London
London is a fabulous city, with a rich heritage and history that greets you everywhere you go. There is so much activity and beauty in London that multiple trips are usually a necessity to get a true sense of the region. Perhaps Samuel Johnson was right when he said, a man that is tired of London is tired of life. The glory of Big Ben and the splendor of a trip to Buckingham Palace are only a beginning. The British Museum is magnificent, and the shopping in the city is spectacular.
Present-day London still possesses an air of the medieval, which only adds to its charm. St. Paul's Cathedral is a glorious site, which has stood since the 1600?s. The Thames flows by on the same course as it did 2,000 years ago, and London's time machine museums are magnificent. Art, fashion, and dining in London remain popular, and even the United States tries to imitate the dress and music of Britain's hot spot. London is still a swinging city, and Vanity Fair recently proclaimed it the coolest city in the world.
But all you traditionalists do not dismay, for Britons have a strong sense of culture and tradition. Teatime remains the most sacred part of the day, and is honored by nearly every citizen in the region. The tall, red double-decker buses still tour the city, and the matching red telephone booths can still be found on nearly every corner. And of course, the Royal Family continues its own tradition in England. Taking a tour of the Royal Quarters, gallivanting around the area, and exploring all of London's sights first-hand, are unparalleled experiences.
There is so much adventure to be found in London, but it does take a bit of effort. The layout of the area is quite difficult to navigate, but this simply adds to the fun! Venturing around the city and discovering unique experiences is the best thing about London. It is made especially enjoyable because London is one of the safest cities in the world, so you will be secure and comfortable in all of your travels. It is the swirling maze of streets and the city's medieval arrangement that make London difficult to travel from point to point. As a result, you will end up taking roundabout directions from locals, encountering wonderfully eccentric people and experiences along the way.
Tallinn
Tallinn is a city bustling with activity; a city that begs to be explored. This capital of Estonia is an incredible region, one that features outstanding museums and cultural sites, fabulous shopping, and an outrageously active nightlife. Both the Theater and Music Museum and the Maritime Museum are excellent, and Castle Square, found in the heart of town, is wonderful. Located inside the Castle Square are the Toompea Castle and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, two exquisite man-made triumphs. Old streets and lovely architecture still exist, but modern Tallinn is alive and well. Its government knows that Tallinn is far and away the primary tourist destination of travelers to Estonia, and therefore are doing everything in their power to bolster the desirability of this great city. A few years ago, the dining options in Tallinn were so limited that sometimes you would have been better off skipping a meal! These days, the eateries still fall short of the quality of the shopping and nightlife, but thankfully, there are a few standouts worth visiting.
For nearly one thousand years, outside influences have sculpted and altered the city of Tallinn. The Danes founded Tallinn, and in fact, the name directly translates to Danish fort. They did not want any confusion as to who it was that originally established this coastal beauty. The Danes settled here in the beginning of the 13th century and claimed the area as their own. Even though they may have been the first to take control of the region, they were certainly not the last. While present-day Tallinn is a peaceful and harmonious community, enjoyable in every way, it took hundreds of years of struggle for it to get that way. German nobility took control of Tallinn's public life, and this remained the case even as the Russian tsars claimed control of the city itself. The kings of Sweden felt as if they had a say as well, and they alleged that Tallinn was theirs to rule. A great deal of fighting ensued in the quest for Estonian domination, and the German culture is the one that ultimately proved the most significant influence on present-day Tallinn. The fortress of the German knights still stands, as do other German forts and armories. But nowadays, Tallinn has a personality all of its own, with interesting sights laced throughout the city.
St. Petersburg
The glow of St. Isaac's Cathedral and the wonder of the Russian Museum are two key elements that make St. Petersburg one of the most marvelous destinations in Eastern Europe. This ancient and magnificent city is bursting with personality, exploding with character, and built on culture and a strong heritage. The people of St. Petersburg remember their past, and honor their ancestors and greatest leaders with a dazzling array of cathedrals, churches, squares, and museums. The architectural highlights of this great city are abundant, and included are the Fortress of Peter & Paul and the Summer Gardens Palace. Some of the best restaurants in Russia are found in St. Petersburg. Recently, there have been many stories about St. Petersburg that have brought concern to prospective travelers. Try not to let these fables bother you, because as usual, the news media has blown a few incidents way out of proportion. Since the disbanding of the USSR, it is true that the Russian Mafia has started to play a somewhat significant role in the activity of St. Petersburg. But the city is by no means run by the mob, and if you behave in a respectable manner there is no need for concern. During the day and evening, the city is safe and lovely, and the majority of the robberies and related problems occur late at night, mostly near the casinos. A few years back, as St. Petersburg began to struggle economically, the government felt that one of the best ways to gain revenue and then distribute it back to the people was to engage in the building of casinos and gambling facilities. Interesting tactic to say the least, but as a result, slot machines and blackjack tables are found everywhere throughout the city.
Four million people call St. Petersburg home. The mood is lighthearted and enchanting, and the wide streets and glorious artistic sites are not reminiscent of communism at all. While St. Petersburg has endured its share of turmoil in the past, to visit the city now is to enjoy a vacation full of beauty, splendor, and bustling activity.
Helsinki
In 1550, Swedish King Gustavus Vasa ordered that a city halfway between St. Petersburg and Stockholm be built. The city became known as Helsinki, and it is a glorious location that overlooks the Gulf of Finland. Laced with green parks, fabulous sculptures, and fascinating squares, Helsinki is a wonderful travel destination. It is the capital of Finland, and is home to 800,000 people. It is surrounded by water on three sides, and touring Helsinki on foot is always your best bet. The city is compact and elegant, with the majority of citizens extremely well educated. The population is quite affluent, but is not an overly self-indulged people, especially considering they live so well. The locals still refer to Helsinki as their big village, and they are always very helpful and kind to tourists. This is definitely a city that has four distinct seasons, and if you are visiting Helsinki in the winter, you had better bundle up. Located on the southern coast of Finland, during the summer, Helsinki has some of the longest days anywhere in the world. During this time, it is not uncommon to have days that last over twenty hours.
Helsinki is one of the major cultural centers in all of Europe. The architecture is magnificent, and the museums and galleries are incredible. Helsinki has wonderful shopping and dining facilities, and is a pristine and inspiring city to visit. Everything seems clean and organized, and the government really takes care of its citizens and visitors. The quality of life here is extraordinary, and with each season comes a different version of the city. The public transportation system in Helsinki is efficient, and everything is very accessible. The city serves as a meeting place between western and eastern cultures, making Helsinki a wonderful cultural center. In 1952, the Olympic Games were held here, and soon after this grand event, the world began to truly embrace Helsinki as the tourist haven that it is. Americans and Europeans saw the well-organized country of Finland and fell in love with it.
Sorrento
Sorrento has long held a special place in the heart of Italians. Its rugged beauty has attracted poets, philosophers, playwrights, and authors for centuries. Roman mythology places Sorrento as the spot where sailors were lured to their death by the songs of the sirens, mermaids who used their beautiful voices to lead men to their watery graves. It's said that the mythical hero Ulysses stuffed his crew's ears with wax to deafen them and strapped himself to the ships hull in order to resist their allure.
Today, the city is still every bit as alluring. Sorrento is on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, a strip of land in Western Italy that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The small island of Capri is just three miles off shore, and one of Italy's most beautiful (but dangerous) roads winds along from Sorrento, through Amalfi and into Salerno. Sorrento is equidistant from both Naples and Salerno, exactly 43 miles away from each. Vic Damone's tear-jerking hit, Come Back to Sorrento may become your theme song once you visit this little slice of paradise.
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.
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