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New York City is one of the most heavily populated cosmopolitan cities in the world. It’s located in the Northeastern portion of the United States and is home to over eight million people crammed into a land area of only three hundred and five square miles. This city has historically exerted a worldwide influence over the areas of fashion, industry, commerce and entertainment. It is also the location for the United Nations, and as such exerts an influence over politics and global affairs.

The city can be divided into five distinct boroughs which include Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhatten and The Bronx. Each borough is known for its unique social stratification and topography.

New York City has a rich history that goes all the way to 1624. This was when it was originally founded as a trading post for the Dutch government. Its original name was New Amsterdam, a name it kept until 1664 when the colony came under British rule. From 1785 to 1790, New York City was the capital of the United States. The capital was then moved to Washington, DC.

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New York is considered to be a true cosmopolitan city with over a third of its inhabitants being born outside of the United States. Over one hundred and seventy languages are spoken here. The city is known worldwide by its many monikers which include “The Big Apple”, “Gotham City” and “The city that never sleeps”

New York City has so many attractions available to tourist and visitors that it’s almost an exercise in futility to list them all. But, one of the most distinctive and world renowned landmarks is the Statue Of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty, officially known as the “Statue Of Liberty Enlightening The World” is positioned on a twelve acre island known as Liberty Island. The Statue Of Liberty was a gift from the people of France and was dedicated on October 28, 1886.

A part of the Statue Of Liberty Monument is Ellis Island. This island is located at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor. Between 1892 through 1954 it was the main entry point for all immigration into the United States. During this time more then twelve million visitors passed through here. Ellis Island sits on approximately twenty six acres and is connected to The Statue Of Liberty Park by a bridge.

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The island was first opened to tourists in 1976 and in 1990 an immigration museum was added.

Another historic attraction not to be missed by visitors is Grand Central Terminal, otherwise known as Grand Central Station. This building located in Manhattan is a splendid Beaux Arts building built in 1913. It has since been renovated to return it to its previous glory. It is now a major transportation hub. Another Manhattan attraction popular to visitors is Rockefeller Plaza. This art deco inspired building was built during the Great Depression. Visitors here can get travel information, driving directions and history of the city here. One of the most popular attractions to visitors of New York is the American Museum Of Natural History. This museum contains exhibits which cover a wide range of topics including science and technology. These exhibits are spread across four floors, offering a challenging and interesting collection of knowledge for guest of all ages who are eager to feed their mind and expand their horizons.

For lovers of the arts, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art has exhibits to feed the senses and the imagination. Accommodating over five million visitors each and every year, this museum offers attractions for just about everyone.

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These include displays on Roman statues and Rembrandt paintings to ancient Egyptian and Asian works of art. Each day there are several volunteer led tours showcasing the museums many exhibits. Another fantastic New York museum is the Museum Of Modern Art. This museum was founded in 1929 as a way to showcase modern art. It contains a great collection of contemporary art that is constantly changing so repeat visitors to the museum will always have something new to look forward to.

A great way to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the New York streets is to take a nice stroll through its most famous park, Central Park. This immense eight hundred and forty three acre park offers visitors a respite from the clamor and din of the surrounding city landscape. Its many amenities include winding paths, Victorian inspired landmarks and fountains. While in Central Park, don’t forget to schedule a visit to the Central Park Zoo. Opened in 1988, this zoo offers an impressive collection of animals including monkeys, birds, penguins, reptiles and even insects. Located within the zoo is a petting zoo where children can get up close and personal to many different types of animals.

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An ever popular way to get a great view of New York Harbor is the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry operates twenty four hours a day and offers rides to commuters traveling between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. It’s excellent for anyone looking to hitch a ride to the Statue Of Liberty or get a better view of New York Harbor.

Visitors to New York are sure to be amazed by the quantity and diversity of the restaurants, bars and nightclubs that are located there. This is truly a cosmopolitan city that serves cuisine from all over the world. This city also offers an impressively diverse selection of hotels too. There are hotel accommodations for just about any budget and they range from the very inexpensive all the way to ultra expensive luxury hotels. Some of the more famous hotels in New York include the Broadway Plaza Hotel, the Four Seasons, Grammercy Park Hotel, the Grand Hyatt and the Library Hotel. Other notable hotels include the Mohonk Mountain House, Le Parker Meridian House and the Hotel Plaza Athenee. But, no matter which one you choose you can be sure that you will have a pleasant stay and easy access to the cities most prized landmarks and historic locales.

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Philadelphia is the sixth most heavily populated city in the United States and is the biggest city in the state of Pennsylvania. The city covers an area of one hundred and thirty-five square miles and has a population of over one and a half million people in the city limits. The greater Philadelphia area has a population of almost six million people, making it the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Philadelphia is the seat of Philadelphia County and is known by a variety of nicknames which include “City of Brotherly Love” and “Philly”.

Philadelphia is a city that can trace its history to well before the sixteenth century. This is when the area was occupied by a Native American tribe known as the Lenape tribe. During the 1620s, Dutch explorer Dutchman Cornelius Jacobsen Mey explored what is currently known as Delaware Bay. This led to the establishment of a Dutch fort on the western bank of the bay at Swanendael. A decade or so later, German and Dutch stockholders founded the New Sweden Company in order to trade for tobacco and animal hides in the Americas. In 1637, the company’s first expedition left from Sweden under the guidance of Commander Peter Minuit.

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Peter Minuit was previously the governor of a Dutch colony called New Netherland, located on Manhatten Island, from the 1620s to the 1630s. In March of 1638, the ships arrived at Delaware Bay and immediately began construction of a fort on what is now Wilmington.

In 1861, Charles II of England granted a charter to William Penn to allow him to build the colony of Pennsylvania. After he received the charter, William Penn purchased lands from the Lenape Indian tribe. He then sent commissioners down to the area of the settlement and instructed them to set aside ten thousand acres for the city. The commissioners began to lay the city out from Wicaco settlement, north along the Delaware River. In October of 1682, William Penn landed in the area and checked on the progress of the settlement. To his disappointment, the city plan wasn’t expansive enough and he proceeded to expand the city west towards the bank of the Schuylkill River. From 1683 to 1701, the city experienced a population growth of around three hundred residents to over twenty-five hundred residents. The city experience a great influx of immigrants from various ethnic backgrounds including English, Welsh, Dutch, African, Finnish, Swedish and German peoples.

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In 1701, William Penn issued the city a charter and established it as a city.

With the fresh influx of people into the city, Philadelphia went on to become an important center for trade. The city also became known for its tolerance of religion. As a result, it experienced an influx of religious groups such as Mennonites, Catholics, Anglicans, Jews and Pietists. The city would continue to grow at a steady pace. As a result, during the first half of the eighteenth century, Philadelphia was plagued with crime and was dirty. The roads were unpaved at this time, so streets would become unpassable. There was blight and urban sprawl everywhere. However, this would change by the middle of the eighteenth century as streets began to become paved and gas lights were installed around their perimeter. Several structures were also built in the city during this time. This included Christ Church and Independence Hall. Refuse in the city was also starting to be addressed and the city began publishing its first newspaper. A large part of the city’s development can be attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who entered the city in 1723.

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Ben Franklin established the first fire district, the Union Fire Company, and also established a postal route between the city and other colonies. He also raised the funds to build the colonies first hospital and established the College of Philadelphia.

Today, Philadelphia has a thriving economy that is based on oil refinement, food processing, health care, biotechnology, manufacturing and tourism. The city houses the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and contains several Fortune 500 companies. These include Comcast, Colonial Penn, Lincoln Financial Group, Sunoco, Cigna, Glaxo Smith Kline and FMC Corp. The city is also home to several federal institutions which include the United States Mint, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit. The tourism sector of the city is bolstered by its many historical attractions.

A popular attraction in the city is Independence Hall. Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street between fifth and sixth streets. This building was constructed in 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House. But, its primarily known for its part during American Independence. Between 1775 and 1783, Independence Hall was the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress.

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The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were both signed here. This red brick building was built in the Georgian architectural style by Andrew Hamilton and Edmund Woolley. The highest part of the building is one hundred and thirty-five feet above the ground. Adjoined to the building are two smaller satellite buildings; Old City Hall and Congress Hall.

Other popular attractions in Philadelphia include Reading Terminal Market, Liberty Bell, Bicentennial Bell, Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, Eastern State Penitentiary, W. Graham Arader III Gallery of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Rosenbach Museum and Library, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Betsy Ross House, National Liberty Museum, Independence National Historical Park, Mutter Museum, Powel House, Arden Theatre Company, Nodding Head Brewery, National Constitution Center, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Franklin Court, Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. And the city is also home to some fabulous cafes, hotels and restaurants.

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Playa del Carmen is a city that is situated on the coast of the Caribbean Sea and is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The city is located forty-nine feet above sea level and has a population that exceeds one hundred thousand people. The city can trace its history back to the Mayan Empire, when it was called Xaman Ha. This city was a way point for travelers heading from the cities of the Mayans to the island of Cozumel. After the fall of the Mayan Empire, the area was still populated with the descedents of this great civilization.

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During the sixteenth century, the Spaniards arrived and used the area for growing a fiber called sisal, which was used to make rope at the time.

Today, Playa del Carmen is a tourist destination that contains beaches that rival those of Cancun, without the huge crowds. It also has many great places where visitors can scuba dive and swim. Playa del Carmen is also a major stop for many of the cruise ships that cruise the Caribbean. The city has retained much of its charm as a fishing village, and the local government has taken steps to assure that it remains that way by enacting ordinances that restrict the height of new construction to three stories.

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A popular attraction in Playa del Carmen is Scuba Libre. It was opened in 1998 and it currently operate two dive centers, one which is situated in the middle of the city and the second one is situated in the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort and Spa, just four miles north of the city. This dive center is a Gold Palm Resort and an active member of the Riviera Maya Association of Dive & Water Sports Operators. The dive instructors here are certified and experience with every diving scenerio. The dive school gives individual dive instruction course that are available in English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian.

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The dive center also leads exhibitions with the skilled instructors leading the groups. Scuba Libre is fully equiped to handle every dive scenerio and features boats which are fully customized for that purpose.

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Other popular attractions and activities in Play del Carmen include Reef Quest Divers, Mexico Blue Dream, Playa Scuba, The Jungle Place, Diversity Diving, Rancho Baaxal, Rio Secreto Reserva Natural, Veronica’s Massage, Yucatreks, Xplor, Alltournative Off Track Adventures, Xcaret Eco Theme Park, Playacar Golf Club, Itza Spa, MMCinemas, Boca Paila, UltraMar Ferry, Chac Mol, Xaman Ha Aviary, Cavernas Chaaktun, Sabai Spa, Morph Kiteboarding and Phocea Caribe International Dive Center. The city is also home to a number of bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels. Restaurants and bars in the area include Senor Frog’s, El Asador, Yaxche, Restaurant la Vagabunda, Media Luna Restaurant Bar, la Parrilla and La Palapa Hemingway Restaurant. Popular hotels in the area include Hotel Sandos Playacar Beach Resort & Spa, Club Hotel Riu Tequila, Hotel Iberostar Quetzal, Club Hotel Riu, Hotel Hacienda Paradise, Hotel Las Palapas and Hotel RIU Playacar. Play del Carmen is also home to numerous beaches and resorts.

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A city that was once known as both Byzantium and Constantinople, Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey with a population of almost thirteen million people. It sits on the Bosphorus Strait and includes the Golden Horn. It is also the only city in the world that is located on two continents, both Europe and Asia. Istanbul has been a capital in a number of empires which include the Roman, Byzantium, Latin and Ottoman Empires. As such, this city is one that seems to flawlessly combine several different styles of architecture, yet at the same time retain a very recognizable city landscape.

This city has more then twenty private and public universities which teach their students a variety of different languages such as English, French and German. Istanbul also has a vast network of libraries which contain works from the Roman and Ottoman Empires. The most prominent of these libraries are the Library of the Archaeological Museum, Topkapi Palace Library and the Library of the Naval Museum.

Istanbul is also home to two major airports.

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The Atatürk International Airport and the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. The cities transportation needs are also serviced by several Metrobus lines, light rail, underground funiculars and bus lines. Special transportation needs are serviced by ferries and
gondola lifts. The city also has several venues available for sport fans. These include Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium, Atatürk Olympic Stadium and Sinan Erdem Dome. There are also various venues available for such activities as golf, tennis and horseback riding.

For those looking to partake in the active nightlife in this city have several options available to them. These include the seaside nightclubs such as Sortie,Reina and Anjelique. Other area nightclubs include the Babylon and Nu Pera.One of the most popular visitor attractions in this city is the Haghia Sophia , otherwise known as the “Church Of Divine Wisdom”. This is probably one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture to be found in the entire country, if not the world. This mosque was consecrated in the year 537AD and remained a popular place of worship until it was converted into a museum by the Turkish government.

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The dome of this mosque rises one hundred and eighty-three feet and notable features are the mozaics and the Ottoman shields inscribed with verses from the Koran. Topkapi Palace is another notable site in Istanbul. This ancient palace has served as the seat of government, a military fort and a harem for many centuries. It was abandoned it in 1855 and today it is a museum. Here all manner of ceramics and manuscripts can be perused by the curious visitor.

The Kapali Çarsisi, or Grand Bazaar, is a site that is popular both with residents and tourist alike. It was built in 1493 and today houses over four thousand market stalls. Other features of this site include a police station, two mosques, restaurants and a money changer. Another fine market to visit is the Misir Çarsisi or Spice Market. It was built in the seventeenth century and today sells all sorts of goods. These include exotic cheeses, spices, caviar, olives and locally manufactured crafts.

The Sultanahmet Camii is often referred by tourist as the ‘Blue Mosque”.

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This mosque was built in 1617 and is the only mosque in the city with six minarets. Its a beautiful structure that is inlaid with Iznik tiles of a blue hue. It also contains over two hundred and fifty windows that illuminate the interior with a blue light.
Another mosque that isn’t quite as popular as the Blue Mosque, but is still worth a visit is the Süleymaniye Mosque. It was built in the sixteenth century and features a huge dome. Inside are the tombs of Sultan Süleyman and Sinan and the mosque is set within a peaceful courtyard complete with a fountain.

A must see for any visitor to Istanbul is the Yerebatan Sarayi. This Cistern is often referred to as the “Sunken Palace”. It was originally built in 532 AD to be used as a water reservoir. Since then it was transformed into a Basilica. It contains over three hundred columns which are used to support the cathedral like ceiling. An interesting fact is that this location was used as a movie set in 1963 for the movie ‘From Russia With Love’.

An ancient attraction with a modern twist is the Galata Kulesi or Galata Tower. This tower was built in 1348 and was used for defense by the Genoese.

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It rises two hundred feet above the city and has a cone shaped roof. It has since been converted into a tourist attraction with the addition of a nightclub, restaurant and cabaret. Visitors can enjoy authentic cuisine and belly dancing at this location.

Art lovers should definitely pay a visit to the Türk ve Eserleri Müzesi, otherwise known as the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum. Visitors here can find over forty thousand items dating as far back as the seventh century. Everything from historic Koran stands and cases to rugs and artwork can be found here. Another popular museum is the Arkeoloji Müzeleri Archaeological Museum. This museum is actually a complex of museums featuring three buildings. These buildings house everything from the sarcophagus of Alexander to the facade recovered from the Temple Of Athena in Assos. Other works located here are Byzantine mosaics and ancient Egyptian manuscripts. The Istanbul Modern is a museum opened in 2004 and used to showcase modern works of art, with an emphasis placed upon photographs and paintings. There is also a restaurant and cinema screening room located here.

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Montreal is the biggest city in the province of Quebec and is the second biggest city in Canada. The metropolitan area, including outlying suburbs, covers sixteen hundred square miles and is home to over three and a half million people. The human history of the area on which the city is located can be traced back over eight thousand years. It was originally populated by various Native American tribes which include the Huron, Algonquin and Iroquois tribes. The first European to explore the was Jacques Cartier in 1534. He entered the region at the village of Hochelega on the island of Montreal, a location he found while searching for a passage to Asia. The first permanent European settler to the region wouldn’t show up until the seventeenth century when Samuel de Champlain tried to establish a fur trading post in the region. However, his attempts were thwarted by the local Iroquois tribes who vigorously defended their lands. It wouldn’t be until 1642 that a mission name Ville Marie would be erected in the area as a way to set up a French colonial colony.

Ville Marie would become the area’s center for not only the fur trade, but also for French expansion into the region. This continued up until the mid eighteenth century when the British captured the post. The British Empire would then expand the port into a town and a new era of fur trading started with the creation of the North West Company. During this time the town would experience a rapid influx of British immigrants and in 1832 the town was incorporated into the city of Montreal. In the mid nineteenth century the Lachine Canal was opened and the city began a period of rapid growth. This growth continued to rise until the city became the cultural center of British North America. The city continued to enjoy a period of prosperity until the Great Depression would bring unemployment and poverty to the city. However, this didn’t last long and the city soon rebounded in the 1930s.

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Today, Montreal’s economy is the largest economy in the province of Quebec and the second largest in all of Canada. Montreal is a center of industry, technology, finance and commerce in Canada. Major industries in the city include software engineering, aerospace, electronic goods, telecommunications and textiles. The city is home to one of the largest inland ports in the world, the Port of Montreal. This port handles over twenty-six million tons of cargo each year. Another important industry in Montreal is the film industry. The city hosts the headquarters of Alliance Films and the offices of Telefilm Canada. Because of the cities architectural diversity, Montreal is a popular location for feature films. Other things that contribute to the economy of the city include the many film and music festivals and its largest cultural institution Cirque du Soleil. The city is also home to many large companies who have their headquarters located there. These include companies such as Air Cananda, Rio Tinto Alcan, Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, Laurentian Bank of Canada, Transat A.T and Canadian National Railway.

A growing part of Montreal’s economy is tourism. Every year over fourteen million people visit Montreal from all over the world. Some of the more popular destinations in the city include Crescent Street, Saint-Laurent Boulevard and the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood. These streets are well known for their nightclubs, bars and restaurants. One of the most popular attractions in Montreal is Old Montreal or Vieux Montreal. Old Montreal is located in the cities downtown area and has a very distinct European flavor to it. It contains many cafes, has cobblestone streets and has some fine examples of seventeenth century architecture.

Another prominent attraction in Montreal is the Pointe-a-Calliere. The Pointe-a-Calliere is a museum of archaelogy and history founded in 1992.

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The museum is actually a complex of museums which are composed of three archaelogical sites (Pointe-a-Calličre, Place Royale and Fort Ville-Marie), Montreal’s first Catholic cemetery, Eperon building, Place Royale Crypt and Youville Pumping Station. This museum contains over a million archaeological and welcomes over three hundred and fifty thousand people a year.

The Chateau Ramezay is yet another museum located in Montreal. This museum was built in 1705 by Montreal governor Claude de Ramezay. In 1775, it served as the Canadian headquarters for the Continental Army, when the Continental Army seized the city. It now serves as a museum that has over thirty thousand historical objects which include manuscripts, numismatic items, paintings, prints, furniture and ethnological items.

Visitors should also check out the Montreal Planetarium. This planetarium is the largest in Canada with a seating capacity of over three hundred and sixty-six seats. It was built in 1966 in anticipation of the1967 International and Universal Exposition and is located on Saint Jacques Street. Since its opening the Montreal Planetarium has produced over two hundred and fifty shows, fifty-eight thousand presentations and has been visited by over six million people.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal, known in English as Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal is a basilica that was erected in 1829. It designed in the Gothic Revival style of architecture and contains many beautiful features. Its interior ceiling has a deep blue hue and is decorated with gold stars. The sanctuary is filled with wooden carvings and religious statues. The stained glass windows depict scenes of Montreal history and the church has a pipe organ that features four keyboards and over seven thousand pipes.

Montreal is a city that has a wide range of attractions for visitors to the city. The city is alive with restaurants, hotels and other attractions. Some of the more popular restaurants include Le Jardin Nelson, Les 3 Brasseurs, Club Chasse et Peche, Chez l’Épicier and Canadian Maple Delights. Hotels in the city include Auberge du Vieux-Port, Hotel Place d’Armes and Hotel St. Paul. Other attractions in the city include Montreal Biodome, Montreal Botanical Gardens and The Stewart Museum.