BUS 449 Post 14: Las Vegas, NV

Sin City, Lost Wages, Glitter Gulch, and Vegas baby! are only some of the catchy names for Las Vegas. With so many shows, attractions, clubs, tours, casinos and hotels, one would not have a minute of boredom when visiting this city!

            Many hotels in Vegas pay homage to other world cities. Paris Las Vegas has the Eiffel Tower. There are gondolas and a St Mark’s Square at the Venetian. The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park can be discovered at New York New York.

Nearly 40,000,000 people visit Las Vegas every year and the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most popular tourist attraction in the world. The 24/7 action atmosphere brings people from all over the world, offering so many things to do like no place else. Some of the highlights are the dancing fountain show at Bellagio, the erupting volcano at the Mirage, or the animated statues at Caesars Palace. Furthermore, the faux mountain in the Wynn resort fuses light, water, horticulture and architecture into a diverting multimedia experience. Get to the top of the Stratosphere, the tallest building in Nevada. It offers three thrill rides: Big Shot, X Scream & Insanity.

The Bellagio resort in the background.

            One of the best casinos and gamblers’ favorite is Caesars Palace’s. For cheaper fun, visitors go to Casino Royale. Don’t miss Cirque du Soleil's most sophisticated show, O, which comprises more than 70 swimmers, divers, aerialists, contortionists and clowns performing acrobatic feats around a pool/stage containing 1.5 million gallons of water. Ride on one of the pimped-out double-decker buses that troll the Strip, all the way Downtown. Don’t forget to pick out gifts for your friends and relatives from Bonanza Gifts, which claims to be the 'world's largest gift store.'

Source: http://www.timeout.com/las-vegas/features/78/20-great-things-to-do-in-las-vegas

Treasure Island resort

The view from our hotel room

Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

BUS 449 Post 13: Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, the city of angels and the home of many movie stars, is a popular destination for a number of reasons. If you are in L.A., you could spend a day at the Universal Studios theme park and the attached City Walk outdoor mall. Make sure to leave at least one whole day for this as the lines for the rides tend to be quite long. My personal favorite was the King Kong 3-D ride, where as you’re taken on a tour around Universal Studios, you get caught in the middle of a terrifying struggle between a 35-foot T-Rex and the 8th wonder of the world – King Kong.

On the red carpet at Universal Studios.

Another thing you can get into is talking a walk on Hollywood Boulevard to Grauman's Chinese Theater. Check out the celebrity handprints and footprints, take some photos with the dressed characters walking around or shop at the Hollywood and Highland Center mall.  Robertson Boulevard is the place where you can see a celebrity and have lunch at  Ivy, where paparazzi are waiting out.  

If you’re into hiking, Runyon Canyon Park is a must. You might even see some famous people there! If you’re a sushi lover, you must enjoy the sushi joints that grow in strip malls on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, the heart of the San Fernando Valley.

I can’t help, but mention some of the most popular beaches in the Los Angeles region: Malibu beach, Venice beach, El Matador, Santa Monica, and Leo Carrillo are some of the many exquisite beaches around. The many palm trees, white, soft sand and the endless outdoor activities will amaze you!  

If you appreciate art and good reads, the Huntington Library has some famous art, like Thomas Gainsborough's The Blue Boy, and lots of important documents, such as a Gutenberg Bible, a copy of The Canterbury Tales and two quartos of Hamlet. Furthermore, the 120 acres of botanical gardens are endless and beautiful.

Another suggestion I would never miss out on if I am in L.A. is going to Disneyland, which is about 45 minutes south, in the city of Anaheim. This is my all-time favorite! One is never too old to go to Disneyland. 

The Disneyland castle

The Hollywood sign at Universal Studios.

The famous ground stars.

BUS 449 Post 12: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana – surely one of the most of the beautiful places I have visited with the most gorgeous beaches I have seen. Located in the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, boardering the Atlantic Ocean to the east, this place is like a little paradise; definitely one of the top Caribbean destinations.
            The  coastline of the beautiful sandy white beaches has so much to offer! Considering the endless water and outdoor activities and the breathtaking views, one could never be bored. Some of the most popular activities you would want to get into would be: the Aquatic Tour, where you get on a speed boat and cruise the coastline in style and the Marinarium, which offers some of the best snorkeling in the area, complete with nurse sharks and sting rays!

When I vacationed there, we took a catamaran cruise to Saona Island and we ended up at the most exquisite beach I have seen. The island is a government protected nature reserve and is part of East National Park. With so many coconut palm trees, the softest sand and lots of cute and colorful little fishes to observe in the water, I could stay and relax there for days.

Saona Island

The all-inclusive resorts offer all kinds of great food. One little tip I want to give you is to book your preferred restaurant for dinner in advance. In case you forget, you will end up having lunch or dinner at the buffet, which is not that bad actually – from fruits and vegetables to seafood and other specialties – you will stay fully stuffed. And one more thing ... I want to warn you that the climate is very tropical and humid. I remember coming off the airplane and thinking “Oh my god, I am having trouble breathing.” There is little rain falls around the area, mostly because of the flat landscape, so you must get used to the humidity and enjoy the long, sunny days in Punta Cana to the fullest. 

The view from our room.

Me getting ready for snorkelling!!!

BUS 449 Post 11: St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Russia’s cultural capital and a city with broad avenues, museums and architectural and artistic monuments is surely among the top world destinations. Some of the most famous tourist attractions are:  the Hermitage, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Mariinsky Theatre. With its political and Imperial past, many of St. Petersburg’s artists and writers have been influenced by the city's 300-years history.

            The city is built across the Neva River delta and is surrounded by hundred tributaries and canals. There are 800 bridges crossing them and boat trips are essential part of any sightseeing activity around town.

Source: www.britannica.com

St. Petersburg is also known as the museum city. Peter the Great founded the city's first museum, Kunstkammer. Today there are more than 100 museums, including one of the world's most famous galleries, small apartment museums honoring some of Russia's greatest writers.  St. Petersburg is a home to numerous remarkable public buildings, which range in function from riding schools to railway stations, from government offices to upmarket stores. The city boasts a huge number of palaces with rich and varied interior and a rococo or Russian Revival styles. You can discover several historic mansions and villas that once belonged to the rich and famous in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

Source: www.layoverguide.com

Source: www.bustler.net

Sources: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/attractions/

BUS 449 Post 10: Barcelona, Spain.

Even though I have been to Spain, I never went to Barcelona... and I feel like I missed out. Barcelona is a beautiful city with impressive buildings and parks. Architect Antoni Gaudí designed several of the city’s buildings. When visiting, you must pay a visit to the Parc de laCiutadella as well as the Parc de Joan Miró, and the Montjuïc castle. Gaudí’s Church of the Sacred Family is also one of the most famous and most visited landmarks in Barcelona. You could queue in front of the house and go up the towers. Currently, 8 out of 12 about 100 meters tall bell towers are completed.

Source: geographicallyyours.blogspot.com

For breathtaking panoramic views, go to the Eixample in the Sant Andreu district. Grab a sangria at a sidewalk café in Las Ramblas while watching brilliant street performances or listen and enjoy live music at the Razzmatazz,  Apolo, or one of the wonderful concert halls.

And of course I can‘t help, but talk about food in my recommendations. Tapas, pintxos and vermouth are on the top of the list. The Basque tapas are plates of bite-sized goodies, a culinary trend in Barcelona. It is a tradition that the food must be picked at with toothpicks so keep that in mind.  

Do visit Barcelona when you get a chance, because it sure has a lot of offer.

Source: www.startupbootcamp.org

Sources: http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Destinations-cTop-g1

http://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-sagrada-familia.html

http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/features/35/20-great-things-to-do-in-barcelona

BUS 449 Post 9: Venice, Italy.

            Venice is a small city with a lot of history and tradition. Museums, monuments, Churches, theatres… there is so much to explore. The international Carnival, the Redemption and the Historic regatta and other local events, make the city a unique destination.

            Venice is a city that offers precious art collections. From the late Middle Ages until the mid 18th century, artists have left their mark all over the city.  Seventy-seven nations sent works by 90 artists to the 2009 Biennale. The Punta della Dogana, which opened in 2009, brought works by contemporary giants including Dan Flavin, Jeff Koons, Jean Tinguely and Rachel Whiteread to the city.

If you visit Venice, you must punt down one of the waterways in an iconic gondola. You must take some time to enjoy an evening aperitivi. With drinks and cicheti (snacks) in the bars at the north-western foot of the Rialto bridge, this is one of the famous dos. Consecutively, you must taste the true Venetian cuisine from the Veneto. Some specialties include: oca in onto (goose in its own fat), freshwater lagoon fish done in saor, polpette (meatballs) or antipasti.

Source: hqwallbase.com

Source: http://www.timeout.com/venice/features/382/20-great-things-to-do-in-venice

BUS 449 Post 8: Dubai

Dubai, one of seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has built an entire tourist industry. The city is definitely on my destination wish list and since I have read a lot about the place, I want to share some of things I found most intresting.

            The population of Dubai is divided in super rich and super poor people. The local-born Emiratis, are typically among the wealthiest, but there is a huge working-population of people mainly from Indian subcontinent and some areas of the Gulf. If you want to experience both of these social classes’ lifestyles, you can do so through the diverse cuisine that each offers. From high-end Michelin star–courting cuisine to cheap street food on Al Dhiyafah Road, you can explore and observe the difference of the two social classes.

            For the shoppers, Dubai can offer a whole lot of fun with surreal attractions, such as indoor waterways or ski slope with real snow in the shopping malls. The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping center in the world with over 1.200 stores. Subsequently, Dubai is known for its cheap gold.  Platinum, diamonds and silver are also sold; the products are genuine as there are many regulations that make sure that they are. You have to be careful though, because the street vendors outside will surely try to sell you "genuine fake" watches and "Guuci" handbags.

            If you go to Dubai during the weekend, you surely won’t be left thirsty. With their "champagne brunch," the Muslims show their existent relationship with alcoholic beverages.

Another thing worth mentioning is that today, Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world! In 1991, Dubai had just one tall building and it was at the edge of the edge of the desert. Now they have over 400 high rises! Moreover, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, is in Dubai. It has 164 floors!

With endless possibilities and numerous activities, Dubai is a must-see destination.

Source: http://global-conferences.eu/dubai/

Source: http://global-conferences.eu/dubai/

Sources: http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1849667_1849594_1849020,00.html

http://notesfromabigworld.com/2013/04/21/dubai-20-cool-facts/