Everybody knows that in Berlin, the history of the city has converted into something distinctive and well known. All the old events of the war and the last dictatorship have left their marks in every corner of the capital city. However, you must think past the monuments and museums and remember that the true spirit of the city exists in the streets and the memories and attitudes of the people. Just as every city that has lived through the same trials as Berlin and has gone through modernity, invention and rebellion, it is something which goes beyond the borders of the city, and art in particular is something which goes straight to the heart of the history of Berlin.

Forget your accommodation Berlin and all the galleries in the centre, (although there are many good ones), to understand what has happened in this city and the effect that it has left on the citizens, you have to leave the most touristy galleries and museums to do a visit of the best places of artistic interest in the city.

Although every graffiti artist will tell you that their art has an important meaning, the graffiti of Berlin is something much more potent than you could possibly envisage. From the age of the Berlin wall, and the segregation of the city, Berlin has seen the arrival of rebellion and one of its most potent weapons which was not life risking was graffiti. The city is therefore covered in “art”, which I put in inverted commas due to the controversy of the theme. In every corner of the city there is a wall decorated in potent images which illustrates the history of the city and the feelings of the citizens.

Situated in the Mühlenstrasse in the Friedrichshain district, there is a piece of wall which has become the ‘East Side Gallery’. It began in 1990, and 21 countries took part to create the biggest open air gallery in the world.

This history has transformed the city and the young Berliners continue transforming the city today with their art. Berlin has become one of the most cultural cities in the world and without doubt, you should book accommodation in Berlin and visit it!

One of the most popular tourist destinations in all of South Carolina is the Fort Sumter National Monument. This area is preserved and heavily attended because of its historical relevance. This is where the first battle was fought which began the Civil War in America. Though Fort Sumter was forced to surrender to the Confederate States, the North prevailed. Now you can travel to the Fort Sumter National Monument and see many of the ruins of the fort, as well as markings stating where events actually happened.

The actual fort is accessible by private boat or public ferry. In addition to the fort, the area also includes the Liberty Square Visitor Education Center and Fort Moultrie. The former of these lets you in on some lesser-known information about South Carolina, Fort Sumter and the Civil War. Park Service Rangers also offer question and answer sessions to tourists. There is actually quite a history on how Fort Sumter evolved from a place of ruins to a military base to a lighthouse and finally back to a ruin’s site, this time stamped with a National Monument label. Make plans to see this monumental piece of America history!

This exciting 14th century fortress was the setting for Marie-Antoinette’s imprisonment before the revolution and looks just the part from the outside. Definitely worth a visit if you are planning a trip to Paris, get up early and leave your Paris accommodation or Paris apartments, and make your way to 2 bd du Palais in the 1st arrondissements.

The 13th century Bonbec tower, built during the reign of St Louis, the 14th century twin towers, César and Argent, and the Tour de l’Horloge all survive from the Capetian palace. Here you will be able to see the interior of the castle, including the Salle des Gardes, medieval kitchens with their four huge chimneys and the Salle des Gens d’Armes, an impressive vaulted Gothic hall built between 1301 and 1315 for Philippe ‘le Bel’.

After the royal family moved to the Louvre, the fortress became a prison under the watch of the Concierge. The wealthy had private cells with their own furniture, which they paid for. A list of Revolutionary prisoners, including a hairdresser, shows that not all victims were nobles. In Marie-Antoinette’s cell, the Chapelle des Girondins, are her crucifix and portraits.

Located on the west of the Île de la Cité, near the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, la Conciergerie is part of the larger complex known as the Palais de Justice, which is still used for judicial purposes.

You can get to this interesting castle by Metro: lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14 - Bus: 21, 24, 27, 38, 58, 81, 85 and Balabus - RER: lines B and C - Follow the Seine banks to Ile de la Cité. Open from Mar – Oct 9:30am – 6pm daily and Nov – Feb 9am-4.30pm daily. As well as this, admission is €6.50; €4.50 18-25s, with under 18s free when accompanied by an adult.

It’s a common complaint that American is losing its downtowns. Once the centers of activity, many have fallen out of favor and been replaced by shopping centers and urban sprawl, leaving these historic areas to ruin. Eager to see that this fate did not claim their own downtown, the residents of Church Hill, Maryland worked hard to restore and revive one of their best known landmarks, the Church Hill Theatre.

The Church Hill Theatre today hosts plays, magic shows, children’s theatre and music events. Far more than the name “theatre” entails, it is really a center of community creativity, restored to its Art Deco glory and fitted with modernizations such as handicap accessible bathrooms. In the 20 years since 1988, no less than 76 productions have graced the stage of the Church Hill Theatre. There is always something interesting going on at this historic property.

Church Hill, thanks to the theatre’s restoration, enjoys a downtown that hearkens back to the time when they were the places to be on any given weekend night and the atmosphere still hasn’t lost its charm.

Flying on an airplane is usually a great experience for both you as an owner and your dog or puppy. However according to records by the US Department of Transportation, in 2002 96 pets were lost, injured, or died on airline flights. Breaking this number down 17 pets were lost, 49 died, and 30 pets were injured. This is a staggering number considering that airline pet crates are supposed to be safe.

I know of an awesome place to get some dog accessories.

In contrast to those numbers many dog lovers, breeders, and enthusiasts fly their pets with no incident. The Transportation Association of America, backs up animal safety on airlines with the safety concerns that airlines claim to make.

However the AKC(the American Kennel Club) feels differently though on this issue. The AKC spokesperson does claim that with precautions that owners can take with a few guidelines that air travel can be safe for dogs.

You can pick up some great deals on dog dress.

The number one suggestion to all pet owners is to completely avoid sending your dog traveling in an airplane unless it is absolutely necessary. Many veterinarians and humane organizations are constantly reporting about dog injuries from air travel due to dogs which desperately attempt to claw its way out of the crate in order to escape. Some of them actually do escape and become injured in the cargo bay.

The safest method of travel is via your own car or SUV. If it is a have to situation and you both must fly then it is wise if not a matter of life or death to follow these rules for a safe and relaxing flight!

Of course there is a large number of successful trips made by dogs on airplanes, but every now again a true horror story emerges. One of the most important things you can do is to have your dog thoroughly checked out by the veterinarian for any medical issues.

You want a total and complete physical! You want him or her to check your dog thoroughly for something that might be pre-exsisting.

This doesn’t mean you are a poor dog owner, but sometimes with senior dogs, they are more of a candidate for Kidney diesease. If your dog would happen to have this in the early stages, it might be hard to know because the only symptom really is that they drink lots of water. What is the danger? The danger is that if your dog sets one paw on a plane face renal failure and die. So knowing that your dog is in tip top shape is more than an essential it is life and death! Choose only flights that are direct flights only. You will cut down on the chances of your pet becoming lost or put on the wrong plane by taking a flight that has no stops until they reach the desired destination. Smaller dogs such as your minis, toys, and puppies should always be kept with you in the cabin. These are just a few simple guidelines to ensure your pet is safe during their flight.

I know you just adore your dog, so you may want to check out these dog sweaters.

The Statue of Liberty

new york statue

Enlightening the World with charity

A beacon of light, hope, and clarity

A gift of friendship from France

An ally who embraced us taking a chance

To battle the British and our hearts encourage

Today by our foreign policy, this ally we disparage

Yet the Statue of Liberty remains aglow brightly

A universal symbol of freedom and democracy

A monument of cherished national glory

Dedicated on October 28, 1886 proudly

Designated as a National Monument in 1924

Opening to immigrants abroad freedom’s door

Restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986

A pillar commemorating truth and justice

25 windows in the lady’ crown

Represent gemstones found on the earth

To the gem of freedom God gave birth

Igniting hope within the hearts of humanity

Heaven’s rays shining over the world

Christ’s revelation beaming out through His Word

The seven rays of the Statue’s crown

Remind us of countless souls who will bow down

Across the seven seas and continents

Putting in Christ the Savior their confidence

The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand reads

“July 4th, 1776″ - the date of American Independence

Which in actuality was all about divine dependence

statues of liberties

Upon Almighty God who helped us the underdog

Overthrow the tyranny of Great Britain and the King

The battle cry of the American Revolution told everything

“No King but King Jesus!” This was our anthem

To Christ Jesus alone we pledged allegiance

Entreating help from heaven, this was our brilliance

Sadly and ironically, today we have become the tyrant

Taking our military abroad to oppress the less fortunate

Change regimes and rhetorically justify our means

While we torment the innocent and profit handsomely

Accumulate more oil reserves to gain economically

Exert our global control sovereignly internationally

As if we have become a law and God unto ourselves

Lord God above break us before we abuse anyone else

Relight our flaming torch in purity and remove our perversity

Open our arrogant, greedy eyes to clearly see

That our current foreign policy is causing more hostility

Increasing our enemies and taking us deeper into depravity

Awake us to the cruel consequences and sordid severity

With which our political leaders maneuver for personal gain

And falsely use governmental powers and God’s holy name

Arise mighty God and let not liberty and truth be neglected

Let all deception and evildoers within government be detected

Conquer Christ Jesus over profiteering peddlers of fear

Expose their lies, betrayal, and selling of this war on terror

Uncover their obstruction of justice publicly before all who care

Let them not in pretense patriotically wave our flag in the air

Neither tolerate them to receive unwarranted fanfare

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

The people of God committed to truth in the land

Our mighty woman with flaming torch in hand

Welcoming immigrants from afar to this great band

To embrace the cause of liberty and live under command

One nation under God to whom we lift up holy hands

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

Emma Lazarus you wrote it well and need say no more

The Statue of Liberty is an anachronism in America today

As America’s leaders misuse their power and seek to play

Purport piety, moralize what they claim to be morality

Fighting wars without end as they maximize their military

American troops follow orders blindly exercising bravery

Trusting in the Commander in Chief who leads us foolishly

Deeper into enemy lands trying to nation build and take a stand

Not wisely counting the cost nor picking our battles

Sometimes we even support repressive Third World dictators

The cry of the French Revolution, “Liberté, égalité, fraternité,”

Is no longer official policy in the U.S.A., just merely history

As it cleverly uses its ideology in duplicity to benefit itself freely

The Statue of Liberty is now a reminder of American hypocrisy

What has become of the United States of America my beloved country?

Paul Davis is a FL real estate professional, life coach (relational & professional), worldwide minister, and change master.

Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul’s Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

new york city sights

Choose The Maldives for your Honeymoon

The beautiful holiday destination of The Maldives is an extremely popular honeymoon destination.

There are 1200 islands in total, with 80 of those containing resorts and tourist facilities.

For this reason it is often booked out year round so it would be a good idea to book early regardless of the time of year you are traveling. Being in the tropics, it never truly gets cold there so you can even travel in the traditional winter months and still enjoy your time there. It should be noted that the Maldives is a very expensive place to holiday at. Resorts have a monopoly over accommodation and there is not really any budget accommodation there. It is a place for the cashed up tourist and luxury seeker.

Some of the best and most exotic honeymoon resorts in the Maldives are:

- Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru

- Four Seasons Resort Maldives

- Laguna Maldives

- Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort

- Soneva Gili Resort & Spa

- Vakarufalhi Island Resort

- Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort

- Mirihi

Whichever you choose, you will definitely be pampered and most people find it difficult to leave!

If you love diving, then you will find that the Maldives a great choice for your honeymoon. The best diving attractions in the Maldives are the colorful schools of fish such as Black and White Snappers, Humpback Snappers, Barracuda, Unicornfish, Yellowback Fusiliers, Trevally Jacks and more. The sheer number and range of fish here is astounding and divers will never experience a boring dive, nor will they ever see the same dive twice!

The fact there are no cars (only boats) make The Maldives a very secluded destination for your honeymoon. There can be nothing more romantic than an afternoon boat trip on crystal blue water with colorful fish and coral beneath your boat.

Other honeymoon options in the Maldives are private bungalows. These give you and your partner complete privacy and your own piece of z beautiful white sandy beach and lagoons.

Some of the best places to visit whilst on a Maldives honeymoon are:

- Male - This is the capital of the Maldives and is the most commercial of all areas. It is only here that you will find a few stores and small restaurants outside of the resorts.

- Makunudu Island - This is an amazingly romantic place, with golden beaches and walkways which are lined with palm trees. This is a place where you will feel at one with nature and your partner.

The Maldives are possibly the single most romantic honeymoon location in the world. I hope you will consider visiting here for your honeymoon! Or at least make it known to your fellow bachelor friends who would appreciate your valued recommendation.

Read more about Maldives Hotels Guide and vacation packing checklist.

We just returned from a wonderful vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; did you know that Puerto Vallarta is tucked away in the middle of the Bay of Banderas, in the Mexican pacific coast? There you will find a gorgeous tourist town rapidly becoming one of the most popular holiday spots in the world and we want to share our experience. We found an incredible Villas In Puerto Vallarta, called La Casa de Arriba, overlooking Los Arcos rocks in the Mismaloya Bay.

The view from the wrap around infinity pool was breath-taking, during the season; they told us that you can watch the migrating whales while in the pool! There is a gourmet kitchen with all the toys and a dining room table that will allow 8 people to eat together. For the kids, big ones included, there is a huge game room with a full size pool table and big screen flat TV. They even had the NFL package so that we could watch all the Sunday action! A huge natural rock that is actually part of the wall accents the game room and built in bar area. And again the view was amazing! Our maid, Carolina, was super helpful with everything. She was born in the area and was able to tell us where to find the best food, gifts, and activities. She even helped us learn a little bit of Spanish.

In town we found great pizza at Encuentros, as well as four identical masked Mexican superheroes, dressed up for Halloween. When we asked them the significance of the costume, we found out that they were from PVRPV, the company that had rented us the Puerto Vallarta Condo, what a hoot!

After pizza we went bar hopping and found Fridas, where we spent hours enjoying the music and local people. Our concierge turned us on to some great day trips. We took a boat to secluded beaches, had lunch on the beach, and oh, the open bar on the boat was something too! Swimming with the Dolphins, Zip lines, and jungle tours were other options that we had.

I didn’t know that Puerto Vallarta is reported to be the most repeated holiday destinations on earth. By that, they mean that more people return here for a second, third or more holidays than any other place they go… we just want to say thanks for all those who made our vacation so special, we will be back!

Check this funny video about where to stay in Puerto Vallarta. ==> http://www.pvrpv.com/in_and_out.php

Here are a few preparation ideas to make the most out of your Southwest United States Culinary vacation.

Have a Ready Appetite
The perfect way to do justice to your food trip is to have a big appetite. What’s the point of paying for the opportunity to taste the best culinary delights of a given region or culture when your stomach can’t accommodate more than a bite?

Of course, having a big appetite doesn’t mean starving yourself the day before.

Just make sure you don’t eat too much the day before your trip. If possible, take a pill to ensure your stomach’s certifiably empty for the food fest ahead.

Prepare for the Heat
Heat is a term often associated with the Southwest in more ways than you might think.

First, a majority of the tastes of Southwest food are especially spicy. Chimichangas, nachos, taquitos, stuffed peppers, chile relleno, chili con carne, and salsa are just some of the popular dishes that can get you hopping mad out of the restaurant with burning taste buds. If you’re not good at eating spicy stuff, make sure you have a small bottle or jug of iced water with you at all times; there may be instances when you just can’t wait a minute longer to cool your tongue off.

Second, Southwestern states are not exactly the coldest regions of the country. The climate in this area, especially in Arizona and Texas, can be quite ovewhelming in its heat. You can’t beat Arizona tourism. But be sure you’re dressed comfortably in cool, airy clothing. Wearing a cap or sun visor as well as a pair of sun glasses can help protect you from the heat.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are always a concern, so again, having an ample source of water with you at all times is encouraged.

Prepare for the Heat
Concerning the heat, there are also certain aspects of the weather that you might need to watch out for. Insects are a nominal but annyoing problem, but one that a mosquito repellent can easily address. Rainfall can also be a cause of trouble, but not if you come
prepared with a rain jacket and umbrella.

Clothing
While we’re on the topic of clothing, make sure to ask your vacation organizer if you’ll visit any place with a requisite dress code. Knowing how to dress can also help guarantee that you pack light for your Southwest US trip.

Bring a First Aid Kit with You
Trip organizers always have first aid kits with them, but there’s no telling when you’ll find yourself alone and separated from your group. As such, it would do you no harm to have your own first aid kit with you.

However, if you’ve considerable experience traveling, you probably already have a first aid kit packed with your bags. There are, however, extra things you might add to your kit in consideration of “special dangers” you might face during your Southwest US tour.

If your vacation includes a trip to the desert, antidotes for snake bites and medication for other types of bites (remember: scorpions and spiders can cause harm, too!). High altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS) is also a possibility if your food tour includes a short but physical mountain hike.

Double Check Everything
Last, review your travel checklist a few days before you leave for your tour. Call your tour organizer to guarantee that everything’s fine in their side as well.

Dumfries, situated, on the banks of the River Nith, not too great a distance from the Solway Firth is, by a large number, the largest town in Scotland’s southwest (the population is far more than 30,000 souls). Dumfries, in similarity with Ayr, has strong associations with Robert Burns life.

For folk wishing to take a vacation in Dumfries we have listed below information about 3 popular tourist attractions to visit; Robert Burns House, Lochmaben Castle and Dundrennan Abbey:

Dundrennan Abbey

King David I founded Dundrennan Abbey in 1142. At this time, Scottish abbeys were more often built of a reddish sandstone, but Dundrennan Abbey was made of very hard-weathering, local grey sandstone. This is probably the reason why many of the original architecural forms and mouldings have survived. The first monks to live in the Abbey, were supposedly to have come from Rievaulx, Yorkshire. Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night on Scottish soil at Dundrennan Abbey in 1568. She then found her way across the Solway Firth to Workington, and was shortly imprisoned and captured by the English. In 1587, following the Scottish Reformation, the land was passed into the hands of the crown.

Lochmaben Castle

The Lochmaben Castle, that we see today, was not the first Lochmaben Castle. The first was commissioned by the Bruce family, Lords of Annandale, in the 1100’s. In 1298, King Edward I of England seized the castle, and then commissioned another Lochmaben Castle in a more efficient defensive situation. This second castle was finished in the beginning of the 14th century, leaving the old castle derelict. From 1306 to 1588, the castle was either in the hands of the English or the hands of the Scots. It was in 1588 that James VI besieged and seized the castle from the Maxwell family. The castle was eventually abandoned after the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

Robert Burns House

One of the most famous men in Scotland, Robert Burns, lived in Dumfries during the later years of his life. The house that he and his family once lived in has now become a place of pilgramge for his fans from across the globe. He left this mortal coil prematurely at the age of thirty seven in 1796, at home. Today, one can catch a glimpse of how he and his family lived, back in the late 1700’s. The chair and desk where he sat and composed are displayed, as are many of his orginal manuscripts. On display there are personal items as well, that once belonged to his family.

If you are in the process of considering a Scottish vacation and you wish to spend a few days in Dumfries you may want to book your accommodation online and you will find listings of Dumfries hotels and accommodation at http://dumfries.hotelreservationhelper.com.