What you may need to know about Dubai

Travel agencies, hotels and airlines all have 1 thing in common when it come to inquiries about Dubai: They lie to you.
So here is the TRUTH about the REAL SUMMER TEMPERATURES
& the truth about REAL LIFE during RAMADAN:
--> Trust me, I've lived here for 12 years and the city is on the edge of a desert after all... it gets HOT!!

1. SUMMER
If you are planning to spend lots of time perfecting your tan, dune-bashing in the desert & seeing the city, then summer is definitely NOT the time to visit.
Hotels & airlines will try to "lure" tourists with cheap flights & hotel packages, but that doesn't mean that you will enjoy your holiday.
From June onwards, daytime temperatures are always around 40 degrees Celsius = 104 F, and July is the hottest month with temperatures hovering around 45 C = 113 F, even reaching 50 C = 122 F!!! Average humidity is between 70 - 90% during the day, with September being a slightly cooler but the most humid month, with a regular 100% humidity. Because of the high humidity, some people (especially the elderly) may experience difficulty breathing.

2. RAMADAN (in Year 2011, approx. Aug. 1st - Aug. 29th)
(again, cheap hotel offers lure tourists)
During the Islamic Holy Month, Muslims fast during sunlight hours (no food, water, smoking, chewing gum etc ). At sunset they break the fast ('Iftar') & usually stay up very late & nap during the day.
Note: During the day, cafes/restaurants are closed (but supermarkets are open). Hotels will keep at least 1 indoor restaurant open for guests. Shopping malls/Souks open later in the day, but still serve no food/drink until after sunset. The Museum is also closed. No eating-drinking allowed in public (hotel beaches are usually ok though). No alcohol is served anywhere during the day. At night, pubs are open serving alcohol but no live music & no dancing. And remember that people may get a bit grumpy towards the end of the day, low blood sugar level or desparate for a cigarette!

So if you want to really experience Dubai during your holiday, Ramadhan is not the time for you.
Unique Suggestions: 1. SUMMER - You can survive a summer holiday up to your chin in a cold pool or at Wild Wadi Waterpark (the water is usually very cold there), but otherwise all you can do is sit in airconditioned shopping malls. It's far too hot and uncomfortable to really enjoy a holiday in full.

3. RAMADHAN TENTS
Around town, there are many nice & pretty Ramadhan tents where you can eat typical Arabic dishes, smoke Sheesha and relax. It's a very traditional atmosphere and nice to experience.
TIP: If you want both action & tradition, why not visit Dubai just before or just after Ramadan? That way, you have a few days of quite, cultural days and a few days of night-life & action!
Fun Alternatives: 
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In terms of seasons/temperatures, to really enjoy the beaches and desert
the best time to visit Dubai is from October to May. June to September is really very, very uncomfortable, hot and humid. Apart from all humid and hot climate Dubai  too has some wonderful place to visit. Shopaholics may too find it interesting as it organizes some of the largest shopping festivals. It also has some of the most wonderful and exquisite Malls, Hotels and resorts such as Mall of Dubai and Burj-al Arab. Dubai is also famous for its beaches.
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Note that in December & January, it can get quite chilly in the evening and you may need a cardigan/light jacket. Also, Dubai is most likely to experience RAIN in January. For the past for example (2005-2008) we had many straight weeks of rain in December & January... you can imagine that the tourists were not impressed... ;-)

Indulge at San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge (pics 1-2) is by far the most famous landmark of SF. It was built in 1937 to connect San Francisco and Marin County and it is 1.7 miles long (at that year it was the longest suspension bridge in the world) and its located at the opening of the San Francisco bay onto the Pacific ocean. Every one can recognize the bridge because of its red color and elegant design. Some days you may see it covered by fog which is also nice, actually only the towers can be seen then. And it’s almost always windy and cold up there, even in summer. You can walk along the bridge on a pedestrian lane (at specific hours) or use the bike lane.
You may ride the bike path over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito/Tiburon and return via ferry! Blazing Saddles is a bike rental company that has a kiosk at Pier 39 (pics 3-4). It’s really easy and nice to ride from the pier to the bridge and then use the bike lane, so no hassles before you go downhill into Sausalito. At the end you can catch the ferry back to SF or continue along the Bay to the picturesque town of Tiburon (there’s also a ferry there). The prices depend on the type of the bicycle, a standard mountain costs $28 while a comfort mountain $32. They also have guided tour but they cost more of course and the don’t take you after the bridge (you can keep the bike and continue on your own though) A lot of suicide jumpers seem to prefer this bridge too


Lombard Street
Lombard Street (in the Russian Hill district) is the crookedest street, not only in San Francisco but in the whole of America. This steep street was created in the 1920s with eight sharp curves (or switchbacks) to enable vehicles to travel down the one-way, 40-degree hill. The street, which is paved with bricks, is an amazing sight and seems constantly busy with traffic throughout the day.

Some of the most expensive properties in San Francisco exist on Lombard Street, even with its seemingly endless traffic of tourists. During Spring and Summer, Lombard Street comes alive with colour from all the flowers in bloom.

The best place to photograph Lombard Street is from Leavenworth Street, at the bottom of the hill looking up. You will see cars heading down very slowly, whilst tourists walk up and down the sides.

Chinatown
Chinatown in San Fran is the oldest in North America and has the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. The Chinese community, local San Franciscans and tourists give the area its bustle and charm. Spend a full day roaming its streets and see the lovely architecture and the pagoda roofs, similar to authentic Chinese pagodas, which lend to its appeal. Grant Ave. and Bush Street is where you'll find the famous Dragon Gate. Visit Portsmouth Square, where you'll see many Chinese locals performing Tai Chi or playing Chinese checkers. Take a walk down Stockton Street which isn't frequented as much by tourists. Here it presents a feel reminiscent to Hong Kong with many produce and fish markets. Maybe you'll get lucky on your visit to Chinatown and catch a dragon parade, there are many throughout the year.
The boundaries of Chinatown include Columbus Ave.and the financial district in the east, Union Street and North Beach to the north, Bush Street and Union Square to the south and the San Francisco Bay to the west.
The majority of businesses are shops selling souvenirs and restaurants and many are quite inexpensive. There are also quite a few herbal shops and I even saw a couple of massage parlors.



Golden Gate Park
Looking at backsides from a stroller all day gets old in a hurry so give the wee folk (and yourself) a break at the Koret Children's Quarter. This awesome kid's heaven has been a park fixture since 1887 and is said to be the nation's very first public playground. The equipment is thankfully not original - it's been recently updated with everything a tot could desire: swings, slides, stuff to climb on, jungle gyms, playhouses, sand piles and water-play area. Large parts are also covered with a soft, cushioned surface to reduce skinned knees. Restrooms are nearby - nice for the recently potty-trained set. Most of the activities are geared for kids 3 and up but there's enough to keep the toddlers busy too.

There's a small concession stand for drinks and snacks, and a fabulous carousel; not free but only $1 for kids 6-12, and $2 for a grownup with a little one under 5 and under.

Bring a picnic for lunch on the lawn, bandaids, wet wipes and a dry, clean change of clothes for after enthusiastic play in the puddles. And do keep a sharp eye on them - this is not a secured (fenced) area so make sure they don't wander away or are approached by strangers.

What to do at New York City 3

Natural History Museum 
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world and my favorite. The Museum comprises 25 interconnected buildings that house 46 permanent exhibition halls, research laboratories, and its renowned library. The collections contain over 150 million specimens, of which only a small fraction can be displayed at any given time. The Museum has a scientific staff of more than 200, and sponsors over 100 special field expeditions each year.

Most of the Museum's collections of dinosaur fossils remain hidden from public view. They are kept in numerous storage areas located deep within the Museum complex. Among these, the most significant storage facility is the ten story Childs Frick Building which stands within an inner courtyard of the Museum. The predicted great weight of the fossil bones led designers to add special steel reinforcement to the building's framework, as it now houses the largest collection of fossil mammals and dinosaurs in the world. The great fossil collections that are open to public view occupy the entire fourth floor of the Museum as well as a separate exhibit that is on permanent display in the Theodore Roosevelt Hall.

The Museum boasts habitat dioramas of African, Asian and North American mammals, a full-size model of a Blue Whale suspended in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life, a 62 foot Haida carved and painted war canoe from the Pacific Northwest, a massive 31 ton piece of the Cape York meteorite, and the "Star of India", the largest star sapphire in the world. The circuit of an entire floor is devoted to vertebrate evolution.

The Harry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals houses hundreds of unusual geological specimens. It adjoins the Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems showcasing many rare, and valuable gemstones. On display are many renowned samples that are chosen from among the Museum's more than 100,000 pieces. Included among these are the Patricia Emerald, a 632 carat, 12 sided stone that is considered to be one of the world's most fabulous emeralds. It was discovered during the 1920s in a mine high in the Colombian Andes and was named for the mine-owner's daughter.

The Museum has extensive anthropological collections: Asian Peoples, Pacific Peoples, Man in Africa, American Indian collections, general Native American collections, and collections from Mexico and Central America.

The Hayden Planetarium, connected to the Museum, is now part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, housed in a glass cube containing the spherical Space Theater, designed by James Stewart Polshek. The Heilbrun Cosmic Pathway is one of the more popular exhibits in the Rose Center. The new building consists of a six-story high glass cube enclosing a 87-foot illuminated sphere that appears to float — although it is actually supported by truss work. James Polshek has referred to his work as a "cosmic cathedral". The Rose center and its adjacent plaza, both located on the north facade of the Museum, are regarded as some of Manhattan's most outstanding recent architectural additions. The facility encloses 333,500 square feet of research, education, and exhibition space as well as the Hayden planetarium.

The gift/book shop is just incredible; a fabulous place to get a gift for anyone. The cafeteria in the basement caters to most with a grill, sushi bar, pasta station, salad bar, and entrees. There are smaller gift shops & cafe's throughout the museum



United Nations
The complex includes a number of major buildings. While the Secretariat Tower is most predominantly featured in depictions of the headquarters, it also includes the domed General Assembly Hall, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as well as the Conference and Visitors Center, which is situated between the General Assembly and Secretariat buildings, and can be seen only from FDR Drive or the East River. Just inside the perimeter fence of the complex stands a line of flagpoles where the flags of all 192 UN member states, plus the UN flag, are flown in English alphabetical order.

It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood, on the east side of Midtown Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River. Though it is in New York City, the land occupied by the United Nations Headquarters is considered international territory [1], and its borders are First Avenue west, East 42nd Street south, East 48th Street north and the East River east. FDR Drive passes underneath the Conference Building of the complex.

Guided tours of the United Nations operate daily from the General Assembly Public Lobby. An international staff explains the work of the United Nations and its related organizations, while taking visitors to some of the main Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall. The tour also features art and other objects of interest donated by Member States. At the Public Inquiries Unit, located in the public concourse, visitors can obtain additional information materials relating to the United Nations and its agencies. The United Nations postal counter - where visitors can buy UN stamps - a UN book store, gift shops, and a coffee shop are also located in the public concourse.



Guggenheim Museum
There are buildings, which attract thousands of visitors not merely by their values which can be found in them, but rather because of their astonishing, amazing exterior.

One of them is the most special building of New York, the building of the Guggenheim Museum looking out on Central Park.
The American master, Frank Lloyd Wright gives the visitors not a daily architectural experience.
Curved lines border it, inside a spiral ramp curling around the central atrium defines the route of the visit. Entering the seashell we may be ready for a journey moving downwards.
The museum lacks the traditional exhibitor walls, they are replaced by a single continuous curved wall.
The building also has a huge glass dome, which is pouring plenty of light into this round museum, which hosts a very beautiful, modern artistic collection.


Coney Island
The New York Aquarium first opened on December 10, 1896, making it the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States. The Aquarium currently occupies 14 acres by the sea in Coney Island, and boasts over 350 species of aquatic wildlife. We enjoy the beluga whales, the shark tanks and the interactive shows with seals and sealions.

Between about 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. At its height it contained three competing major amusement parks, Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park, as well as many independent amusements. Today it looks a bit sad and rundown, but we still had a lot of fun. The Wonder Wheel was built in 1918 and opened in 1920, this steel Ferris wheel has both stationary cars and rocking cars that slide along a track. It holds 144 riders, stands 150 feet tall, and weighs over 2,000 tons. At night the Wonder Wheel's steel frame is outlined and illuminated by neon tubes. The Cyclone roller coaster, built in 1927, is one of the nation's oldest wooden coasters still in operation. The Cyclone includes an 85-foot, 60 degree drop. The Parachute Jump, originally the Life Savers Parachute Jump at the 1939 New York World's Fair still stands.

Coney Island still maintains a broad sandy beach that is served for its entire length by the broad Riegelmann boardwalk. A number of amusements are directly accessible from the land side of the boardwalk, as is the New York Aquarium and a variety of food shops and arcades. The position of the beach and lack of significant obstructions means virtually the entire beach is in sunlight all day. The beach is open to all without restriction and there is no charge for use. The beach area is divided into "bays", areas of beach delineated by rock jetties, which moderate erosion and the force of ocean waves. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is a group of people who swim at Coney Island throughout the winter months, most notably on New Year's Day when additional participants join them to swim in the frigid.

What to do at New York City 2

Central Park
Central Park is a lush oasis in the middle of Manhattan and is easily a local favorite for all that it provides. Grab some sandwiches at a local deli (there's practically one on every corner of every block) and head to the Park for a picnic. The weekends are most crowded, but it's when the Park really seems to come to life. Stop off at the Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle (59th St. and Columbus Circle/8th Ave.) for your choice of gourmet-style foods (hot and cold) already prepared or made to order, fresh baked bread, a great selection of cheese, and a variety of smoked/cured meats like prosciutto, serrano ham, etc. But you can pick up sandwiches, snacks, etc. from any deli (there's just about one on every corner throughout the city!) or take your food "to go" or just buy a famous "dirty water" hot dog from one of the many vendors you'll see. If you're on a budget, this is a great way to grab a bite and still see/experience a treasure of NYC.

Or, just head to the Park and take a walk through the zoo, ride the carousel, row a boat on the lake, listen to music at Summerstage, stroll through Strawberry Fields, watch the rollerbladers and rollerskaters show off their skills, take a jog around the reservoir, see Shakespeare in the Park...or just lay on the grass and read a good book, marveling at the fact that you are right in the middle of Manhattan, yet without all the noise and hustle, you feel a world away. If you don't want to do the work, but would like to relax on a boat in the lake, make a reservation for the gondola at the Boathouse. You'll get a little history lesson and perhaps be serenaded by the gondolier. $30 for 1/2 hour.


Battery Park

At the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island lies Battery Park. The Battery is named for the artillery battery that was stationed there at various times by the Dutch and British in order to protect the harbour. You’re likely to find yourself here at some point, catching the ferry that goes to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island, or the Staten Island ferry. But this fairly small park is worth devoting some time to rather than simply passing through en route to somewhere else. For one thing, it of course affords great views of the harbour. With the sweeping Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the skylines of Brooklyn and Queens, Governors and Staten Islands and of course Liberty herself, this has to be one of the world’s great harbour views.

Among the main sights in the park itself is the historic Castle Clinton, nowadays serving as the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries. It was built between 1808 and 1811 to defend New York during the anticipated War of Independence. The War over, it became in turn a cultural centre for the city, an immigration centre (pre-dating Ellis Island), aquarium and now ticket office. Interpretive displays around the walls of the fort explain a little of this varied history, although you may feel as we did that after standing in line in the hot sun for your ferry tickets for some time, you have seen enough of the fort and want only to get out on the water or into the shade of the park’s trees.

As part of the restoration of the park a Garden of Remembrance has been created, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center and those who survived. There is also a memorial which features an eternal flame lit on the first anniversary of the attacks – it burns in front of the mangled sculpture "The Sphere for Plaza Fountain", which adorned the World Trade Center Plaza prior to the 9/11 attacks. I was also very taken with Luis Sanguino's sculpture “The Immigrants” which shows a group of people waiting in line for inspection to be admitted to the country. This reminds us how many of New York’s immigrants must have passed through this park over the years.

NB The park area is currently (2008) undergoing some extensive renovations and improvements, so be aware that some parts may be closed off when you visit. The aim is to restore this southern tip of the island to a premier position in the life of the city. Much has already been done, such as the new promenade by the waterfront, and the aim is to complete all works by 2010.

South Sea Port
South Street Seaport is part shopping mall, part scenic area - don't make a point of stopping, but if you are in the area, it may be a good spot for some lunch, a drink or to sit and relax. The best view of the Brooklyn Bridge is at the east-end patios. In nicer weather, get a beer from one of the vendors and relax there. Plenty of shops if you are in the mood, high-speed ferry across to Brooklyn departs from here, plenty of open-air cobblestoned areas to mingle. It makes a nice spot if you need to "regroup" after a trip to the WTC site or Staten Island Ferry.


Soho District
An acronym for SOuth of HOuston (pronounced "how-stun") Street. This eclectic neighborhood in lower Manhattan had a long history before becoming New York City's artistic haven. The SoHo that surrounds you, with its cast-iron warehouses and cobblestone streets arose in the 1850's after the residential population moved uptown. Up rose these ornate edifices housing fabrics, china, glass and more for companies like Lord & Taylor and Tiffany's. The lower floors were designed for displays and became perfect for the art galleries to come. By the late 1900's, the fashionable businesses moved uptown and the area developed into a seedy, sweatshop-filled slum known as "hell's hundred acres."New labor laws forced the sweatshops to evacuate leaving SoHo a ghost town ripe for a revolution!

Through the 1960's artists quietly moved into the abandoned buildings which provided "lofty" spaces to contain their creativity. (Even if there often was no electricity!) But by the 1970's SoHo developed into a community, transforming itself into a residential / commercial / artistic zone. beginning in the 1980s, in a way that would later apply elsewhere, the neighborhood began to draw more affluent residents. This led to an eventual exodus of the area's artists during the 1990s, leaving galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and young urban professionals behind.

SoHo's boutiques and restaurants are clustered in the northern area of the neighborhood, along Broadway and Prince and Spring streets. The sidewalks in this area are often crowded with tourists and with vendors selling jewelry, t-shirts, and other works, sometimes leaving no space for pedestrians to walk. SoHo is known for its eclectic mix of different boutiques for shopping, including Prada, Chanel, popular skateboard/sneakerhead stores such as Supreme and Clientele, Kid Robot, and the newly established Apple Store.

What to do at New York City 1

Times Square
More than a square, Times Square is actually a commercial district containing athletic, entertainment, and commercial sites that surely deserve the nickname, "Crossroads of the World." It encompasses the area around the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue with its unofficial boundaries including at least West 42nd to West 47th Streets from south to north and Sixth to Eighth Avenues from east to west.
The area has a long and varied history but going back to the time of the American Revolutionary War, the area belonged to John Morin Scott, a general of the New York militia under George Washington. His Manor House was at what is now 43rd Street, surrounded by countryside used for farming and breeding horses. In the first half of the 19th century it became one of the prized possessions of John Jacob Astor, who made his second fortune selling off lots to hotels and other real estate concerns as the city rapidly spread uptown.
During the first half of the 19th Century, the immediate area of what is now known as Times Square became a center of carriage-making and thus acquired the name of a similar area in London, England, Long Acre, or Longacre Square.
In 1904, New York Times publisher Adolph S. Ochs moved the newspaper's operations to a new skyscraper on 42nd Street at Longacre Square. Ochs persuaded Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. to construct a subway station there, and the area was renamed "Times Square" on April 8, 1904. Just three weeks later, the first electrified advertisement appeared on the side of a bank at the corner of 46th Street and Broadway.
The most famous single event at Times Square in the early 21st Century is the Times Square Ball drop on its roof every New Year's Eve at midnight.


Statue of Liberty/Ellis Land
The Statue of Liberty is the landmark of New York and of the most recognizable icons in the world! It’s located at the Liberty Island overlooking Manhattan. It was a present from France in 1886 as sign of friendship between the two countries. When I was young I thought it was a welcome to all visitors in the States but later I’ve learnt that it was basically for the immigrants that were going to the States by thousands those days and it was the first image of the United States they saw after the long journey from Europe. You can feel the size of it if you go and stand under the statue. The index finger is 2,5m and the tablet in her hand shows the date of USA declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).

You can visit Liberty Island by ferry from Battery Park but after 11/9 you cant go up anymore. You can visit the museum if you have the access pass. I suggest you to book in advance for the ferry because there are really long lines for the tickets and then another one because of security searches.

An alternative option is to see (and take pictures) from other ferry. The Staten Island Ferry is for free and goes to Staten Island and back every 30’. The circle line cruise is a good option also because it stops for a while in front of Liberty Island for photo shoots.

The Ellis island was for 62 years(1892-1954) the main entry station for immigrants. More than 12.000.000 immigrants were inspected there (people that traveling first class were been inspected onboard). Some people were denied admission to the United States because of visible health problems, because of criminal background and some others after an interview. Almost half of the United States population can find their roots here! If you go to Ellis Island you can visit the museum, especially the big hall where all the immigrants were waiting for hours.


Wall Street
Completed in 1853, this Renaissance-style mansion was built as the headquarters of Hanover Bank (the building's address is One Hanover Street). By 1870, it housed the New York Cotton Exchange, and in 1925, it became the seat of the distinguished club, India House, which continues to occupy the premises. Right next to it is the small pedestrianised, cobblestoned Stone Street. It runs through one of the few blocks in downtown Manhattan to have entirely preserved old NYC architecture. It is made up of late 19th/early 20th century red-brick townhouses. The charm of the street lies not only in its architecture, but also in that it is entirely used as an outdoor seating space by the numerous restaurants on it. If you happen to be visiting Lower Manhattan on a nice day, then Stone Street is the perfect place to have lunch. Hanover and Stone Streets lie a very short distance from Wall Street.

Empire State Building
The one thing you need to be prepared to do when you go: wait. You will need to wait in line to go through security, then wait to get tickets, then wait to get on not one but two elevators, to get to the 86th Floor Observatory. You also have the opportunity to go up to the 102nd Floor, but that involves an additional cost and another wait to get on yet another elevator.

Cost of a ticket to the 86th Floor (including taxes and "surcharge") is $22 for adults, $20 for Seniors and children 12-17 years old, $16 for children under 12. You can save a bit of time by purchasing tickets online and printing them out yourself. This allows you to skip the ticket line after you pass security. If you have more money than time, you can purchase an "Express Pass," which also allows you to cut in front of the elevator lines. Cost for this option is $49 for all ages, including taxes and "surcharge."

Despite all of the waiting, the view from the 86th floor is definitely worth it if the weather is good. You can also shorten your wait times a bit by arriving early in the morning. If you want to go higher, you can purchase tickets to the 102nd Floor outside the elevator on the 86th Floor (credit cards only, cost $15 per person). It's fun, but the observatory is enclosed in plexiglass marred by "scratchiti." As such, it's probably not worth the extra cost and time.

The Empire State Building is open 365 days a year, from 8AM to 2AM. Last elevator up is at 1:15 AM.

Brooklyn Bridge

In 1855, John Roebling, famous bridge designer at that time, proposed a suspension bridge over the East River Work began on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1869. His son Washington, also an accomplished engineer, took over direction of the construction after his father’s death. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, then known as the "Great East River Bridge," opened to the public. Twenty-seven men overall died during construction. The Brooklyn Bridge, now a National Historic Landmark, is Brooklyn's most beloved tourist attraction as well as the connection between Brooklyn and Manhattan for close to 140,000 vehicles daily but is not the only bridge that coonects brooklyn to manhattan. The Brooklyn Bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet (486 meters) and takes you from Manhattan's civic center into tree-lined Brooklyn Heights.

If you've got some time and the weather is nice, consider taking a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. It is one of the most iconic bridges in the country and offers beautiful views. If you are in downtown Manhattan, the bridge is next to City Hall and the courthouses, just north of the financial district. Once you get to Brooklyn, if you're hungry grab a slice of pizza at Grimaldi's (there may be a line to wait, but it is true, authentic NY pizza!) or take a stroll to Brooklyn Heights (a truly stunning area filled with well kept brownstones) and walk along the promenade for more great views of Manhattan. There are some great shops and restaurants in Brooklyn, so don't overlook this borough on your visit


Metropolitan Museum
If you're a fan of art and museums, the Met Museum has to be very high on your list. Just off of Central Park, the sprawling building houses works of art of all sorts from all around the world. Like the Louvre, it isn't possible to see the entire place in one day. Take a look at the free guide booklet and decide which works you would like to see. For this visit, we decided to concentrate on Roman statues, African art, and Dutch paintings.

Admission is technically free, but you probably should go up to a ticket counter and make the "suggested donation" ($20 for adults, $15 for children and Seniors, also includes admission to The Cloisters) for your visit. Various types of museum memberships are also available online -- check the website for details.

Opening hours are 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, open until 9:00 PM Fridays and Saturdays, Closed Mondays (but open on holidays).

Prepare yourself for London

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Always pack clothes you can layer. Temperatures can and do drop substantially when the sun sets. Several thin layers are warmer than one thick one.

Rain is frequent all year round. It may be heavy, it may be light, it may last all day or it may be a brief shower. So bring an umbrella and waterproof outerwear.

Sandals are just miserable in the rain (it's never warm rain). London is hard on the feet, so bring comfortable walking shoes. Save heels for the evenings.

Dress so that you can add or remove layers through the day. Your body will tell you when to add or remove: it is different for everyone.

Unless people are going to work, or out for the evening (and often then as well) jeans are the norm, for all ages.

So are trainers (sports shoes). They are comfortable and good in the rain.

Key point to remember: no-one in London (or the UK) actually cares what you look like. Really

Enjoying at Paris

Eiffel Tower
One of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the most prominent symbol of Paris and France.

Built between 1887 and 1889, the Iron Lady was built as the entrance to the Exposition Universelle, a World fair marking the centenary of the French Revolution. At 324 metres high, it was at the time the tallest building in the world until 1930 when the Chrysler Building in New York was completed. Amazingly, it was originally intended to be a temporary structure for the duration of the exposition.

Today it is the single most visited fee-paying monument in the world, with its 3 separate viewing levels (the first two reachable either by foot or lift) with the lower levels also providing restaurants.

Open: mid June - end of August, 9am-12.45am (last admission Midnight): remainder of the year, 9.30am-11.45pm (last admission, 11pm). Stair option is the same, June-August but closes at 6pm the rest of the year.

Entrance fees: €13.10; €11.50 (12-24 year olds); €9.00 (4-11 y.o) – Top Level
€8.10/€6.50/€4.00 – Up to 2nd Level: €4.50/€3.50/€3.50 – Stairs. Some believe this to be near the execution site of early Christians at the hands of the Romans - including the first bishop of Paris, Saint Denis, who trotted north with his decapitated head and is buried under the basilica that bears his name. 

Disney Land 
Disneyland Park is divided into 5 sections:Main Street U.S.A, Frontierland, Adventure land, Fantasyland and Discoveryland . You will take a free map at the entrance so you can choose what games you want to see/play so don't be afraid because the park is big.

Get into the queues for the rides because many people go there for them. There is a fast card that you dont have to wait and get inside faster than the other people. I was there in October so there wasn’t any need to do that.

There are also some expensive restaurants and thats why many people bring their own food/drinks and have a picnik there (its not allowed but everyone does it)

If you stay for two days the second one you can visit Walt Disney Studios, the other park that is next to Disneyland park. We visited this on our second visit and I can say that we liked the games more there especially the rock n roll coaster, the crush’s coaster and the terror tower but there are some boring events too like Armageddon or the animagique (the kids may love it though)

Another thing the kids will love is that they will meet, take picture with and talk to Donald, Mickey, the snow white, Buzz (pic 4) and so many others! Kids’ smile is precious so you will forget for a while that you payed 54 euros to see one theme park or 68 euros if you decided to see both parks. If you have Paris Visite card you can see both parks for the price of one (54 euros)

Statue of liberty

Allée des Cygnes is a 600 m long artificial island on the Seine River, between Bir Hakeim bridge and Grenelle bridge between 15th and 16th arrondissements (districts). There are only pedestrians and bikers on this island, and the car traffic is very far, under the tree covered alley, you almost don’t hear it! Many families from the area take their kids there and it is really quiet: people sitting on benches and reading or just looking at the boats passing by, anglers, lovers. . . And from there you can have some interesting views on some famous Parisian monuments and a close look at two Parisian bridges.

On the Grenelle bridge end you can have this interesting view to Bir Hakeim bridge (Ah! Bir Hakeim is just a well in the Libyan Desert where the French troops resisted two weeks to Rommel’s Afrika Korps in 1942, giving time to Montgomery’s troops to gather in El Alamein, and the rest of the story is well known. . . ) but before reaching it you can have a look on the shores for some other Parisian monuments, like the ring-shaped “Maison de Radio France”  home to the French National broadcasting corporation, hosting a big concert hall. At the south western end you finally reach the landmark of the Allée des Cygnes (Swans, alley, but there are no swans): la Statue de la Liberté. The statue here is a copy of the Statue of Liberty of New York (offered by the French to the USA), created by Bartholdi; the American community of Paris offered this smaller statue to Paris in 1889 (centenary of the French revolution), but the statue has been turned in 1937, as it was showing its back to the west (America), and now faces west. The Liberty of New York is of course the original, but the first model of this statue, which Bartholdi created (so the first, in design point of view) is in Paris, in a place few know

Things to do at Dubai

Jumeirah Beach

This is the beach to go to if your a tourist, it costs 5 Dirhams (about 1 Euro) to enter. Inside you have acess to changing rooms, toilets, clean beach, kids park and no inhabitans that looks at your wife/girl, like they do at the public beach (see my Warning tip or the public beach).

There is alot of beach rules, make sure to follow them or you can be thrown out of the beach park.

There is a couple of restaurants in the beach park area and one (that I´v seen) fast food place. So you dont have to worry about the food.

The water is like on a post card light green and you wont see any rocks or shells that will hurt your feet. The beach is fine sand no small rocks or garbage anywhere. Wonderful place

Open Hours:
Daily 8am-10:30pm.
Thur & Fri till 11pm.
Monday for children and ladies only

You can rent following things at the beach
Towels- 5 Dirhams (about 1 Euro)
Small parasol- 5 Dirhams (about 1 Euro)
Big parasol- 10 Dirhams (about 2 Euro)
Sun chair- 15 Dirhams (about 3 Euro)

Dubai Creek
Abra's will take you across dubai creek. it's well worth checking this out as the roads are usually jam packed across the bridges anyway. The abra stations are a hustle and bustle of people and the ride across takes a few minutes but you'll get to see a great view of the creek (great for photos)

The word abra comes from the arabic verb to cross, and these boats have been in operation for many years now.



Wild Wadi Park
The Wild Wadi is a great waterpark with a great location right by the famous Burj al Arab and Jumeirah Beach hotels. A great way to spend the day. Although, if you travel during the hot summer months when temperatures are regularly in the mid 40s, care is needed to prevent a doze of sun stroke or sun burn. One of the most memorable rides is the Master Blaster where you sit in a dinghy and are actually propelled up a slide by powerful water jets. There is also the Jumeirah Sceirah (the highest and fastest free fall water slide outside north America), a large wave pool and lazy river among several other attractions in the park. Tip - Be sure to adjust your swimming costume before standing up after riding the Jumeirah Sceirah.


Sand Boarding
The theme is a cross between snowboarding and beach activities. However, there is no snow and there is no beach.
They will pick you up from your hotel in the early morning. The drive takes you to some of the most beautiful sand dunes of the deserts in Dubai. Upon reaching the dunes, you have the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of the one of the most popular sports in the desert - sand boarding! No trip to Dubai is complete without at least one slide down a sand dune.
Note: I know it will be hot, but best to wear long shorts and elbow and knee pads. If you fall, you can endure a pretty rough case of road rash