Introduction to Ecuador

 
The eye-catching colors of Ecuador leap out from every corner of its diverse landscape, from fluttering rainbow-hued macaw wings in the Amazonian jungle to the calm, dazzling blue lakes of the Andean sierra and the fiery terracotta sands of the Galapagos Islands. Brooding snow-capped volcanoes provide a striking contrast to the roaring heat of the salsa-dancing coast. You'll gaze in wonder at the sparkling gold interior of Quito's baroque churches while walking in the footsteps of Spanish conquistadors and Incan warriors.
Cities
Hardy survivors of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, Quito's 500-year-old buildings usher you through columned archways onto hidden courtyards, its baroque churches twinkling with gold leaf. Catch a cooling river breeze as you stroll along Guayaquil's glitzy Malecón promenade, lined with shops and restaurants blaring hot salsa tunes. Cuenca, the capital's World Heritage Site sibling, crowns layers of Cañari and Inca foundations with colonial-era architecture; beneath the streets lie the ruins of ancient temples and regal palaces.
Countryside
In the Andes sierra, Ecuador's core, stunning turquoise lagoons nestle in extinct volcanic craters and riders on horseback traverse lush national parks and misty cloud forests. Glide in a canoe to the music of tropical bird song as you visit indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest in the east. Small, undisturbed beaches and humpback-whale-filled waters on Ecuador's Pacific coast lead to the Galapagos Islands, where giant turtles, seals, penguins, iguanas and other native wildlife roam freely in a naturalist's paradise.
Eating and Drinking
Filling fish soups topped with fresh tomato and onion, and raw seafood marinated in tangy lime juice -- the refreshing ceviche -- are popular dishes along the coast. The small and succulent cuy, roast guinea pig, is an Andean favorite, whether spit-roasted along rural highways or served in fine city restaurants. Wholesome thick cheese, hearty chicken and potato soups and braised meat stews help to counter Quito's thin, chilly air during leisurely Ecuadorean family lunches.
National Parks
A fresh-faced Darwin was mesmerized by the Galapagos Islands' vibrant native wildlife. You will be too, as you spy flamingo-dotted salt lagoons, sea lions beached on volcanic red sand, and swaggering marine iguanas or dive alongside penguins as falcons swoop overhead. You can scale the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano or trot on horseback inside the Cotopaxi National Park. As you canoe along the Amazonian jungle waterways of Yasuni, Ecuador's largest national park, look for multicolored macaws and pink river dolphins.

Introduction to Indianapolis

　　Indianapolis is a serious sports town. The Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to each event. The city also justifiably bills itself as the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World" and boasts world-class sports facilities (including the brand-new home of the Indianapolis Colts, the Lucas Oil Stadium). Indy natives rally behind the city's pro franchises -- the NBA's Pacers, the WNBA's Fever, the NFL's Colts, and the Indianapolis Indians.

In its passion for sports, however, the city does not neglect the arts. In addition to a few notable art museums and galleries, the city boasts a number of theater companies. Indianapolis also has neighborhoods worth exploring: the Lockerbie Square district with renovated Victorian homes on cobblestone streets; the shops, restaurants, and art galleries along Massachusetts Avenue downtown; and Broad Ripple Village, a canal-side neighborhood with boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife.

Introduction to St. Augustine

America's oldest permanent European settlement, St. Augustine draws history buffs and romantics to its Colonial Spanish Quarter and 18th-century buildings. It's a city that's been on travelers' itineraries for ages. Unlike other tourist hotspots, St. Augustine actually lives up to its romantic hype. With its coquina buildings and sprawling, moss-draped live oaks, visitors can do more than just museum hop. St. Augustine encourages guests to sit down for a while, and to drink in scenes from the past along with a chilled glass of sweet tea.
Things to Do
It's no surprise: Historic sites top the list of must-sees in this 16th-century town. St. Augustine's historic attractions rank among the best in the U.S.: the Oldest House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse and the Colonial Spanish Quarter, among others, all dating from the early 1700s. Evoking scenes from a quaint Spanish village, this historic quarter bursts with coquina buildings, their almost-hidden gardens visible out back, their courtyards shaded by stately live oaks and Spanish moss.
Shopping
Spanish-influenced home decor and furniture fill the antique shops and galleries in St. Augustine's historic district. Glossy oak tables, vibrantly-colored, Mediterranean-style tiles and silver bric-a-brac fill display windows along Aviles Street and St. George Street. Original oil paintings of all sizes capture the romantic scenes of historic St. Augustine: Cool coquina courtyards, cobbled streets and Spanish moss-draped shade trees.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Old Town St. Augustine amps it up it on weekends, when young locals and tourists head out for drinks and music. The A1A Ale Works draws crowds with its relaxed microbrewery, menu dotted with Caribbean, Floridian and Cuban influences, and weekend live rock and R&B. The Mill Top Tavern is a rare combination of nightlife and history. Located near the fort, the rustic 19th-century mill (with its still-operational water wheel) offers drinks, food and live music every night of the week.
Restaurants and Dining
Spicy food lovers, St. Augustine has something special for you: the Datil, one of the hottest peppers you'll ever find. Restaurants across town add whole and ground Datils to their menus. Hot Stuff Mon sells an assortment of Datil delicacies you can take home with you. The gaudy neon stripes covering its exterior are just the beginning at Gypsy Cab Co. where the inventive menu constantly changes, but the black bean soup and salads are local favorites. Top off the meal with a regional favorite: Key Lime Pie.

Galveston

Galveston is a port city on a barrier island opposite the mainland coast from Houston. Its main attractions are the downtown historic district with its Victorian commercial buildings and houses. Parts of the town are beautifully restored and ideal for just strolling around. The beaches are another attraction. They draw crowds of Houstonians and other Texans during the summer. The city is only an hour's drive from Houston and is a good destination for families; it's a quiet town with many points of interest, including Moody Gardens and the tall ship Elissa, and it's not far from NASA and Kemah. Galveston is not a boomtown like Houston. Its population of 60,000 remains fairly stable.
Hurricane Ike & Aftermath -- When Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston in the early-morning hours of September 13, 2008, it was a high category-2 storm. This wasn't as large as other dangerous storms to hit the U.S., but two factors made Ike more destructive: First, it packed a bigger storm surge (14 ft.) than most category-2 hurricanes, and, second, it hit the Texas coast in precisely the wrong spot, in effect, outflanking Galveston's sea wall. The center of the storm swept over the eastern tip of the island into Galveston Bay. The communities on Bolivar Peninsula, just to the east of Galveston Island, bore the brunt of the destruction.
Galveston, too, suffered severe damage -- much more so than when Hurricane Alicia (category 3) swept over the western half of the island in 1983. The problem is that Galveston is particularly vulnerable on its inland side. After the great storm of 1900, the land was raised so that it is highest along the sea wall and slopes downward to the bay to allow draining. When Ike's storm surge poured into Galveston Bay, there was nothing to block the water from flowing over the island's unprotected side, pushed by the counterclockwise flow of the hurricane's winds. The majority of the city was flooded, including the Strand, Galveston's popular and historic commercial center, and the East End historic district, with its many renovated houses. About 80% of houses in Galveston were flooded, including the grand mansions, such as the Bishop's Palace and Ashton Villa.
Ike killed 40 people on this coast. Total damages to the island are estimated at over $10 billion, and recovery will be slow. Tourism is the lifeblood of the local economy, so some emphasis will be on getting these businesses up and running. Five months after the hurricane, 60% of stores in the Strand have reopened. Clean-up and repairs have begun on the large attractions, such as the Schlitterbahn water park, in order to have them functioning by the summer, if not spring break. Replenishing the sand on beaches has already begun. Hotels are reopening. The annual Mardi Gras will be held. But basic problems with infrastructure, debris removal, and housing are all lingering. And the parts of the city that gave Galveston its character -- the Strand, the old silk-stocking district, and the rest of the historic East End -- are far from returning to normal. Houses and museums are shuttered, waiting for federal aid, insurance, or some other source of funding. The city has lost some of its businesses and is watching its tax base shrink. The University of Texas Medical Branch, the largest employer, has permanently laid off 3,000 employees and has reduced the number of beds in its teaching hospital. There is talk in the state capital of moving the entire institution to the mainland. If you want to visit Galveston, expect it to be a far cry from what it was, at least until the summer of 2010.
Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/galveston/1699010001.html#ixzz1Z8IsGvNt

Paris luxury holidays

Soak up the ambience of a deluxe suite in the Ritz hotel, dance the night away in one of Paris’s most exclusive night clubs or shop at designer boutiques. Paris is the perfect destination for a holiday of glitz and glamour, beckoning visitors with its sense of prestige, excitement and decadence.

Ritz and glamour

Spend your holiday in a stunning suite in the opulent Hotel Ritz Paris with views of the Eiffel Tower. Take a dip in your private Jacuzzi or lounge in the sauna after a day of hitting the shops. Make your stay extra special and indulge in the Coco Chanel suite, which has been designed to embody the essence and opulence of the iconic fashion designer. Another top choice is the extravagant Elton John suite, complete with chandeliers and stunning views.

Gastronomic delights

Enjoy the delicacies of world-renowned French chef Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée Restaurant. Awarded three Michelin stars, Ducasse serves rare dishes such as roasted blue lobster and wild duck foie gras. In addition to the mouth-watering cuisine, diners can choose from an extensive wine list of over 1,000 different vintages. Alternatively, dine with a view at Ducasse’s Le Jules Verne Restaurant, located on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.

High fashion

Paris is renowned for being one of the world’s top fashion hot spots, with enough haute couture boutiques to satisfy the most stylish fashionistas. Head to Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré for luxurious designer shops such as Hermes, Lancôme, and Versace. The Saint-Honoré district is also the historic home to the acclaimed perfumer Jean-Francois Houbigant, who in the 1800’s became the official perfume maker for royalty all over Europe. Find your royal scent at the modern perfume shop, Sarl Fried.

Parisian pampering

After a day of shopping try out the Valmont Spa in Le Meurice. Spa treatments include invigorating body scrubs, anti-aging facials, and state of the art toning and slimming body soaks that trim your figure while you relax. Professional masseuses perform innovative treatments such as the exclusive ‘Meurice’ body massage that combines a blissful massage with exotic oils that will leave you feeling like a million dollars.

Party like a rock star

Clubs on the Rue de Ponthieu are famous for entertaining Paris’s elite. Le Sens and Le Neo cater to the upper crust, and their intimate settings, excellent music, extensive champagne and cocktail lists make them a must see.