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.
Oslo
Oslo is one of the oldest capitals in all of Scandinavia. Because of increased interest in tourism, Oslo has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade. Whereas twenty or thirty years ago, visitors to Oslo would have had to rely solely on the intrinsic beauty of the area for a good time, now, with all of the added tourist attractions and museums, the combination is dynamite. There is enough to see and do in Oslo to keep you busy and happy for weeks.
In the 11th-century, a Viking king founded Oslo, and under Hakkon V, the city became the capital of Norway. Throughout the centuries, Oslo has burned to the ground numerous times, but every time it was rebuilt on a grander scale. Most recently, the city was completely destroyed by fire in 1824, but the King of Denmark, Christian IV, rebuilt the town in close proximity to the Akershus Castle. During this time, he renamed the city Christiania, but in 1924 Oslo reverted back to its previous (and current) name. After World War II, Oslo expanded to 175 square miles and today, in terms of area, it is one of the ten largest capital cities in the world. This is quite amazing for such a seemingly small town. However, for its great geographic size, there are only 500,000 inhabitants that live in the city. The region is heavily forested, and along with glaciers and mountains, Oslo has a great deal of uninhabitable area.
The name Norway comes from the word Norvegr, meaning the way to the north. Over 1,000 years ago, this term was used by the Vikings to describe the shipping route of the country. Norway is often referred to as the Land of the Midnight Sun because of the long nights during the winter and the long days during the summer. In the wintertime, it is not uncommon to have over seventeen hours of straight darkness. The scenery in Oslo is picturesque, and destinations to hike, ski, and explore are everywhere. The locals are friendly, and the territory is diverse and wonderfully exciting.
Dublin
Ireland is a fascinating and mysterious island nation, one of turbulence and beauty, extravagance and controversy. The shifts in power have led to some political upheaval, but when visiting splendid Dublin, none of this should come into play. After decades of violence, the Irish government finally declared a cease-fire in 1994, and since that time, as peace has increased, tourism throughout Ireland has escalated. This is a fantastic thing because Ireland is a wonderful place to visit when all is well. Dublin is an extraordinary city that is best experienced on foot. Many of the best sites are in a compact section of the town, and while others might require a vehicle to reach, there is no other experience like walking the streets of Dublin. The charming suburbs are glorious, and the small cafes and coffeehouses are enchanting. There are a number of elegant museums in Dublin, and a couple of outstanding galleries and concert theaters. You will never get bored in Dublin, and this is why many visitors to the area stay here longer than planned.
Along the outskirts of Dublin you will find the most relaxed and subdued portion of the community. The days are to be enjoyed, is their philosophy, and you should not miss the clean air and lively sporting events. Dublin is the capital city of Ireland, and nearly one-third of the population of the country resides here. Speaking in relative terms to the rest of the world, Ireland is a very young country when it comes to the average age of its citizens. This is no exception in Dublin, and in fact, Dublin is just about the youngest city in Ireland. Largely comprised of college students, Dublin is a town whose number one priority is revelry. There are plenty of pubs and clubs to go around, but there is so much more to this city that makes it a spectacular place to visit. The last few years have been a remarkable transformation period for Dublin, with new homes, buildings, and offices being built with no end in sight. The city is booming and has been called the most beloved capital in all of Europe. As tourism increases and Dublin expands, purists hope that it will retain at least some of its grace and small town feel. My suspicion is that it will, but for now the balance of quaint elegance and lively entertainment is absolutely perfect.
Belfast
Belfast is an ancient city that has definitely had its share of strife. The Irish government is currently focusing 100% of its attention on mending the cities that have endured so much suffering. Belfast is certainly one of these, although the charm, wonderful architecture, fabulous sights, and radiant atmosphere have remained intact. The city originally relied on trade, and developed into one of the most powerful port cities in Europe. As an old Victorian city, Belfast was called Titanic Town, not only for the prominent fact that the Titanic itself was constructed in Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard, but because the shipbuilding and trade industries here were incredibly strong and ruled the country at one time. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore, but with careful planning, perhaps the Belfast port will once again flourish. In the 1980?s and early 90?s, Belfast was a dangerous area to visit, because of intense political and religious turmoil and upheaval. After 20 years of violence in this war-torn region, the government finally declared a cease-fire. Thanks to the mandated peace treaty of 1994, Belfast has seen much more tranquility, and the violence has decreased considerably. During times of peace there are hundreds more job opportunities, and Belfast once again has become a lovely place to visit. In the last few years, Belfast has enjoyed increased tourism, a higher employment rate, and a better state of life for many of its citizens.
Scottish and English settlers came to Belfast in the 1600?s in an attempt to enlarge their empires. The city's location was a perfect spot to expand trade for these countries. Prior to the English arriving here, Belfast was a small village named Beal Feirste. After Sir Arthur Chichester took over, Belfast doubled every decade, growing at a remarkable rate. Today, 300,000 people live here, which comprises one-fourth of the inhabitants of all Northern Ireland. The City Hall and wide range of museums are spectacular, and Belfast also features wonderful parks, gardens, movie theaters, dining establishments, and shopping facilities.
Ft. Lauderdale
The Seminole Indians were the original inhabitants of the
area now known as Fort Lauderdale. The city itself was named for Major William
Lauderdale, who led a group known as the Tennessee Volunteers into the area
during the Seminole War.
Fort Lauderdale began as an agricultural community, full of
citrus groves. By the 1960?s, the city took on a new identity as the place for
college students to come for spring break. Hedonism and public drunkenness
became the norm for much of the next twenty years, but the residents of the once
sleepy town decided to take it back from the rowdy youngsters. The police began
to make their presence known a little more, and soon Fort Lauderdale was off the
list of top Spring Break destinations.
Today, Fort Lauderdale is a little closer to its roots, with
a gentle breezy demeanor to it. You can still have a good time here, exploring
the 300 miles of waterways that led to the labeling of Fort Lauderdale as
"the Venice of America." There are places to rent boats, and plenty of
opportunities to take a boat tour around the city. Or, get really acquainted
with the water by snorkeling or diving in the Atlantic.
There is still plenty to do in and around Fort Lauderdale.
Take a water taxi to some of the area's best restaurants and bars. Stroll
along busy Las Olas and visit the eclectic shops and art galleries.
The sports enthusiast will get his fill here. Tennis courts
and golf courses are everywhere in Fort Lauderdale. It's just a matter of
deciding which one to play on. Choose from baseball, football, or jai alai. You
can even place a bet at the greyhound racetrack.
The nature lover can check out over 500,000 acres of Florida
Everglades, which are part of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area. The Everglades,
which were formed by the constant overflow of nearby Lake Okeechobee, are home
to flamingos and alligators, among others.
Of course, if you're visiting Florida, chances are that you
will want to hit the beach, and there is ample space for everybody along Ft.
Lauderdale's beautiful coastline. There are over 3,000 hours of sunshine here
every year, so enjoy!
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