Gory Girl Travel Reviews

Sedona

Introduction

Often called "Red Rock Country" Sedona is a four seasons playground for everyone - whether you're into history and archaeology; arts and culture; power shopping; outdoor sports; or the spiritual and metaphysical, imagine doing all this in a backdrop of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

This picturesque city is surrounded by red-rock monoliths named Coffeepot, Cathedral and Thunder Mountain. At the north end of the city is the stunning Oak Creek Canyon, a breathtaking chasm that even today, is wildly wonderful.

Red Rocks

It's easy to spend several weeks in Sedona exploring hidden canyons and enjoying red rock trails or visiting the area's sacred sites or Sedona's vortexes.

The term vortex refers to its less common definition: "A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it." In other words, a vortex is a site where the energy of an area is concentrated. Because Sedona as a whole is known to be a spiritual power spot, a vortex site in Sedona is a place where one can feel Sedona's spiritual energy most strongly. Page Bryant, a medium, came up with the term while investigating sacred locations in the area.

Boynton Canyon

Surrounded by the majestic red rock formations of Boynton Canyon in Sedona, Enchantment Resort combines luxury with rugged grandeur inspired by Native American culture, which is honored every day through the resort and spa Native American Programs.

Egypt Cairo, Aswan And Luxor

Cairo

I found Cairo to be a crowded and busy city. It's best you make it short and sweet visiting the monuments and moving on to a less polluted area. I stayed in the city at a Four Seasons on arrival and a Fairmont nearby the airport before catching my flight home. I much preferred the airport Fairmont Hotel and when visiting again I would book the 3 days there. It's not that far out of the city and the price for the rooms are fantastic. I found the food to be really good and ate mostly Egyptian food while I was there.

The Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum was first built in Boulak. In 1891, it was moved to Giza Palace of "Ismail Pasha" which housed the antiquities that were later moved to the present building. The Egyptian Museum is situated at Tahrir square in Cairo. It was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, and opened on November 15, 1902. It has 107 halls. At the ground floor there are the huge statues. The upper floor houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies.

Mosque Of An-Nasr Muhammad

The Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qala'un Mosque is an early 14th century mosque at the Citadel in Cairo, Egypt (the sultan also built a religious complex in the center of the city, next to the one by his father Qalawun). It was built by the Mamluk sultan Al-Nasr Muhammad in 1318 as the royal mosque of the Citadel, where the sultans of Cairo performed their Friday prayers. The mosque is located across the street from the courtyard access to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. There are two minarets, both built entirely of stone, one at the northeast corner and one at the northwest portal right above the main entrance; the former is the higher of the two. The top of the latter is unique in Cairo in that it has a garlic-shaped bulb.

Coptic Museum

The Coptic Museum is a museum in Coptic Cairo, Egypt with the largest collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts in the world. It was founded by Marcus Simaika Pasha in 1910 to house Coptic antiquities.[1] The museum traces the history of Christianity in Egypt from its beginnings to the present day. It was erected on 8,000 square meters offered by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria under the guardianship of Pope Cyril V. The Coptic museum houses the world's most important examples of Coptic art.

The Hanging Church

Known in Arabic as al-Muallaqah ("The Suspended"), the Hanging Church is the most famous Coptic church in Cairo. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is thus also known as Sitt Mariam or St. Mary's Church.

The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress in Old Cairo; its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is approached by 29 steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church."

Babylon Fortress

There is unfortunately little left above ground of the massive fortress built by Roman Emperor Trajan (98-117) to protect a strategically important dock facility on the banks of the Nile. Several of the churches of Coptic Cairo are built on the foundations of the fort, and the Coptic Museum lies within its ancient walls. By 640, when the area was conquered by the Arabs, the fort had 40-foot walls and was linked to the Red Sea by a series of canals and interlinked waterways. Until fairly recently, much of the fort's foundations were flooded by rising groundwater, and they have only recently been dried out by a massive USAID-funded archaeological effort. It was unclear at the time of writing how much would ultimately be open to public exploration, but it's well worth taking some time while you're in the area to check it out.

Giza Plateau, The Great Pyramid And Sphinx

The Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20-year period concluding around 2551 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

Originally the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. If you decide to brave the trek inside be warned that it is a very narrow hike and gets hot due to all the people. I would not recommend it if you are pregnant or claustrophobic.

Solar Boat Museum

The Khufu ship is an intact full-size vessel from Ancient Egypt that was sealed into a pit in the Giza pyramid complex at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2,500 BC. The ship was almost certainly built for Khufu (King Cheops), the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.It is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved vessels from antiquity. It measures 43.6m (143 ft) long and 5.9 m (19.5 ft) wide. It was thus identified as the world's oldest intact ship and has been described as "a masterpiece of woodcraft" that could sail today if put into water.[1] However, the vessel may not have been designed for sailing (no rigging) or paddling (no room).

Sphinx

In the shadow of the Pyramids, on the edge of the Giza plateau, sits one of Egypt's most extraordinary monuments - the Great Sphinx.

Carved out of the natural bedrock and enlarged with blocks of limestone, this enormous statue of a recumbent lion with a human head is the largest surviving sculpture from the ancient world. It is also the earliest colossal sculpture the Egyptians erected, so old that for much of history the Egyptian Pharaohs knew not from when it came, and themselves worshipped it as a God.

Step Pyramid Of Djoser

Intended to hold his mummified body, Pharaoh Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara began as a traditional, flat-roofed mastaba. But by the end of his 19-year reign, in 2611 B.C., it had risen to six stepped layers and stood 204 feet (62 meters) high. It was the largest building of its time.

Extensive use of stone here and there carved to resemble wood, reeds, or other softer materials made the tomb more durable than its mud-brick forebears. Such pioneering techniques led many ancient historians to credit the chief architect, Imhotep, with inventing stone architecture.

Memphis

For centuries Memphis was the political and administrative hub of the country, and nearby Saqqara with its vast number of royal burial sites attests to the significance of the area.

As centuries passed however, Memphis began to fade as a powerful location and with the end of Pharaonic Egypt came the dismantling of many of Memphis' temples and large structures.

Today however visitors can still find some of its remaining wonders, including a monumental statue of Ramses II and a beautiful sphinx carved from a single, enormous piece of alabaster. Weighing in at around eighty tons, the sculpture is one of the most commonly visited attractions in the city.

Aswan, Abu Simbel

In 1257 BCE, Pharaoh Ramses II (1279-13 BCE) had two temples carved out of solid rock at a site on the west bank of the Nile south of Aswan in the land of Nubia and known today as Abu Simbel. Long before Ramses II, the site had been sacred to Hathor of Absek. The temple built by Ramses, however, was dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte. Because of their remote location near the Sudanese border in sourthern Egypt, the temples were unknown until their rediscovery in 1813. They were first explored in 1817 by the Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni.

The most remarkable feature of the site is that the temple is precisely oriented so that twice every year, on 22 February and 22 October, the first rays of the morning sun shine down the entire length of the temple-cave to illuminate the back wall of the innermost shrine and the statues of the four gods seated there. Precisely this same effect was apparently also fundamental to the design of the artificial cave of Newgrange in Ireland.

With the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s, the temples were threatened with submersion under the rising waters of the reservoir (Lake Nassar). Between 1964 and 1966, a project sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Egyptian government disassembled both temples and reconstructed them on top of the cliff 200 feet above the original site.

Luxor, Luxor Temple

Most of the Luxor Temple dates to the New Kingdom period of Egyptian history. Ramses II built the pylon (the large wall in the background), two obelisks (only one remains today), and six statues of himself. The sphinxes along the "Avenue of Sphinxes" were built by Nectanebo I, and replaced the ram-headed sphinxes built by Amenhotep III. The avenue stretched from the Luxor Temple to the Karnak Temple for a distance of 2 miles. I would recommend you see this attraction in the Evening hours.

Mummification Museum

Down on the corniche is a small musuem dedicated to the art of mummification. The techniques evolved over several millena -- earliest burials were simply in baskets in the sand, where the heat and desert air would dessicate the body. Later burials of pharaohs were elaborate, ritualistic affairs. In order to attain the afterlife, the body must be preserved. This is a really small museum and you can get through it in about 20 min. There are some really interesting pieces in there so if you have some extra time its a nice little place to see.

Karnak: Temple Of Amun

This is the mother of all the sites in Luxor and will take you a couple hours to get through if done right. There is something around every corner of this Temple and I was left in AWE. The Karnak Temple Complex - usually called simply Karnak - comprises a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amen and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Amenhotep III The complex is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. It is probably the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to the Giza Pyramids near Cairo.

Valley Of The Kings

The city of Thebes was the site of mighty temples built on the east bank of the Nile to honor the gods of New Kingdom ancient Egypt. On the opposite west bank was a magnificent burial ground for the pharaohs - the Valley of the Kings. This was the kingdom of Osiris, god of the underworld. From their grand tombs filled with treasures and decorated with magnificant art, the Egyptian pharaohs believed they would embark on a journey in which they would meet the gods in the afterlife and achieve immortality.

When buying your ticket to the tombs you will be allowed entry to Tutankhamun and 3 other tombs. Be sure to read up on the tombs before going so that you know what ones you want to see. I visited Ramses III, Queen Tawsert and Sethnakht as well as Ramses VI. There is a ton to choose from.

Tomb Of Queen Nefertari

This is the most colorful and well preserved tomb in all of Egypt. It is the one tomb worth saving for to see. They have restricted visitors after a 14 million dollar restoration so be prepared to pay. For $5,100 USD you can spend 10 to 15 minutes inside the tomb privately but they do allow up to 15 in a group, so that rounds out to be about $300 a person. It is well worth it. I got lucky and my guide new the Guard so I got to spend 30 minutes inside.

It's recent fame is in its restoration, completed in 1992 by the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation and the Getty Conservation Institute. The restoration began as a rescue operation when it was realised that the paintings were badly deteriorating due to the effects of dampness. Many attempts at conservation had previously been made, then in 1988 an international team of expert conservators undertook the rescue of the tomb, studying the problems and implementing geological, chemical and other scientific methods of stabilisation. The plaster was strengthened and the damaged areas were painstakingly repaired, and finally cleaned, so that the tomb looks like it was painted only yesterday.

The Ramesseum

The Ramesseum is the name given the temple, built by Ramses II, that lies between the desert and the village of Gurnah. While much of it is in ruin today it is still a majestic site to visit. At one end are the Osiriac pillars, statues of the pharaoh as Osiris, and nearby the remains of the syenite statue of Ramses II sitting on his throne. This statue, in pieces today, must have been truly spectacular with it large size, about 50 feet high, and weighing an estimated 100 tons.

This is a short stop after the valley of the Kings and well worth it. Its is not flooded with tourists and the crumbled statue is a fantastic site not to be missed.

Paris

Introduction

I believe that Paris is a city that everyone should try to see at least once.

It is a beautiful place with a ton of interesting and wonderful sites to keep anyone busy. The people are pleasant and they tolerate Americans as long as you don't make a spectacle of yourself and complain too much. Every time I go to Paris I always take a trip to one of the many museums and spend the day wandering around.

With each visit, I always discover something new, plus the cheese is what keeps me coming back!

There is so much to see in Paris that I believe a week to 10 days will get most of it but if you are going for only a few days these are my highly recommended choices for you see while there:

Musee Du Louvre

Louvre {loov'-ruh} - a French palace and the national art museum of France.

Located in Paris, the Louvre is one of the largest palaces in the world and, as a former residence of the kings of France, one of the most illustrious. It exemplifies traditional French architecture since the Renaissance, and it houses a magnificent collection of ancient and Western art. Here you will see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Victory of Samothrace, and one of my favorites Canova's Cupid Awakening Psyche. There is so much here to see that I tackle a new area of the building every time I visit.

Cathedrale Notre-dame

Notre Dame Cathedral (full name: Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris, 'Our Lady of Paris') is a beautiful cathedral on the the ile de la Cite in Paris. Begun in 1163 and mostly completed by 1250, Notre Dame is an important example of French Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass.

The Notre Dame is the most popular monument in Paris and in all of France, beating even the Eiffel Tower with 13 million visitors each year. But the famous cathedral is also an active Catholic church, a place of pilgrimage, and the focal point for Catholicism in France - religious events of national significance still take place here. For a good view of the buttresses, take a short bridge just behind the cathedral to Ile St. Louis

Arc De Triomphe

I never like to walk to this monument being that it is one of the busiest roundabouts in Paris, so I would suggest just admiring it from down the street a bit. It's always jammed with cars. Night time is also a great time to see it and it's beautifully lit up with less traffic. The Arc de Triomphe is a famous monument in Paris that honours those who fought for France, in particular, during the Napoleonic Wars and it also includes the tomb of the unknown soldier.

It is positioned at the Western end of the Champs-Elysees and stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly known as Place de l'Etoile.

Tour Eiffel

The Eiffel tower is what most people think of when they think of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is Paris' most-recognized icon. Built for the World Exposition of 1889, the tower is a relative newcomer to a city whose history stretches back to over a millennia. Wildly unpopular when it was unveiled and nearly torn down, the Eiffel Tower was finally embraced as the symbol of a modern and elegant Paris. It remains one of Paris' must-see attractions and has drawn over 200 million visitors.

Le Pantheon

This majestic church was built by the architect Soufflot during the reign of Louis XV and dedicated to the city's patron, Sainte Genevieve, but fell on hard times during the Revolution when anti-clerical tides forced its closing. Instead, the Constituent Assembly decided it should be made a pantheon to provide burial places for the great souls of the Nation. Marat was interred here for a short time - until he fell from public favour - and later the tombs of Hugo, Zola, Braille, Rousseau and Voltaire were added. Don't forget to have a look around the back side of the Pantheon as well - there you will see a jewel of Flamboyant Gothic architecture in the church of St-Etienne-du-Mont.

Musee D' Orsay

This is one of my favorite museums in Paris. It is easy to navigate and you can see everything in an afternoon. Situated in the old Gare d'Orsay, is one of the must-see spots if you're in France. Besides showcasing to appreciative crowds the astounding Impressionist paintings by the masters, furniture, photographs, and 19th century sculptures & curios, Musee d' Orsay is an architectural marvel. The stone facade of the former Paris Gare d'Orsay was created by architect Victor Laloux. The train station was completed in 1900 in time for a world fair held in Paris. Decades years later, the train station became dilapidated and was used as a backdrop for celebrated movies such as Franz Kafka's The Trial. During the late 1970s, the railway station was converted into a museum.

Sacre' Coeur

Designed by Paul Abadie in a Romanesque-Byzantine architectural style, the Sacre-Coeur was inspired by St-Front in Perigueux (Dordogne), a multi-domed Romanesque church the architect had recently restored. A climb to the top of the dome provides an excellent view of Paris - at 271 feet above Montmartre it is the second-highest viewpoint after the Eiffel Tower - and the walk around the inside of the dome alone is worth the climb. The dome is supported by 80 columns, each topped with a different capital. The crypt contains statues of saints and a relic that some believe to be the very Sacred Heart (Sacre-Coeur) of Christ. There are a ton of artists displaying their works in this area along with street performers and the ever so popular Mimes. It's a nice place to rest up and have an ice cream or latte.

Moulin Rouge

(French for Red Mill) is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris red-light district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today the Moulin Rouge is a tourist destination, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. Much of the romance of turn-of-the-century France is still present in the club's decor. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time. It books up quickly.

Phone : +33 1 53 09 82 82
Fax : +33 1 42 23 02 00
Email : reservation@moulinrouge.fr

Catacombes

The Paris Catacombs (or Catacombes de Paris, as they're called in French) are a maze of tunnels and crypts underneath the city streets where Parisians placed the bones of their dead for almost 30 years. It's a maze of creepy fun and you will be amazed at how neatly stacked and decoratively placed the bones are.

Visits to the Catacombs can last between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours, so be sure to allot enough time.

It's underground, so it can get chilly (it's usually around 57F/14C) - it's not a bad idea to bring a light sweater, even in the summer.

The tours cover roughly 2km of walking, including lots of steps up and down, so if you have trouble with walking and/or stairs you might want to sit this one out.

Children under the age of 14 can't visit the Catacombs without an adult.

There are no bathrooms in the Catacombs, so go before you go underground!

There's a limit to the number of people that can be in the Catacombs at a time, so you may find entries restricted from time to time.

The Palace Of Versailles

The gardens of this palace is one of my favorite places, when the fountains are on and the day is sunny there is no place I would rather wander. Versailles is several KM southwest of Paris. Trains reach Versailles in 30-40 minutes. Three rail lines will get you to Versailles from Paris, or you can take the number 171 bus from Pont de Sèvres. Unfortunately, only a small part of the palace can be visited: the State Apartments of the King and Queen, and the Hall of Mirrors. The worst time to visit the Chateau is on Sunday when the entrance fee is reduced and the queues are interminable. A guided tour for an extra twenty-four francs takes you in the King's Private Bedroom, the Royal Opera, and the rooms occupied by Madame du Barry. And, for a little more you can visit the pavilions of the Grand and Petit Trianons.

Don't set out to see all the palace in one day - it's not possible. Quite apart from the size, tours of both Mme du Barry's apartments and of the Dauphin and Dauphine's apartments take place at 2 pm.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Introduction

Just a few hours away is Jackson Hole, Wyoming and this year I decided to take the kids to hang out in the snow for a couple of weeks. I decided on the Four Seasons Resort.

Four Seasons Resort

The resort was lovely and you can ski in and out right from your own room - that makes it really convenient. I am not an avid skier so my husband and I did the beginner lifts and skied with our kids. They were in the ski school located just left of the main building. The beginner lift tickets are just 12 dollars and that includes kids ticket for free.

The kid's Ranch Ski School I found to be great for my children, they even took my two and a half year old. The instructors are patient and attentive and in no time all 3 kids were skiing down the same slopes with me. Well worth it.

Here are the prices of the camp:

Full day
Lesson/Lift - $165
Lesson only - $140

Half day (afternoon only)
Lesson/Lift - $145
Lesson only - $120

Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures

This is a trip I would Highly recommend. We did the half day with the kids - it's very cold so layer up and enjoy the ride! They sled you through the Teton and Shoshoni National Forests that surround Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Greater Yellowstone Area. Call for reservations because they get booked up very quickly.

Telephone
1-800-531-MUSH
1-800-531-6874

Snowmobiling

Goose Wing Ranch has a fantastic snow mobile trip to the Granite Hot Springs where you can soak in the natural mineral pool. We did this while it was snowing and it made for fun pictures. This 1/2 day adventure is perfect for those looking for a shorter day. You start at Battle Mountain, 20 miles south of Jackson. Enter the backcountry on a groomed trail to Granite Hot Springs natural mineral pool. Ride, swim and soak with the opportunity for some off trail riding. They provide you with all the snow gear including boots. Just bring your swimsuits. They also provide full day trips into Yellowstone to see old faithful and back country treks. Reservations recommended.

Toll Free
888-733-5251

Prague

Introduction

Last year was all about the heat. It seems I went to a lot of warm and sunny places. This year is all about cold snow. I decided to go to Prague as I have never been here and always heard that the Gothic Architecture was amazing and that it's an easy city to navigate.

December is the month that some of the Palaces are closed but you do have the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas Markets. I will want to come back in the Summer to see all the gardens but for now these are some of the things I was able to see:

The Charles Bridge

This Spectacular bridge has paid witness to 600 years of battle, processions and film shoots. It's a gothic style bridge with 30 statues lining each side. Today all of the statues are reproductions but the originals are preserved in museums across the city. I would suggest walking the bridge both in the day and for a romantic night time stroll.

St. Vitus Cathedral

This Gothic cathedral is one of the main sites in Prague. It is located on a hill and dominates the the city. It was started in 1344, however work was only finally completed in 1929. In the South tower you can clearly see where construction was stopped. You will notice that when work resumed it was renaissance and there is a rounded cap on a gothic base. St. Johns Tomb is made entirely of silver and the coffin is thought to weigh 3,700 lbs. It came from the mining town of Kutna Hora. There is a 16 16 tone bell of the great tower known as Sigismund, It is the nations largest and dates back from 1549.

Prague Castle

Prince Borivoj built this wooden fortress in the late 9th century on the hilltop overlooking the river. The castle later became part of the roman empire. Much of the Castle was built in the 16th century, resulting in the renaissance face seen today. It is now used as the residence of the President of the Czech Republic.

The things to see there are the old Royal Palace, the gardens, Battling Titans, the Basilica, Golden Lane, the White Tower and Daliborka.

Old Town

Everything is within walking distance in old town. The heart of the town is a large square that is bustling with markets during the Christmas season. You can take a tour via carriage or car around the area but I preferred walking. Old Town Hall has a 45 minute tour and covers the Astronomical Clock and Gothic Cellars. You are also able, for a small fee, to take an elevator to the top of the clock to see great views of the town and the Church of our Lady.

Old Jewish Cemetery

A stroll through the old cemetery is a moving memorial to Prague's once thriving Jewish community. There are said to be over 200,000 tombstones there all stacked into a small area. The oldest dating back to 1493.

Kutna Hora And The Bone Church

Kutna Hora has a history of the mining of silver ores. In the 13th century it was providing about one third of all European silver production. It was the center of striking "Prague Groschen" which was one of the most stable currencies Europe.

The main sites to see here are the Cathedral of St. Barbara and the Chapel of the Body of the Lord.

The Church that I was most excited to see was the Cemetery Church of All Saints. The interior of this church is amazing and consists of human bones. Originally piled in a pyramid by half blind monks (1511) - all the bones have been disinfected before being used and the most impressive to me was the coat of arms and the huge chandelier. It's about an hour away from Prague itself but well worth it.

This should be a day trip so that you can incorporate the silver mines as well.

China

Introduction

A year or so ago I decided to spend 18 days exploring China.

I started my tour in Beijing followed by Xian, Chongqing, The Yangtze River, and ended in Shanghai. I can tell you what I loved about the country but also what I hated. I was told before leaving about the pollution being bad and it was. I am not used to yellow air and it did take its toll after a while. It was the worst in Beijing and Xian. I would suggest a mask if you are sensitive.

The other thing I didnt care much for was the driving - they drive like crap and while tons of jokes have been made about the Chinese and their driving when there you can see first hand why they came about. Last but not least, SPITTING - yes they spit and hock and spit and hock and it's downright disgusting. Shanghai was the only area that didn't have constant spitting. SO be prepared for that.

It is a beautiful country, rich with history and there is so much to see. I will most defiantly go back to certain areas and even with the pollution and spitting it is a country worth exploring. Here are the places I enjoyed the most:

Bejing, Lama Temple

Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple; Yonghe Lamasery) is the largest and best-preserved lamasery in Beijing. It was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as the residence of the Emperor Yongzheng (the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty) before he ascended the throne. In the year 1744, the residence was completely converted into a lamasery. So this resplendent architectural complex is endowed with the style of an imperial palace, making it distinctive from others. It occupies an area of 66,400 square meters (16 acres) and is described as a mini-palace with yellow glazed tiles on the roof and red walls circling the group of buildings.

As a result of the ancient architecture, every element of the temple is entirely symmetrical, with main halls on a north-south axis and wing halls on both sides. It comprises of a courtyard in the south and five main halls in separate courtyards in the north: the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Hall of Harmony and Peace, the Hall of Everlasting Blessings, the Hall of the Dharma Wheel and the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness. Furthermore, this splendid temple combines various architectural styles of the Han, the Manchu, the Mongolian and the Tibetan.

The Forbidden City

Once you get beyond the main gate it is HUGE and it will most likely take up most of your day so be prepared for it and wear comfortable shoes. I was awed by the architecture of this palace and the millions of ceramic tiles adorning the building.

The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.

The Forbidden City covers an area of about 72 hectares with a total floor space of approximately 150, 000 square meters. It consists of 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings and 8,704 rooms. To represent the supreme power of the emperor from the God and the place where the he lived being the center of the world, all the gates, palace and other structures of the Forbidden City were arranged on both sides of the south-north central axis.

In 1961 the Palace Museum was listed as one of the important historical monuments under the special preservation by the Chinese central government and in 1987, it was nominated as the world cultural heritage by the UNESCO.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square is one of the largest squares in the world with a 500,000 person capacity and has been the site of many events. The most notable was in 1989, when a pro-democracy movement in China saw thousands of protesters gather there. Hundreds of protesters were killed by government troops in the streets leading from the square.

The Summer Palace

This is another large compound that sits majestically on the side of a huge lake. We took a ferry ride along the lake for one of the best views. The Marble boat is one of the many things to see here along with the gardens. While walking along the 17 arch bridge we stopped to watch many of the kite makers flying their kites. They love to fly kites in this area and you will be amazed at how some of them are constructed.

The Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is under water. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural relics, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.

The Birds Nest

There are some really cool buildings you will see while traveling around Beijing - one of my favorites was the Olympic Stadium, called the birds nest. This was amazing to see and when I went it was right before the Olympic games and I found it to be stunning. I am not sure if you are able to go inside it at all or if there are tours available but it's well worth a drive out to marvel at its design.

The Great Wall Of China

The construction of the wall began in 403 BC and today steaches for 3,750 miles. I suggest you get there really early in the morning and try for one of the more quiet entrances to avoid crowns. When we went we were only one of 5 people on the wall and were able to take tons of pictures without worry of people being in every shot. This has to be one of the most amazing places i have ever been. it will give you goosebumps for sure. It's a tricky walk in parts due to the uneven surfaces and steep climb but breathtaking none the less.

The Temple Of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven in the southern part of Beijing is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings. Occupying an area of 273 hectares, it is three times the area of the Forbidden City. It was built in 1420 for emperors to worship Heaven. The principle buildings include the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar.

The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest, 38 meters in height and 30 meters in diameter, stands on a round foundation built with three levels of marble stones. This towering triple-eave hall is under a three-story, cone-shaped glaze-tile roof in blue color crowned with a gilded knob. A circular wall of polished bricks known as the Echo Wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The Circular Mount Altar, south to the Imperial Vault of Heaven, is where the emperor prayed to heaven. At the center lies a round stone called the Center of Heaven Stone that echoes when a visitor speaks loudly when standing on the stone. The most amazing thing about the temple is that the entire thing was built without the use on one nail.

Xian, Terra Cotta Warriors

This is the the reason you take the trip to Xian.

Altogether there are over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits. Most of them have been restored to their former grandeur. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is a sensational archeological find of all times. It has put Xian on the map for tourists. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages. Most people spend overnight here and there fore I have suggested a few other things to see and do.

Famous Dumpling House

While in Xian we decided to have lunch in one of the more famous dumpling houses. The name of the restaurant is The Legendary DeFaChang Restaurant - it is renowned for its superior delicious dumplings.

I am not kidding that this is the name of the restaurant. The dumplings were really good here.

After Lunch there is a nearby bell tower and main square We also paid a visit to the muslim quarter and its local mosque.

Fengdu "Ghost City"

Located on the Northern bank of the Yangtze River, Fengdu is 107 miles from Chongqing and 296 miles from Yichang. It is usually arranged as the first shore excursion while on a Yangtze Cruise if one chooses the down stream cruise. Having a history of nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu County has formed a special culture of ghosts and the afterlife. Well known as the resting place of the spirit of the dead, Fengdu is now the most characteristic and reputed historic and cultural town in China. There is a lot of walking for this and steps to climb. I also found it a bit muggy and I was there in april so wear comfort loose filled clothing and good walking shoes. This was a really interesting place with lots to see and do.

Shanghai, The Bund

Situated on the East bank of the Huangpu River, here, one can enjoy the bracing air and fine sunshine as well as seeing something of the many activities along the river. The new finance and commercial houses cluster together along the south of the Bund while along the west there is a wealth of grand buildings in the European architectural styles of the nineteen-twenties, thirties and early forties. Marshal Chen Yi's statue looks down on the square where lively musicians gather to play and sing bringing pleasure to the many people who stop by to listen. At night bright lights add to the happy atmosphere as people stroll along the wide riverside promenade. I personally liked it at night but went in the day as well. They have a tunnel ride that was kind of fun and takes you from one side to the other.

Jade Budda Temple

It is one of the most famous Buddhist shrines in Shanghai. The White Jade Buddhas were brought here from Burma in the nineteenth century. One is seated while the other is in the recumbent position of Sakyamuni symbolizing the Buddha's attainment of enlightenment or nirvana. The temple also has some impressive images of the Heavenly Kings. Although many people come to worship each day and burn incense at this very holy and active shrine, visitors are welcome. I would also suggest stopping here and having some tea. We learned about all the different medicinal teas while here.

The Pearl Tower

Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the modern symbol of Shanghai City. Standing beside the Huangpu River and opposite the Bund with a height of 468 meters (1536 feet), it is the tallest TV tower in Asia. This unusual structure that dominates the skyline is a great attraction to tourists.

Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden is believed to have been built in the Ming Dynasty, more than 400 years ago. The exquisite layout, beautiful scenery and the artistic style of the garden architecture have made the garden one of the highlights of Shanghai.

Yuyuan literally translated means Happy Garden. It is located in the center of Shanghai's Old City, a few blocks south of the Bund. It has a total area of about two hectares (five acres) and more than 40 attractions The inner and outer gardens were both built in the Ming Dynasty classical style, with numerous rock and tree garden areas, ponds, dragon-lined walls and numerous doorways and zigzagging bridges separating the various garden areas and pavilions.

One of the highlights of the garden is the Exquisite Jade Rock. It is a 5-ton, porous, beautifully-shaped, grotesque rock, which is said to have been carried from Taihu (Tai Lake) in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. The rock is characterized by its wrinkled appearance, slender shape, translucent nature and numerous holes eroded by water. An interesting legend goes that the rock was found some 1000 years ago, and it was originally one of Song Emperor Huizong's private collection before it found its way into Yu Garden.

Zhouzhaung Water City

The ancient town of Zhouzhuang is in Kunshan City, between Shanghai and Suzhou. It is known as the No. 1 Water Town in China, and it is rich in produce. Zhouzhuang abounds in waterways, and boats are a must. The town feares a waterscape typical of the regions south of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, with houses built along the rivers and streams. Thanks to these waterways, the town avoided the chaos caused by wars in the past dynasties, and its architectural layout from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties has remained intact. Its said to be the Venice of asia and not to be missed.

Mexico

Rivera Maya

During the Month of November I decided to take the kids to Mexico during their school break. We stayed at the new Mandarin Oriental and although it was a beautiful hotel I would most likely not stay there again due to the stagnate water and mosquitos that were a problem. I was told that rooms directly on the beach were best and would not have that issue. The weather is really good during this time and not too hot. There was a lot of fun things for the kids to see and this is a few of the sites I would recommend. Each one is a definite day trip so plan a full day for each site.

Chichen Itza, Coba

This famous archaeological sites is one of the most impressive examples of the Maya-Toltec civilizations. The site is dominated by the large central pyramid called El Castillo and the surrounding buildings include the Temple of the Warriors or 1,000 Columns, the Ball-court and the well or cenote from which Chichen Itza takes its name. My kids were fascinated with the ancient mayan ball game and out tour guide was great. The steep temple was a bit of a climb and the ropes helped, I would suggest if your afraid of heights not to climb to the top because the way down is rather un nerving. We rented bikes to go around the property but they offer pedi cabs as well.

Grand Cenote In Coba

On the way back for Chichen Itza we stopped at the Grand Cenote so the kids could swim in the underground caves. These caves are great for divers and go on for miles. We however just snorkeled. There are many different areas around the Rivera Maya to be able to do this activity and it is one of the highly recommended things to do while there. If you dive than I would not miss this.

Viva XCARET

This is a huge eco park filled with lots of fun things to do including swimming with the dolphins. We spent the entire day here doing many of the activities. In the evening we attended the spectacular night show. They affer and Aquarium,Jungle trail, Bat caves to explore, flora farms , & Butterfly house. Water activities include a sharks tour,dolphin sim natural pools,lagoons and underground caves and rivers. It's a very cool natural theme park and there is plenty here to enjoy.

Aktun Chen

This was another cool thing we did with the kids.

One of the park main activities is a walk inside a 640 ys long dry cave, where a specia- lized guide will tell you all about cave's formation. This unique cave wiht a large example of stalactites and stalagmites has incredible formations sculptured by time... At the end of the walk you will find a beatiful crystal clear natural well.

Our canopy (zip line) is the perfect mix between adventure and nature, experience flying throughout a kilometer in our incredible 10 lines canopy and 2 suspended bridges. You can also refresh yourself and enjoy a magical experience snorkelling in a 5 million years old underground crystal clear natural well!

Tulum

These ruins are located on a cliff with a beautiful view of the ocean. It is a pretty large park with plenty to see. Be prepared for LOTS of people and tour groups at the archaeological site. To avoid the crowds, it is best to visit the ruins early in the morning before the buses arrive, or later in the afternoon. Morning is recommended since you can catch spectacular vistas when the sun is rising over the Caribbean. Among some of the more spectacular buildings at the site is the Temple of the Frescoes. I would be sure to take some time to enjoy the beach while there. Be sure to wear loose clothing over your swim attire and good walking shoes. I also packed snacks for the kids. There are also may smaller hotels with private beaches that you can have lunch at and relax by the water.

Morocco - Marrakech

Introduction

This is one of my top 10 destinations. I loved the warmth of this country and although I was only there for a week, I was able to see a lot and will defiantly be back to explore more of this small and beautiful country. I would suggest staying a little bit outside the city center where it is a little quieter. I also want to prepare you for the 5:30am 'call to prayer'. This is a Muslim country and they have 5 calls to prayer in the summertime...say goodbye to those afternoon snoozes!

Here are the suggested sites to see and be sure to bring a scarf to cover your hair and shoulders out of respect for the culture while visiting.

I stayed at the Amanjena Resort while there and this was the most amazing hotel I have ever stayed in. The service was impeccable and the setting was romantic and amazing. It's a 5 star property and if you can't stay there I would recommend having a dinner reservation so you could enjoy the setting and fabulous food.

Koutoubia Mosque

This is the largest mosque in Marrakech. It's main attraction is the magnificent minaret, the oldest of 3 great Almohad minarets remaining in the world. Non-Muslims may not enter but the towering minaret is what you are there for - built in 1150, it is almost 70 meters high and dominates the square.

Medina And The Souks

This is a UNESCO world heritage site and a highlight of my trip. Founded in 1070 by the Almoravids it quickly became an economic center. The center has a large open air market and snake charmers fill the square. I would suggest a guide to take you through here because of the peddlers. They will let you take pictures with the monkeys and snakes but be sure to get the price first or they will leave the snake on you and push the price up to take the thing off. Although I had no such issues while I was there, I was told this by my guide after my visit. After visiting the center you can wander through the souks and see all the different shops and antique shops. I found a stunning mirror made of silver and copper, he entire frame has islamic calligraphy on it - it now hangs in my home office. There are many things to buy so take your time and bargain with everyone.

Ali Ben Youssef Medersa (Madrasa)

This is an islamic college built in 1565. The courtyard is richly carved in cedar marbel and stucco. This is the largest theological college in North Africa. There are 130 dorm cells and you are really able to get an understanding of how they studyied. This building is really pretty and you will be taking a lot of pictures - the mosaics were definitely my favorite part.

The Saadian Tombs

This site may have been a burial ground before the Saadian period, but the earliest known burial dates from 1557 and all the main buildings were constructed under Sultan Ahmed el Mansour (1578-1603). The enclosure consists of two main mausoleums, with 66 tombs laid out within them and over 100 more outside in the gardens. The first mausoleum, seen on the left as you enter, is the finest of the two. Built to house Mansour's tomb and completed during his lifetime, its vaulted roof, fine carvings and stunning zellij tiles recall the Alhambra in Granada (built 200 years earlier).

Yves Saint Laurents Gardens (majorelle)

The gardens were designed by the expatriate French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924, during Morocco's colonial period when the country was governed by France. Nowadays, Majorelle's art is largely forgotten nevertheless the garden that he created is his creative masterpiece. In addition to this botanical legacy a special shade of bold cobalt blue which he has used extensively in the gardens and its buildings is named after him, namely Majorelle Bleu.

The gardens have been open to the public since 1947. The gardens have been owned by Yves Saint-Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, since 1980.

The garden also houses the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, whose collection includes North African textiles from Saint-Laurent's personal collection as well as ceramics, jewellery, and paintings by Majorelle.

There is also a beautiful YSL memorial in the grounds so it's a must see for any fashionista.

London

Introduction

This is my most FAVORITE place in the whole wide world. I travel there every chance I can. I have compiled as much information as I can letting you know what I have seen and what I would recommend you see. We will start with London. London I consider to be the original NYC It's a bustling city and a bit of a pricey one but well worth it. I would suggest that you eat anything but pub food while your are there. Indian is by far the best and their new National Dish. Here, I shall attempt to cover all the tourist must dos.

The London Eye

This big ferris wheel type construction was built by British Airways for the Millennium Celebrations and is HUGE. The wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned egg-shaped passenger capsules, all attached to it's external circumference, each capsule representing one of the London boroughs. Each one holds 25 people. It takes 30 minutes to go all the way around and you can see the entire city. They also give you a small view map pointing out where to stand in the pod and what you can see. So you can spot things very easily. It's situated on the river and a short walk from "Big Ben", Westminster and Houses of Parliament.

Westminster Abbey, The Houses Of Parliament & Big Ben

This is located on the river and you cant miss it. It's a huge amazing architectural site that it stunning to look at from any direction. The abbey is rich with British history. It's a 700 year old building that has millions of tourists a year, so you will easily be able to navigate the area. Guides are available.

Big Ben is the largest chime clock in the world. It is beautiful and sure not to be missed. Big Ben is actually the name of the Bell in the tower not the actual structure. You can climb it if you want to. I have never ventured up there but I just may next time I go. The Houses of Parliament are open to visitors and you can attend the debates if you choose. You have to arrange a tour and the building is HUGE.

The Tower Of London

The Tower of London is for me a must when visiting London. Every time I take anyone there I seem to be a tour guide. You can opt to join one of the Beefeater guards for a tour or explore on your own. There are many things to see on the grounds one being the Crown Jewels. The line may be a bit long but it's worth it when you see all the jewels and the crown with the largest diamond ever set in a crown. You can also see a collection of surviving armour that belonged to Henry VIII in the White Tower. That is historically the most important building in the complex. Many prisoners were housed in side the Tower and when wandering through it you will see areas of carved graffiti. Lady Jane Grey was queen for 9 days before being executed and left her mark on one of the walls. Then there are the Ravens of the Tower (who bite so beware). Legend says that the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six ravens ever leave the Tower. The ravens have become one of the Tower's most famous sights. The tower you will surely enjoy and it takes a few hours to get through but It will be one of the most interesting. The London dungeon is close by and offered to tourists but I would skip this attraction its LONG and boring and not really worth it.

Buckingham Palace & The Changing Of The Guards

This you will have to like crowds for. There is never a time when there is not hundreds of spectators there. It is worth seeing but I can give you one small hint. The guards that leave the posts walk up the street and around the back where the boys apartments are and there they do the same kind of thing before going back inside the building. There is no one really there so if you wait in the far back of the crowd and then follow the guards round the back you will be able to get a great picture and see the same sort of salutes. One thing I must really say is PLEASE DONT FUCK WITH THE GUARDS they are not attractions and this is their JOB so please be respectful when taking pictures of them. It's not cute or funny it's just plain ignorant and one of the many reasons Americans are not LOVED when travelling there.

Hyde Park

I like to stay at hotels that are across from Hyde Park. It is the most popular park and with good reason. It's more than a mile square and the grounds include the Serpentine Lake, Kensington Gardens and Diana's Memorial, the Marble Arch and cafes and restaurants. They close the gates of this park at dusk so be sure to only be in the park at daylight.

St. Paul's Cathedral

This is Sir Christopher Wren's Masterpiece and is the top of any architectural list of things to see. This will give you a small look at England's religious history. The Dome has a beautiful view of the Thames but the climb to the top is not an easy one and you will have to tackle hundreds of spiralling steps. Please don't ask where the elevator is and why they didn't build an elevator. If you don't get why that is the stupidest thing you could say then you don't belong in the building. St. Pauls sits on the highest point of the city and dates back to the 17th Century. The whispering gallery runs around the interior of the dome and is 99ft above the cathedral floor. The Royal Family still hold most of their important marriages,christenings and funerals here.

Harrods

This is the most overwhelming place in London. Located in Knightsbridge, it is the biggest department store I have ever been to and takes time to navigate. The food court is massive and there are plenty of places to grab a bite but you can also get lost down there for ages. It is a definite must for any fashionista. Beware though, hours seem to slip away fast while inside and you can easily loose all track of time. I love it at night all lit up. It is also located just round the corner from one of my favorite restaurants Mr. Chows. This is a very formal restaurant and reservations are required.

Piccadilly Circus

Located at the cross of five busy streets this landmark has big neon displays and serves as a backdrop to a bronze fountain with a winged archer. It's nice for a short stroll and to grab a spot of food and a pint. Not too much to see here but something that makes a good photo op.

Albert Memorial

This is a giant shrine that Queen Victoria had erected after her husband died. It is HUGE and really shows the love and dedication they shared. It's down the way from the V&A Museum, so if walking, you will come to it on the way. The Royal Albert Hall was built in his honor as well and if you happen to be able to catch a show here you should. It's a truly fantastic theatre.

V&A Museum & The Natural History Museum

These top museums are located along side one another and are both wonderful places to visit. The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated to the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, it was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover some 12.5 acres (0.05 km2)[2] and 145 galleries. It's collection spans 5000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa.

The Natural History Museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 70 million items within five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology. The museum is a world-renowned centre of research, specialising in taxonomy, identification and conservation. Given the age of the institution, many of the collections have great historical as well as scientific value, such as specimens collected by Darwin. The museum is particularly famous for its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons, and ornate architecture - sometimes dubbed a cathedral of nature - both exemplified by the large Diplodocus cast which dominates the vaulted central hall.

Oxford Street

This happens to be my mother-in-laws favorite shopping street. This is the most popular High Street in London and has many shops to choose from in all price ranges. There are over 300 in total.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a thousand year old fortress that's was transformed into a royal palace. Inhabited continuously by the Royal Family of England since William the Conqueror constructed the Round Tower in 1070, England's Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest castle in the world. It's big, so be prepared to be there all day. It's also close to a Legoland if your travelling with kids.

Japan

Introduction

One of my favorite destinations is Japan. The country of manners and tradition. I have always been interested in thier past and decided to plan a trip.

I found that the best airline to use was Korean Air. They fly non-stop to South Korea - and then JAL took me in to Japan. The flight time to Korea from the West Coast was a suprising 11 hours and then from Korea only 1 1/2 hours to Japan. The price was also good and the Korean airport is THE NICEST airport I have ever seen. It was voted one of the friendliest airports in the world.

Tokyo

The Tokyo Tower was really impressive to see and I always remember it from the Godzilla movies. It's smaller than the Eiffel Tower but not disappointing at all. It gives you great views of the city.

The Asakusa Shrine & Sensoji Temple

Before entering the gates from the street look to your right at the Asahi Beer building. The architect built the building to resemble a mug of beer. The temple is always busy, so be prepared for a crowd but it's well worth seeing. A millennium ago, so the legend goes, the Hirokuma brothers found the statue of Kannon (the Bodhisattva of Mercy - the deity alleged to have great powers in purifying people and granting them true happiness) in their fishing nets and the village chief dutifully enshrined it. The Asakusa Shrine was thus established in 1649 and the three persons in the legend were consecrated as gods of the shrine, hereby earning it the nickname Sanja-sama (the shrine of the three gods). Undoubtedly the most famous shrine in Tokyo, it also hosts the Sanja Festival in May.

Imperial East Gardens

The gardens of Japan are some of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. You can walk through them and they change with every season so you never see the same things. I went at the tail end of Cherry Blossom season and I found it to be quiet. I was even able to see a few trees with the blossoms still on them. Watching the blossoms fall is like snow and a pleasure to experience.

Disneyland Tokyo

This is by far the nicest and cleanest Disneyland I have ever seen. I attended both Disneyland, which had the traditional rides and Disney Sea. Disney Sea had a lot of newer rides that I enjoyed and Triton's Kingdom that had an indoor play area for the kids. I found Tokyo to be a very kid friendly place and would recommend it as a family destination.

Akihabara

Long known as the center for electronics shops for Tokyo (and by extension for Japan and the rest of the world), Akihabara's streets are crammed head to toe with multi-story electronics department stores and tiny covered alleys with booths selling microchips. Come here to see what might appear in your home two years from now.

Traditional Sumo

While there we were able to experience a Sumo training school to watch the Sumos train. This is something we had our travel agent book ahead of time. I highly recommend it. It was interesting to see how they live and prepare for fights. They prepared us a traditional Sumo style lunch and it was delicious. This is something you will most likely not be able to do without prior booking.

For shopping I would recommend Matsuya in the Ginza district. It is a huge department store (the Harrods of Japan) but the floor I enjoyed the most was the lower level food shops.They were by far the most interesting part of the store with rows and rows of food. I ended up spending a couple hours down there.

One mistake I did make was booking the Kabuki Theatre on the day we arrived. I had unbelievable jet-lag so we were only able to stay for the first act but from what I did see I enjoyed it tremendously. They offer headsets in English - but we opted to imagine what was being said and listen to it in traditional tongue.

If you are in to museums, I would recommend the Tokyo National Museum. It offers a look at Sculpture,arms and armor, textiles, paintings & print and Laqureware.

Hakone

We stayed a couple of nights at a traditional Ryokan in Hakone and it was the highlight of the trip for us. The Ryokan we stayed at was called the Gora Kadan. The Hotel is built on natural hot springs near Mount Fuji. It is a peaceful place and all inclusive. You sleep on traditional futon mats and they leave you a robe for daytime and evening. There is no need to even unpack your bags during this stay they provide you with anything you need - even for the kids.

On the way there we stopped and took the kids to a place called Yunessun. It is a spa resort and water park and was great for the kids. They have 25 diffrent kinds of spa related services including a Turkish Hamam and Wine bath Green tea spa . The funnest part was the little fish that nibble at your feet while cleaning the dead skin off your feet. It sounds gross but it was a blast that we even did it twice. They had a fun outdoor slide that kept the kids entertained as well as us.The kids also enjoyed the bubble show that happened every 20 min at the Gods Aegean sea part of the indoor facility.

Open Air Museum

The Hakone Open Air Museum (Japanese: Hakone Chokoku No Mori Bijutsukan), successfully attempts to create a harmonic balance of nature and art by exhibiting various sculptures on its spacious grounds in combination with beautiful views of the surrounding valley and mountains. Besides the sculptures, the Hakone Open Air Museum features various indoor galleries, including a sizable Picasso Collection, consisting of paintings, prints, sculptures and ceramic creations. This was a lot of fun and not to be missed. It would be safe to say that Hakone is a spot that is not to be overlooked while visiting Japan and you could see most of what the area has to offer in 2 days.

Kyoto

We took the Bullet train to Kyoto and spent 3 days there. We saw the Ninjo Castle best known for their nightingale floors. They were designed to make a bird like noise when walked upon. This was to prevent intruders from sneaking in the gardens undetected and they are famous for the wealth and variety of rocks used.

Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavillion)

The heart of the temple complex is the Golden Pavilion (kinka-ku), situated picturesquely in it's garden at the edge of a lake. This layout is typical of the Shinden style of the Heian period and is intended to suggest a position between Heaven and Earth. The pavilion extends partially over the pond and is beautifully reflected in the calm waters. It is one of the most beautiful sights in Kyoto. The wooden pavilion has three stories surrounded by balconies, the upper two of which are completely covered in gleaming gold leaf. As mentioned above, the shogun only managed to coat the interior ceiling with gold during his lifetime, but always intended to cover the outside as well. On a sunny day, it can be difficult to look at without sunglasses!

Fushimi Shrine

Located about 2km southeast of Kyoto station, Fushimi Inari Taisha is without doubt the largest and most impressive Inari shrine in Japan. Fushimi Inari Taisha was founded in the 8th century by the Hata family and is the head shrine of no less than 30,000 Inari Shrines nationwide. The sancturay is composed of several buildings, including the Sakura-mon Gate and Go-Honden Shrine, followed by a 4km tunnel made of thousands of red torii gates making their way through the woods.

The 4km walk through the Torii tunnel to the top of the Inari-san hill can be a strenuous one, especially in the heat of summer. That does not discourage some joggers to use the place as a training ground, at the stupefaction of tourists. Two large ponds and several small waterfalls can be found in the Maze of Torii, depending on which path you decide to follow.

Statues of menacing Kitsune (foxes), said to have the magic power to take possession of human spirits, alternate with Torii gates. The fox is however reverred to as the God of Harvest (rice and cereals), and is often seen carrying a key in his mouth, which is for the rice granary. Foxes are said to love rice balls rolled in fried tofu, which are called for that reason "o-inari-san". They can be purchased in just about any sushi shop.

Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha in the late afternoon as the sun slowly sets can be a thrilling experience and is definitely recommended for those believing in the "spirits of the forest".

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Kyoto Studio Park)

The Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (also known as Kyoto Studio Park and Toei Movie Land) is a film set and theme park in one. It features a collection of replicas of traditional Japanese buildings which are used as setting for historical movies and television dramas.

There are whole streets depicting Edo Period town scenes, a replica of the old Nihonbashi Bridge, a traditional court house, a Meiji Period police box and part of the former Yoshiwara red light district. Actual film shooting takes place occasionally, and park visitors are welcome to observe the action.

Other attractions include various performances, a haunted house, a large souvenir shop and exhibitions about popular TV series. It is also possible to dress up and get photographed in more than 30 outfits including samurai, geisha and ninja attires. The cost varies from 8500 to 16000 Yen depending on the attire. This is one of the things we did and we ended up using the picture for our christmas card one year with a backdrop of the snowy golden palace as a background. Here the kids were able to watch and get involved in a Ninja show. It is defiantly something to do with your kids. I preferred the dressing up as a geisha. I was surprised at how long it took and how heavy the costume was. BIG FUN!

Mt Fuji

On a day trip to Mt Fuji we were taken to the gorgeous volcanic Hakone mountains via cable car (sky gondala). We went to see the famous Owakudani Valley (literally, The Hell Valley); an ancient crater with sulfurous hot springs in which eggs are cooked. You can see steam rising from crevasses in the ground, hence why they call it 'Big Hell'. These eggs are believed to add 3 years to your life per egg eaten. My oldest son and I were the only 2 brave enough to eat the eggs. Even though the smell of the sulfur was extremely strong, we were able to eat them. It was a interesting experience to say the least.

Overall, Japan is a country that I think is a must see. Everything about it is fantastic and it still ranks as one of the top 5 places we have ever been.

Gory Girls's Travel Tips

Making Your Travel Abroad Easier

Here are a few tips I have picked up along the way when travelling abroad - I hope you find them useful.

I prefer travelling overseas and with foreign carriers for a few reasons: The first of which is BETTER SERVICE. Any major European or Asian carrier still offers you not only a drink but also a meal on board - (yes even a 'meal' and no, not peanuts). Even if I am going to a US destination I have started using Virgin America. Somehow Americans stopped expecting good service from airlines and its been bad ever since. Well, Europeans and Asians don't tolerate it and therefore the service is hands down a much better experience - not to mention very few delays. However, beware of smaller European carriers like Ryan Air, Easy Jet and Thompson Fly that offer really low fares. They will charge you a lot in taxes and tack on extra money for baggage per lbs or kilo so they end up costing way more...always check the fine print!

If you have a credit card check with the air carriers that they partner with it, I find American Express is the best and works with everyone I fly with. Make sure they offer you points with every dollar spent. Then get Frequent Flyer cards for whatever airlines you fly - make sure that they coincide with your credit card. You can transfer CC points to any of your FF cards and the transfer is instant. So if I need to go to London, I simply call AMEX and have them transfer my reward points directly in to my Virgin FF account and then I book the flight through Virgin. Be sure the seats are available before you transfer points because once transferred you cant get them back. Most times they will hold the flight while you transfer and ALWAYS make sure you get the names of the people helping you!

The next trick I use is the little known fact that our government has a customs short cut. It's called 'Global Entry' and well worth the 100 bucks to apply. When you return from an overseas flight you are usually tired and the last thing you want to do is wait, sometimes for an hour if not more, to go through customs. Well now you dont have to. Go to www.globalentry.gov and apply today! They have a kiosk in the immigration area of customs that scans your passport and spits out a ticket and that ticket enables you to walk right through customs! Then all you have to do is collect your bags and walk through to the exit without waiting AT ALL! It's available at a ton of airports across the US and all the listings are available on the website. It's glorious...I get through before flight crews in most cases!

Okay - so onto baggage. If you're checking baggage and you have a connecting flight be sure the airline check it all the way through to the final destination if possible. Once you reach your first stop you can check with any airline employee from your carrier and have them scan your tags to make sure your bags are onboard your new flight before you get on the plane. You will never loose a bag during a connection by doing this. It may take a few extra minutes but it will save you a ton of aggravation if you reach your destination and find your bags are not there.

Always remember to leave behind a travel itinerary and bring with you a paper copy of your passport and credit card info (with numbers) - just in case of theft you have a back up. You should also register with the government online before you travel listing the countries you intend to visit - that way, if ANYTHING goes down (natural disasters and such) they know you are there and it will help in getting you home faster. Muslim countries, for the most part, I loved - but you should always have a copy of your original prescriptions along with the original medicine in the proper containers. DO NOT put them in pill boxes. They also frown on nudity so leave FHM and Playboy at home. There Is NO TOLERANCE in any country for drugs so don't be an idiot - you WILL get caught.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I most likely will have an answer for you. My best advice? Go see the world - its the best education you could ever receive.

These are a few of the carriers I have had excellent service with Internationally:

Virgin Atlantic
Air France
Korean Air Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Japan Airlines
KLM
Thai Air
Royal Air Morocco
Emirates

When Flying domestic in the US the list is short but these are not all that bad:

Virgin American
Southwest
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Jet Blue

Lake Como

The Beauty Of Lake Como - Italy At It's Best

This year for my birthday I decided on a trip to Italy. I have been to many cities in this lovely country but never made it that far North. SO I decided to see Milan and Lake Como and the surrounding cities along the lake. So off I went. I flew Air France out of LAX to Paris and then connected on to Milan. My layover was only 2 hours so it was perfect. I booked a room at the Villa d'Este on Lake Como.

My room overlooked the lake and was absolutely beautiful. The service is top notch and the one bedroom suite is spacious. The hotel itself is a former 16th Century princely residence, surrounded by a 25 acre park. The food is fresh and well prepared with pasta that makes my mouth water.

I went by water taxi up the lake to Bellagio and drove past all the villas on the lakefront. I was especially impressed with Richard Bransons villa that apparently you can rent for $17,000 a day. The view from the lake was breathtaking. Once at Bellagio I had a nice lunch at the famed Grand Hotel Serbelloni. The service was really good as well as the view. I found the prices a bit high for the food though.

Continued...

It's well worth a wander through the small steps and alleyways popping in and out of a few shops. I did however stumble across an art gallery and bough a lovely piece of art by and italian artist named Marco Grassi.

I ended the day at the Villa del Balbianello, it was built in the 1700s for Cardinal Durini. The interior of the villa extends over several levels, it is decorated with furniture dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries and well worth a visit. The Gardens are most famous from the Star Wars wedding scene and the grounds are stunning. It is a exquisitely maintained italian style garden with the most impressive chandelier trees I have ever seen. There are many villas to visit here and its the most relaxing place I have ever been.

This is a must see destination if planning to to visit Italy.

Switzerland

Lugano

From Lake Como I decided to take a day trip to Lugano, Switzerland. It was only about an hours drive and rather easy to navigate. Once I found the interstate it was a straight shot. While in Lugano, in a small area called Bellinzona, I visited a UNESCO site. There are 3 castles to visit but there was a bit of a hike to see them so make sure to wear comfortable kicking style shoes.

The first castle was the Castelgrande - the oldest of the three castles. Then from there, as you make your way back down, you will pass a lovely church called St. Quirico and is worth a brief detour. Then I headed up to the second Castello Di Montebello this was a steep up hill walk and there is no other way to get there. The view was really worth it. The last one (didn't get there, far too exhausted!) is a 50 minute uphill walk and is the Church of St. Sebastian in Artore. Walking back through the squares was fun in itself. It was bustling with vendors selling fresh pastas and Italian meats and cheeses. It made for a really nice day trip.

Monte Tamaro

On the way back to Como I decided to stop at Monte Tamaro, a cable car to the top of the mountain. This is a great excursion for avid mountain bikers or families with kids. At the top there is a playground for the kids and a bob sled style ride. There is also a few unique statues and the view is breathtaking. They offer zip lining, and para gliding as well as plenty of hiking trails. The cable cars are equipped to bring your bikes up with you and they offer many different trails to enjoy. This was a favorite stop of mine and one I will bring my kids back to.

Mendrisio

The final stop we made was to Foxtown Outlet in Mendrisio. This huge mall has all the designer names you could want. It's 3 levels and has plenty to choose from. Dior, Dolce, Fendi, and Prada just to name a few.

It was a full day and I didn't feel rushed at any point. The Outlet mall is located just 10 minutes from Como just past the Swiss border.

Verona

Giardino Giusti

Just a short 2 hour drive from Como is the lovely and underrated Verona.

Most people tend to go to the bigger cities like Milan, Venice and Rome when travelling to Italy but I thought I would check out some of the less popular ones. My first impression when driving in to the city was that there was a lot less hustle and it had a easy going relaxed feel about it. I started off by visiting Giardino Giusti (Giusti Gardens).

Planted in the XVl Century by the Giusti family behind their palace - they utilized the down hill slope of the area beautifully. The lower garden is adorned with fountains and statues and one of the first planted Labyrinths in Italian style landscape. The wilder upper section has large trees and a small path that takes you to a great Grotesque mannerist mask. Once at the top of the mask you have a view of the city. The grottoes were closed to be repaired so I was unable to see that aspect of the garden.

Piazza Del Erbe

Just a 5 minute car ride away I parked and walked to the Piazza Del Erbe (vegetable market). There were many things to see in this square and most of the main sites are a short walk in either direction so this is a great base to start your walking tour. In that square you are able to see the Arco della costa, the fountain of 'Madonna Verona' and the Maffei palace. Once you pass through the arch under the Arco della costa (whale bone) it will bring you to another small piazza. This is the Piazza Dei Signori - there you can see the Lamberti Tower built in 864. It is a 12th century castle house, as you wander through the small alley like streets you will find many different interesting buildings and I would suggest a small guide book to help you tell the history of the buildings. Everything is very concentrated around this area and thats what makes Verona an easy city to navigate and see in a day.

Casa De Giulietta

The main site to see is the House of Juliet (Casa de Giulietta) and the famed balcony where Romeo crawled up to spend one night with his love. Statues of Shakespeare are scattered throughout the sites. I also paid a short visit to the said 'Tomb of Juliet' and on the way came across the church of San Fermo Maggiore. This church has both styles represented gothic period and the romanesque period and is worth a short visit.

I found Verona to be a lovely city and if planning a trip to Northern Italy I find it is a real must see. It is a really short drive to Venice from there as well.

Milan

Shopping

The last leg for me on this trip was Milan, the city of fashion and home to Prada, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. I decided on two days here, 1 for shopping (dont forget to ask for tax free vouchers on all purchases!) and the second day for sightseeing around the city. I stayed at a Hyatt and it was located right by all the shops and the main attraction - Milan's marble cathedral (Duomo). Hyatt properties are always perfectly located for some reason, so I would always recommend them in any city you travel to.

The first day I set out on a mission to pick through all the designer stores to see what they had there that I have not yet seen in the States and buy it. It started off a little slow and I got a bit lost trying to find Dolce (the furthest one out) on the famed Via Montenapoleone but managed to find it in the end on Via Della Spiga. I ended up getting a fab pair of Hot pink platform suede runway shoes that are more a work of art than anything else - but when the opportunity arises I will sport them proudly like a peacock. I found quite a few other nice pieces as well. Then off to Prada where my luck to get the proper shoe, I have been hunting down, once again alluded me. However, I scored a nice Bordeaux fur covered ski jacket that I didn't really need but couldn't say no to. Gucci was a score with a pair of shoes and a dress and Max Mara got me a moderately priced classic Camel coat (a must have piece for every girls closet!). I felt good with what I scored and was tired by the days end, so I capped it off with a 90 minute massage.

The Last Supper

Day 2 started off with seeing The Last Supper (by appointment only and book way in advance for this) housed in the Santa Maria delle Grazie. After learning a bit about the church we then had to wait outside these air tight sealed doors only to wait outside yet another pair of them to be finally let in. They allowed only about 20 people to view it at a time and you only get 15 minutes to look at it. The fresco, although not a true one being that he painted it with a glue base (making it a tempera), was a lot larger than I had imagined and I was impressed by the depth he created. Standing in the middle of the room, I feel, gave you the best vantage point. After learning about the history and how it was almost destroyed, I then was told that the apostle to the left of Christ was John (clearly still in denial over the obvious fact its Mary Magdalen) and how he was painted this way because he was sweet in nature so Da Vinci painted him with more soft features...yeah right. The opposite wall had a large fresco as well, 'The Crucifixion' by Montorfano. They believe that Leonardo added the Portraits although they are now almost invisible. It was signed and dated 1495. The next stop was a short visit to the Castello Sforzesco, built in 1368 - the castle was enlarged in the 14th century it is now an important museum centre.

Marble Duomo

The jewel of Milan is the Marble Duomo. The construction of this cathedral began in 1386, German and French architects insisted they use Candoglia Marble but it was not fully finished until the 19th century when Napoleon who was crowned king of Italy there had the facade completed. There are 3,500 statues - they are typically medieval representing saints, animals and monsters. The view from the terraces is simply unforgettable.

I was able to see a lot in my 2 days in Milan and would recommend a short visit at the end of your trip through Northern Italy.