Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the most warm and inviting cities in existence. A picture of this quaint city includes cobblestone streets, a few towering skyscrapers and friendly people that will greet you at every turn. This is very unlike the typical hot pavement and traffic-covered streets that are usually associated with a major city. Copenhagen is truly a fairy-tale town where pollution does not exist but the sweet scent of bakeries envelopes the area instead.
Copenhagen is part cosmopolitan city and part small town that has plenty to offer its visitors. This is the political, financial and cultural capital of Denmark that 1.5 million people call home. Museums, historical sights, cafés, and the most delicious restaurants abound here. The day will captivate you and the night will intrigue you, so do not plan to go to sleep early. Go crazy and live it up at the many clubs and bars, or have a cappuccino while watching a magnificent sunset.
Copenhagen has quite a tumultuous history, starting in 1157, when Valdemar the Great gave it to Bishop Absalon. Before this transition year, Copenhagen was just a simple fishing town. Bishop Absalon built a castle here, which is now Christianborg Palace. Copenhagen grew to be a great center as a Baltic trade route, and in the 15th century, the town became the royal residence and the capital of Norway and Sweden. Walking around Copenhagen today, one will be able to see beautiful castles and towers that date back to the 16th century and the rule of Christian IV. This king was enamored of fine architecture, which resulted in a wealth of construction that still marvels visitors today. We are quite lucky Christian IV built up the city as much as he did, because some of the buildings from his time are the only historical landmarks that survived two major fires in the 18th century, as well as the bombings by Lord Nelson during the Napoleonic Wars.
A sweet lull of peace sweeps over Denmark now, which disguises Copenhagen's difficult history. It is a colorful town brought to life by street musicians and performers on every corner. Delight your eyes with the lights that illuminate these same streets at night, and take a stroll along a drawbridge over one of the many canals. It is impossible not to fall in love with this seafaring city.
Sydney
The Mi'kmaq Indians, who lived undisturbed for thousands of years, originally settled Nova Scotia. John Cabot was the first European to step ashore, reaching Cape Breton Island in the late 15th Century. While the French were first to settle here, King James I of England proclaimed the area New Scotland, or Nova Scotia in Latin. The French and British fought bitterly over the area, with the French finally ceding the land in 1713 after signing the Treaty of Utrecht.
Sydney is Nova Scotia's third largest city. With over 26,000 people calling Sydney home, the city has certainly come a long way from its roots as a British Loyalist haven. In 1785, Loyalists from New York decided to settle here and remain under British rule. Soon after, immigrants from Scotland arrived. Sydney didn't explode population-wise until the early 20th Century, when a steel plant opened in town, attracting people from all over Nova Scotia. Coal was discovered in mines nearby, and even more people came to Sydney.
Sadly, all of this industry fouled up the environment around Sydney, and only now is the city taking proactive steps to fix the problem. More land has been designated for parks, and the people of Sydney have taken an active interest in repairing the damage done by their parents and grandparents.
Today, Sydney is a town trying to forge a new identity as a naturalist's haven and a cultural center. There are museums that have preserved Sydney's roots, as well as outdoor adventure companies to cater to those who want a closer look at Sydney's natural beauty.
Halifax
Halifax is an historic site full of natural beauty and fun-filled learning centers. The museums that make up the downtown sector are tremendous, including the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which is an ocean lover's dreamland. The Halifax Harbor is gorgeous, and the area around it is exploding with life and activity. It is well protected and serene, and an afternoon by the harbor will calm even the most rattled nerves. The city is very close to major fishing spots, and if you are in the mood for some outstanding fishing opportunities, you will not have to look far. Halifax is home to 115,000 people, and in the last three decades, this charming port city has become the financial and commercial center of the Maritimes.
Incredible as it may seem, behind Sydney, Australia, Halifax is home to the second-largest natural harbor in the world. As your cruise ship pulls in, you will instantly realize why you came to this youthful and pleasurable destination. There are a few top universities in Halifax, and there is certainly no shortage of top notch dining and shopping facilities. A few of the restaurants are absolute knockouts, and you could shop for days in this spectacular seaport. At night, Halifax is alive and kicking, with numerous desirable nightclubs, bars, and theatrical venues to catch your attention. The Citadel is a fortress made out of stone that is a popular landmark, and Spring Garden Road is the liveliest portion of Halifax. Recently, a great deal of work and construction has gone into improving the waterfront. The port and nearby area have enjoyed wonderful transformations, and the result is an elegant harbor that is more picturesque than ever. Boutiques and cafes have sprung up all over the place, and entertaining events such as the International Busker Festival occur all year long.
New York
New York City has something for everyone. It is North America's most cosmopolitan destination, and boasts of an artistic and cultural history that reigns supreme among American cities. It is fast paced, loud, and certainly never boring. Its sights and sounds are a glorious combination of everything imaginable. From Bohemian Greenwich Village to the elegant Upper East Side, the diversity here is sure to astound you.
Historic Battery Park is an educational mecca. Little Italy and Chinatown have marvelously maintained their immigrant population and heritage. Today they offer a cultural richness that is truly a gift to the city. Soho (South of Houston St.) and Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal St.) exist on the cutting edge of fashion and style, and are proof of an industrial area's potential for chic. Gramercy Park will make you feel as if you have somehow made your way to London. The Flatiron District has become famous for its technology boom, or Silicon Alley. Chelsea is a hip, European-feeling area that is home to many of New York's photography studios and galleries. These are just some of the city's gems, each offering a unique flavor and pace. Visitors could spend days in any one of them, but for the ultimate New York experience, make your trip a mélange of them all. To truly see the city could take a lifetime, but sampling from the bits and pieces of New York's variety is a treat for any tourist.
Orientation is key to navigating this city. Terms like uptown and downtown are literal descriptions referring to north and south. If you are south of your destination, locals will tell you to go uptown, and vice versa. The terms also refer vaguely to areas of the city. Uptown describes anywhere above lower Manhattan (north of about 34th St.), and downtown usually means lower Manhattan (34th St. and below) through Chelsea, which begins near 22nd St. You will also hear east side, and west side, referring to the areas above 59th St. that are on either side of Central Park.
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