ruins, and the city contained some 75 million cu m (101,250,000 cu yd) of rubble. Berlin’s population was 2,800,000, down from its prewar 4,400,000.

National Capital

When Germany reunified in October 1990, a reunited Berlin once again became the national capital. The seat of the federal government was scheduled to shift from Bonn to Berlin by the year 2000, although the Bundesrat (federal council) and eight federal ministries will remain in Bonn. Renovation of the Reichstag building is under way to accommodate the Bundestag (lower house of parliament); the surrounding area will house federal government offices. South of the Reichstag, Potsdamerplatz is scheduled for major development, including a -billion office complex to open in 1998. In September 1994 French, British, and U.S. troops formally left Berlin. Following the departure of Russian troops the month before, the event marked the end of an occupation that had lasted for nearly 50 years.

After the unification of Germany in 1990, subsidies once provided by the German government ended, forcing the Berlin government to make extensive cuts in its budget in the mid-1990s. Public service jobs were trimmed, and costs for social services increased. Angry postal and construction workers went on strike, and children and teachers protested the cuts in education and services. In addition, expenditures by the government increased as it helped rebuild East Berlin to bring it up to the standards of West Berlin

Visit www.villetravel.com for all the Best destinations in the World!

Cuban County House, Nowadays an Innermost Hotel in Havana City

Cuban County House, Nowadays an Innermost Hotel in Havana City

The Old Havana charms any person who is interested in innermost places. When talking about holidays, this city is something very special for the most exquisite travelers, a Cuban feast for the eyes.

It’s particular contrasts stimulate dreams and make it an obligation for tourists to capture such a beauty in a picture and, much better, in an unforgettable memory of the active rest.

That’s why it constitutes a real pleasure the necessary walk through the paved streets of the old part of the wonderful island’s capital.

So, as a part of the efforts to provide the Cuban capital city with a more and more cultural and historical tourism, comes into being the San Beltrán de Santa Cruz hotel in the old Conde de Jaruco’s house, considered today an innermost resting place.

This hotel, managed by the touristic company of the City Historian’s Office, Habaguanex S.A, which is responsible for the amusement in La Habana Vieja, could be considered as a cultural jewel; the perfect lodge.

Located in Calle San Ignacio 411, between the streets of Muralla and Sol in Old Havana – declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1982 – shows now an appropriate elegance and intimacy.

This hotel is composed by 11 colonial rooms, one suite and the other 10, standard rooms. It also boasts a breakfast-room called “San Juan de Jaruco” and a snack-bar baptized as “Don Gabriel”.

According to historians, in 1732, Don Gabriel Beltrán de Santa Cruz ordered the construction of a house at the Plaza Vieja, – the Conde de Jaruco’s house – but he died at the beginning of the works.

Hes widow, Doña Antonia Aranda y Avellaneda, daughter of the major of the San Salvador de la Punta fortress, extended the project and asked the contractor to build a small imitation of it in the backyard of the main house, called since then “La Casa Chica” (1739).

During the time, several families and prominent personalities of the society of the capital city lived in the house like the Count of San Juan de Jaruco, Pedro Beltrán de Santa Cruz and the sister of the Marchioness of Cárdenas de Monte Hermoso, Josefa Catalina de Santa Cruz.

In that mansion were received and lodged the most prominent personalities that visited the city, including the Baron Alexander von Humboldt, an eminent German scientist, and three French princes: the Count of Beaujolais, the Duke of Montpensier and the Duke of Orléans, who became later the king of France, Louis Philippe.

“La Casa Chica” hasn’t suffered great transformations, preserving its old components and its colonial ambience. This great house is located near the Plaza Vieja and has opened its doors as a new charming hotel, combining antique and modern elements with an attractive design.

This hotel is part of a very delicate structure admired by hundreds of travelers from all over the world; especially Europeans that are daily accommodated in this houses of the old part of the city.

San Cristobal UK is a Tailor-Made Cuba holiday specialist and has a vast experience in organizing holidays to Cuba. This is one of a series of articles devoted to promote the Cuban Culture and to give information on what to do and see in your Holidays to Cuba.

Mammoth Mountain A Great Ski Resort with Reasonable Lodging Options

Mammoth Mountain A Great Ski Resort with Reasonable Lodging Options

Mammoth Mountain has been running since the 1930s. It is widely known to Californians to have some of the best snow in the Sierras each year. The first ski lifts were mere rope tows that could only bring one skier at a time up the mountain. From one lift in the 30s Mammoth Ski Resort has grown to over 30 high speed lifts with hundreds of runs. The resort each year caters to thousands of skiers wanting to play on this winter wonderland.

Mammoth Mountain is more popular with southern California skiers despite Mammoth being closer to northern California. The ski resort is located in the Inyo National Forest and sits upon a mountain that is in the 11,000 foot range. It reigns as one of the highest ski resort in California and is within a 30 minute drive to the eastern gate of Yosemite. Southern California lies 6 hours to the south. People from Los Angeles have to drive through the upper Mohave and Highway 395 through Bishop, California to get to Mammoth.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort opens in November for business and in good years stays open way past June because of the amount of snow it gets. On good years the resort gets over 300 inches of snow a year. When other resorts are skiing on man-made snow and hard pack ice flows, Mammoth usually has good powder skiing.

Mammoth Condos has many options to choose from that range from posh resort accommodations that pamper guests like 5 star hotels to simple privately owned vacation rentals. The great amount of variety insures that the thousands of skiers have a place to stay each winter. Most people wanting a good middle option opt for the reasonable Mammoth Condos.

Mammoth Condos can accommodate large groups and families. They are privately owned condos near the resort that can be rented by agents and there are condos owned right in the Mammoth Resort. Privately owned condos are well kept and are within 5 minutes of the ski lifts. Resort owned condos have hotel amenities and are within the resort. Either way you win.

If you’re interested, then visit www.mammothmountainvacations.com and see how we can help you.

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Ecuador: A True Rainforest Adventure

Ecuador: A True Rainforest Adventure

So, all set to take a week long vacation in the jungles of Ecuador? Congrats on your decision, you will be having a blast with your close friends and family members. South America as a whole is a great place to enjoy your vacation but taking a trip to Ecuador would be really rejuvenating. There a lot you can actually see and feel loving the nature.

While in Ecuador, you can go to the city of Tena, a quiet city which is also popularly known as a good gateway for journey to the jungle of the country. Thousands of tourists come here and enjoy the specialty of Tena and enjoy a clean, peaceful and neatly ordered environment of the city. Most people prepare here for their adventure in the rainforest.

Getting to Tena: To reach Tena from Quito, another ancient city and the capital city of Ecuador, tourists have to explore jungle along the famous Pan American Highway. You can further move towards Ambato which is about 3 hour’s journey from Tena. People who want to explore the country can actually visit marvelous towering Andes Peaks on either side of the roadway.

The highway is situated through a central valley located between the two main ranges of the Ecuadorian Andes. Also known as the “Avenue of the Volcanoes,” the Ecuadorian Andes was originally described by Alexander Von Humboldt, a Prussian scientist who studied Ecuador’s volcanoes in the early 1800s. Von Humboldt was highly fascinated by volcanoes in the area seemed to form an avenue through the central valley.

To learn more, please visit Hotels Quito and get the details about Ecuador Tours

Fort Humboldt, a landmark in Humboldt County, showcases the history of the North Coast, and honors one of its past soldiers, Ulysses S. Grant. From 101 Milestones by Bill Morrill.

Lima’s Colonial Treasures

Lima’s Colonial Treasures

Lima is an expansive city, incorporating nearly 9 million people in its sprawling districts. When the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro moved the capital of the Inca Empire from Cusco to Lima, the city represented a new power, one that is reflected most prominently today it the city´s central plaza architecture. Its rare to find a place quite like Lima, where electronics stores are adjacent to Baroque churches, but that is the gift of a well-preserved colonial past mixed with a thriving contemporary city.

Tucked in next to shopping malls, hotels, and eateries, the Plaza Mayor is surrounded by five colonial buildings, the Palace of Lima, the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop´s Palace, and the Municipal Palace. Lined by tropical palm trees and painted in a distinctive, colonial yellow, the buildings in the plaza remain an imposing display of Spanish influence.

The Cathedral, with its grandiose steps stretching along one side of the square, is reminiscent of the famous Spanish cathedrals. Its later date of construction – construction began in 1535 and was finished in 1622 – explain the Baroque facade. The main altar, reconstructed in 1800, is neoclassical in style. There is also a brilliantly decorated mosaic chapel housing Pizarro´s tomb.

Also in the heart of the city is the Palace de Torre Tagle, a gem of Spanish Baroque architecture. Built around 1730 as the home of the Royal Spanish Fleet´s treasurer, the building is now used as the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The façade has a Baroque doorway, and materials were brought from Spain and Central America.

Another highlight from the colonial era is the port of Callao, located in the La Punta district, close to Lima. From this port have launched many famous expeditions, including those of the scientist Charles Darwin and the explorer Alexander Von Humboldt. Callao, founded soon after Lima, quickly became the center of shipping, and thus also of pirating. The Fotaleza del Real Felipe is the most famous colonial site, as this was the fort that protected against pirates.

This description of Lima’s Colonial Treasures was written by a Peru travel expert from the Peru vacation specialists, Peru For Less.

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Berlin

Cuban County House, Nowadays an Innermost Hotel in Havana City

Mammoth Mountain A Great Ski Resort with Reasonable Lodging Options

Ecuador: A True Rainforest Adventure

Lima’s Colonial Treasures

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