Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia, Bulgaria  -Europe

Picture by wiki

By Milena Alexova


Every city has its own beautiful and exciting history. We will introduce to you the sides of the capital of Bulgaria – Sofia. It is the largest city in Bulgaria and its motto is “Grows but does not age.” The city has a 7000 year history. Therefore, a unique mix of cultural layers, including all peoples who left their mark on this land - by the Thracian tribe Serds in Macedonians under Philip II and Alexander the Macedonian, Roman Trajan, Attila's Huns, the Bulgars of Khan Krum Byzantines, Crusaders, Ottomans temporary Russian rulers Battenberg monarchs, Ferdinand and Boris, the Nazis and the communist government, until today.
For cultural sightseeing, we shall begin with presenting you one of the oldest churches in Bulgaria – the church “St Sofia”. It is built in the IVth century. The city is carrying its name, because during the XIVth century it was very popular. Side of the church you can find the Monument of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of Ivan Vazov – classic poet and writer. “St Sofia” depicts the coat of arms of the city.
Built in 1906 by Viennese architects in neoclassical style, is the National Theatre ‘Ivan Vazov.’ It is the biggest theatre in Bulgaria and is also an architectural symbol of Sofia. It has an impressive facade is six columns supporting a triangular pediment on which depicts Apollo with the Muses of the arts. Moreover, it goes under the name of the famous Bulgarian poet and writer who we already introduced - Ivan Vazov.
Another influential building in Sofia is the National Art Gallery which is very close to the National Theatre ‘Ivan Vazov.’ The National Gallery is created in 1948. It is situated in part of the former princely palace of Alexander Battenberg. It is made in order to exhibit the most valuable works of Bulgarian artists and sculptors.
If you are a booklover, the right place for you to visit it Square ‘Slavejkov.’ This is an open bookstore where you can find everything - from books and textbooks to CD's and video games. It is named after the Bulgarian writer, journalist and politician Petko Racho Slavejkov.
Last but not least are the museums. There is a wide variety of museums depending on what your preferences are. For example, you can visit the National Museum of Military History – a military, research and educational institute; the National Museum ‘Earth and Man’ – a mineralogical museum with over 20 000 exhibited crystals and minerals from all over the world; National Anthropological Museum where you can find many reconstructed images of

Luxor, Egypt

Come To Visit Our Awesome City Luxor , Egypt, Africa

By Jojo Sam

Come to visit my lovely city, if you are one of those people who admire of visiting famous antiquities, if you passionate to smell of the ancient days, Sure you will think to come to visit Egypt. In Egypt you will find awesome historical places, that historical places starts from Giza pyramids and extend to Valley of the Kings at Luxor. Here at Luxor, you will enjoy with the wonderful worm weather, and a wonderful hospitality of the kind Egyptian people.
Luxor is the most ancient city in Egypt. It lies in Upper Egypt at the north of Aswan. In the past, Luxor was the capital of ancient Egypt. It was called Teba. It was built at the age of the pharaoh Mina. Now it’s called Luxor.
Do you know why Egyptian called it Luxor instead of Teba! I’ll tell you, when the Arabs came to Egypt to conquer it in 640 AC Arabs found a huge number of pharaonic structures and palaces, which make them to name it Luxor ( City of palaces) Because It has a lot of ancient palaces which called Luxor in the Arabic language.

Luxor has the third of the world’s monuments nearly. It has a lot of ancient tombs and temples, such as The Karnak Temple, The Luxor Temple, The Valley of the Kings, The Queen Hatshepsut Temple and The colossi of Memnon.
When you come here, be sure you will enjoy with every moment of your tour. You can enjoy Kebash Road or may you love to sail in a Nail tour in the River Nail. All amazing thoughts you can find it in my city (Luxor) especially if you come at winter, here the weather is worm at winter in a magical way that make all foreigners prefer to vist Luxor in winter.

When you are here, I advise you to take care of taxi drivers, they are so greedy about money. So that you are advised to move with your tour guide in a stated plan and avoid moving separately. In common all Egyptians ( My country people) are so kind welcoming to all coming people as tourism is one of the most important source of national income for all Egypt.
When you decide to come here don’t forget to plan to visit all Christian historical ‎places in Egypt especially the Old ministry at Asuit Mountains where Jesus Christ ‎had visited it during the journey of The Holy Family.‎

Cape Town, South Africa

A jewel at the southern end of Africa

By Anton Venter

Cape Town is the capital of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The city is the country's most popular tourist spot with pristine white beaches arranged around a peninsula. Restaurants offer international cuisine with local flavours added to the mix. Accommodation is available that suits every budget from backpacker to jet-setter.
Cape Town is the southern point of South Africa where the first settlers landed in 1652 to start the long journey of the country's development. The city is not the actual dividing point between Atlantic and Indian Oceans. That honour goes to Cape Agulhas, further south from Cape Town. There are a number of museums that depict Cape Town’s unique history. Many buildings have been preserved over time and those who appreciate historical architecture will not be disappointed.
The 2010 World Cup Soccer resulted in an upgrade of sport stadiums that included Cape Town. The event united the cultures of Cape Town. It showed that black, coloured, white or any colour in between can forget about their differences and make the city a place where tourists feel welcome and safe.
Wine lovers who visit Cape Town are in for a treat. The wine regions around the city are all within five to thirty minutes’ drive from the city. These regions include Durbanville (within Cape Town area) and regions outside the city, e.g. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West. All these wine farms offer tastings and many of them have also opened some of their vineyards to mountain biking with trails that vary from easy to strenuous.
The long list of restaurants represents cuisine from almost every country in the world. Some restaurants specialize in local cuisine (African, Cape Malay and Afrikaans) and their ambience is often enhanced by music and even dancing.
African menus typically include red meat, game, chicken and “pap” (porridge) with gravy. These restaurants can be found in well-heeled tourist spots as well as townships. Barbequing is a favourite pastime on weekends, combined with beer drinking and watching sport like rugby. You’d be hard pressed to find anything but red meat and sausage on those barbeque grids. An alternative to the grid is a “Potjie”, where a pot is hung over coals to slow-cook a stew of meat and vegetables. Other popular Afrikaans and Cape Malay foods include Bobotie (a kind of meatloaf) and Chakalaka (a garnish of Indian origin). Some of the desert favourites are Koesisters (twisted pastries) and Milktart.
Seafood features well on Cape Town’s menus. A variety of shellfish and line fish is available at most restaurants. Traditional local ways of processing fish are “Bokkoms” (dried and salted fish) and smoked “snoek” (a local fish snubbed by some due to its many bones but very tasty when smoked).
Open-top busses will take you to most tourist spots on the peninsula. Specialised tours are available to the "townships" where low-income housing can be seen with small businesses thriving on the streets. No visit to Cape Town will be complete without a trip up the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, the iconic feature of the city. From here you have views that compare with those of the world's most spectacular cities. The Victoria and Alfred waterfront has departure points for a selection of boat trips around the main harbour and out to beaches such as Clifton. Another favourite destination for a boat trip is Robben Island. There you will find a museum that commemorates the years when there was a fully functioning prison on the island with Nelson Mandela its most famous inmate.
In addition to the standard bus service, the city is phasing in a brand new rapid transport system with dedicated lanes for buses. It has not reached all suburbs yet, but already includes a route from the airport into the city centre. Metrorail trains run only on major routes around the city, but outlying stations include Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West.
Minibus taxis provide a cheaper alternative to regular sedan taxis, but their courageous drivers may not be for the faint-hearted. Some locals are uncomfortable with minibus taxis, but they’re safe as long as they are used within regular hours. Minibus commuters have adopted a unique sign language for hailing a taxi. Using only one hand they communicate with the “gaatchie” (conductor) of an approaching taxi about its route and destination to ensure it’s the one for them.
Cape Town has some interesting outings for nature lovers. Two of these are within twenty minutes’ drive from the city centre. The World of Birds is situated in Houtbay, a vibrant fishing village on the western side of the peninsula. You can stroll through the largest bird enclosure in Africa, carefully watched by owls. Butterfly World is near Klapmuts, north-east of the city. Here you can mingle with free-flying butterflies within safe distance from scorpions and spiders.
Within thirty minutes from the city on the southern side of the peninsula, by car or a scenic train route right next to the ocean, there are the quant fishing villages of Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek. There is a good variety of restaurants in Kalk Bay, the most popular being the Brass Bell, which over the years has developed into a hot spot for younger people where you can choose from six dining areas that range from formal to informal. Those interested in antiques and books should reserve at least half a day to browse the shops in Kalk Bay.
General information
All banks are open Monday to Friday 8h30 to 15h30 and Saturday mornings. Some banks are open on Sunday mornings. ATMs are in abundance. Temperatures vary between 13° and 28°C through winter (May to August) and summer (September to April). Tap water is safe to drink. English is spoken everywhere while some locals speak Afrikaans, the language that has its roots in Dutch.
As far as security is concerned, the same international travel rules apply in Cape Town. Don’t have valuables on display and don’t venture into suspect areas late at night.

Helsinki, Finland

MyCity – Helsinki, Finland

 By Denise Ruthmann

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and it is lying in the very south of the country. The city has its very own charm and is not comparable to any other north European harbour town, because it has been influenced by Russian and West European cultures. With its great location directly at the sea, rich culture, the exotic seeming Finnish language and the kindness of its people Helsinki presents itself as a welcoming and attractive city, which remains long time in a visitors memories.

Most interesting is the very center of Helsinki. Here you can find modern shopping malls as well as individual little shops, international restaurants from all over the world as well as traditional Finnish cuisine, art, culture, entertainment and much more. It has been built in the style of classicism by its famous architect was Carl Ludwig Engel.
The most famous building in Finland is located in the center as well: The white cathedral or Tuomiokirkko in Finnish.

 You can find the beautiful building printed as a motive on countless postcards and also the inside of the cathedral is worth a visit. Right in front of the Tuomiokirkko lies the popular Senat Square which is surrounded by small shops and cafés and often venue of public gatherings and markets. Close by you can find the popular Kauppatori, a marketplace directly at the harbour which offers regularly creative, fresh and delicious products for all seasons. Especially interesting in the area of the Kauppatori are the ships which can bring you to Stockholm in Sweden, Tallinn in Estonia and Suomenlinna. The latter is a beautiful Finnish island right in front of Helsinki. In former times it was used as a sea fortress. Nowadays the island is a part of  the city and also inhabited by some. Suomenlinna is a green and lovely place with breathtaking views on the sea and loved to be visited by tourists as much as by Finns.

Beside the center also the parks of the Finnish capital are worth mentioning. Most well-known is a park called Kaivopuisto. This park is one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in all over Helsinki and lies directly at Helsinkis' coast. From here you have a perfect view on the sea, ships and small islands. The meadows of the park offer a great opportunity for picnics during summer time. Especially at the 1. of May, the official Finnish Vappu holiday, a visit in Kaivopuisto is the best hint you can get. At this occasion every year half Helsinki seems to gather in this park and celebrates Vappu with a lot of fun, music, beverages and grilled food.


So don't hesitate any longer, but come to visit this, both lively and lovely, city in the far north.

Prague, Czech Republic

By Richard Barkand

If you take away the political borders, you might realize that Prague is located nearly in the center of Europe. It is part of the reason why many multinational companies have established offices in the Czech Republic’s capital city. It also helps to explain why so many travelers criss-crossing the continent make a point of adding Prague to their agenda.
But there is much more to the city than just a convenient stopping point. You know you are in an interesting place when you discover that the “New Town” district was first established in the year 1348.

Two of the most famous landmarks in the city are the Charles Bridge (construction began in 1357) and Prague Castle. But you do not have to limit yourself to only those two places. The neighborhoods on either end of Charles Bridge are full of narrow, crooked streets lined with restaurants, pubs, and craft shops. The weather is generally very pleasant from April to October, so you probably won’t mind losing track of time or your sense of direction.
Another must-see is the astronomical clock in Old Town Square. At the start of every hour, the clock performs a short, whimsical show. The square itself is full of beautiful buildings in different styles of architecture.

The public transportation system is modern, reliable, and inexpensive. An unlimited 24 hour pass costs 110 CZK (around $5.50 USD). Most locals buy a pass annually which costs around $240 USD.
One thing that the city has not been known for is its cuisine. The traditional meat-centric dishes are readily available in nearly every neighborhood pub. One interesting and slightly unusual dish is called Svickova. It consists of marinated beef in a cream sauce with knedliky (dumplings) and, oddly, cranberries and whipped cream.

If you want something lighter, that’s ok. In the last five years, there has been a mushrooming of vegetarian restaurants and specialty shops offering fresh alternatives.
Speaking of mushrooms, for those who venture outside the city, mushroom picking is a favorite hobby of many Czechs. Go for a walk on one of the many well-marked hiking trails and you will certainly find people carrying baskets full of the various types of mushrooms growing in the forest. In fact, on summer weekends the city can feel a little empty. Many families have a chata (cottage) where they go to get a break from urban life.

Prague is also famous for its beer. And they do take their beer seriously here. The larger breweries employ inspectors who make visits to pubs and restaurants to check that their product is stored, poured, and served properly. Many microbreweries have sprung up recently to add more variety to the local beer culture.
After all, there is no better way to end a day of walking around the city’s stone and brick streets.
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Islamabad, Pakistan

By Ansab Khan

Islamabad - The capital city of Pakistan, *City of peace* and *The Green city* is one of most beautiful and peaceful cities of the world which is located at the northern end of Pothowar Plateau. It has a healthy, pleasant climate and pollution free atmosphere. It is a well-planned and developed city with different sectors and zones. Each of these sectors has shopping malls called *Markaz* where people go and enjoy their shopping. Islamabad has attracted people from all over the Pakistan, making it one of the most cosmopolitan and urbanized cities of Pakistan.



The major places of interest in Islamabad for tourists are Faisal mosque, (one of the beautiful and largest mosque in the world), Daman-e-koh, Pakistan museum of natural history, lake view park, lok virsa museum, japanese park, Shakar pariyan, fatima jinnah park, national art gallery, bari Imaam shrine, golra Sharif, and many more. One thing more which tourists love about Islamabad is its smooth and tswited roads. There are ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills. Supreme Court of Pakistan and parliament house is also in Islamabad with their great importance.

Pakistani food is famous all over the world due to its taste and mouthwatering recipes. Some famous places in Islamabad where people mostly like to go and eat are Savor foods, KFC, Blue area and aabpara food streets. Crispy parathas, spicy barbeques and other traditional food items besides fresh juices and ice cream are easily available at all major spots of the metropolis where shops remain open the whole night. Eating out in late hours has become a popular trend in Islamabad especially on weekend nights. In last couple of years a new trend of giving bouquets to your friends and relatives on special events has started in Islamabad. If you are in Islamabad and planning to meet any of your friends, relatives or loved ones, then presenting a fresh flower bouquet would leave a great impression of love and care.

The most iconic form of transport in Islamabad is of course the decorated buses with pure art on wheels clanging metal frills along the bodywork, Undecorated van style minibuses for short routes through the city and the taxis *back window decorated with stickers, reflective pieces and all manner of trinkets hanging from the rear view mirror* in Islamabad are easy to spot.
Islamabad is a lovely place to visit. The weather of Islamabad is very refreshing. I myself love the greenery. It’s the heart and soul of Pakistan, a city which symbolizes the aspirations of a young and dynamic nation that looks forward to a glorious future for its people, a city which welcomes modern ideas but at the same time recognizes and cherishes its traditional values and its past history.

London, England

London, England

By Nadia Farah Mokdad




‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford,’ said English writer Samuel Johnson, and it is just as true now as it was then. Inviting someone to London means inviting them to join a fast-spinning carousel of history, culture, nightlife and exciting people.

The capital of England is a city where everyone can find something to suit their tastes, from food to entertainment. It is easily accessible and has a well-developed public transport system, which, as a visitor, is preferable to going by car. Taking some of the many central bus routes (88, 29) is a wonderful way of experiencing not only the heart of London but also a ride on the famous double-decker bus. It is as fun as some movies show it be. However, if you prefer a more organised approach, there are companies like The Original London Sightseeing Tour which offer open-top bus tours stopping at most famous attractions.

To best way to know the city, though, is to walk it. A good place to start is at London Eye, the renowned Ferris wheel which offers a magnificent, almost plane-like view of London. The ride experience is especially beautiful the closer it gets to evening time because the London lights are being switched on. From there on, you can cross Westminster Bridge to encounter the equally well-known House of Parliament with its sharp towers that shine golden on sunny days. If you get there at a sharp time, you can listen to the haunting chime of Big Ben. Westminster Abbey is only a couple of minutes’ walk away. It is a gorgeous Gothic building and home of the Poets’ Corner where many famous English poets are buried, for example, Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson.

From now on the city is a playground whose exploration gets dictated by personal taste. There are many things to fill the days, starting with seeing the royal jewels or walking around the execution site of Anne Boleyn at The Tower of London to having a stroll through Hyde Park or Kew Gardens. The possibilities seem endless, from museums and art galleries, west-end theatres and having afternoon tea at one of London’s tea rooms to enjoying a local band at The Blues Kitchen or dancing the night away in a club.

What is guaranteed for everyone, though, are interweaving streets lined by gorgeous historical buildings with an architecture spanning a wide variety of styles and periods. Many of these buildings host, on the ground floor, cafés and traditional English pubs. You can take a relaxing break from sightseeing and sample some traditional English cooking, like fish and chips or a Sunday roast (it usually consists roast beef served with roast potatoes, assorted vegetables and Yorkshire pudding), accompanied by a pint of ale or cider. For those that don’t enjoy the local cuisine, international alternatives are easily available, with Chinatown, in the Soho area, offering a variety of oriental restaurants, bakeries, etc.

Shopping enthusiasts will find themselves at home in the Oxford Circus area, clashing bags with other shoppers on Oxford Street and Reagent Street. A wide selection of shops is available from high-street brands to luxury ones. For visitors with more alternative tastes, Camden Town is a great place to be, not only for shopping at The Stables Market, where many handmade things are sold, but also for the eclectic mixture of quirky places and people.
That can also be said of London in its entirety because, no matter what you end up doing, you will leave having had a plentiful experience and probably an eager wish to return.

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Kampala, Uganda, Africa

Invitation to Kampala -my city.

Kampala is the capital of Uganda and the largest city in the country.  
Location:

Kampala is located in Uganda East Africa and the city’s coordinates are: 00 19N, 32 35E.
Brief History

Kabaka Mutesa 1 had chosen the area that was to become Kampala as one of his favorite hunting grounds. It was made up of hills and wetlands. It was a bleeding ground for many game animals particularly the Impala. When the British colonialists came they named one of the hills the hill of Impala. Due to the large number of impala. The Baganda used this reference in their local language (Luganda) - 'Akasozi K'empala. So K’empala became 'Kampala due to repeated usage, and when the colonialists wanted a name for the city they adopted Kampala.

Major Attractions:
The are several major attractions in Kampala but the main ones are; Kasubi tombs which are located on Kasubi hill 5 kilometers from the city centre. It is a burial ground for 4 kings of Buganda and it is therefore significant for the loyal family and the entire Buganda kingdom. Then we have the Rubaga cathedral located on Rubaga hill. Many religious people come to the cathedral to warship and are one of the landmark buildings in Kampala. 
The Uganda museum is the oldest museum in Uganda formerly it was locate at Fort Lugard on old Kampala hill and now it is on kitante hill.
The bahai Temple located on kikaya hill 4 miles from Kampala city centre. It is the mother temple of Africa.


The Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine is situated 12 kilometers from Kampala city centre in Namugongo.

 It is where the Uganda martyrs were executed by Kabaka mwanga due to their failure to withdraw from their new adopted faith –Christianity. Namugongo shrine has been visited by many people Notably Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury in 1984 and in 1993 pope John Paul II. In the whole country including the city Kampala June 3rd is a public holiday in honor of the massacre of the Uganda martyrs.

Food and accommodation
The hospitality industry in Kampala is well developed as evidenced by the CHOGUM 2007 conference and several international conferences that take place here every year. We have international hotels like the Sheraton hotel, Serena hotel, and Hilton hotel which is now under completion. We have several hotels which have achieved international standards, hotels like Speke Hotel, Emin Pasha Hotel, Fairway Hotel, Protea Hotel Kampala, Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, and Golf Course Hotel, Grand Imperial, Mosa Court Apartments, Kabira Country Club and several others.
 When it comes to food there are many choices depending on the occasion you can enjoy dinner from a 5 star restaurant you can spend from 50cents USD to your highest limit. In fast food we have international brand like Nandos and Steers both on Jinja road, we have Domino's Pizza and several others.  There are a variety of restaurants to pick from Ugandan and the other available are Belgian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Turkish Mediterranean and Indian.

Night life and partying
Kampala has a very active night life from a slow and quite Ugandan bar to the fire of capital pub past 2: AM Kampala night life does not end well past the next day. I think there are very few cities across this continent that can rival our night life. We have several bars that include Al’s bar in Kansanga, Capital pub in Kabalagala, Rock Garden at speak Hotel, Bubbles O’Leary which is an Irish pub, steak out in Wandegeya; we have several night clubs which include Club Silk and Ange Noir.
Transport

In Kampala there are several means of transport which include bus, Taxi. Here we have to types of taxis one is a 14 sitter and the other we refer to it as special hire taxi. You can also use Bodaboda (Motor bike). You can also get a car from car hire services around the city for a self drive.
Security
Kampala is generally safe both day and night. We Ugandans are some of the most resilient people in the World:  We have seen wars, overthrows, dictators; bombing attacks come and go but for the last 27 years there has been stability in Kampala save for the 2010 terrorist attack.
Welcome to the city that never sleeps.

Nairobi City, Kenya

by  Jacob Muoki

Picture By: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0304_difficult_cities/image/008_nairobi.jpg

Nairobi City, Kenya Brief History Established in 1889 during the building of the Kenya-Uganda railway, Nairobi stands as the Kenya’s capital and East Africa’s most populous city. It’s the most industrialized city in the country and is inhabited by people of all walks of life and members of the 42 different Kenyan tribes. Nairobi is a regional business hub and hosts the United States Embassy (the biggest in East Africa) and the United Nation’s UNEP and UN-Habitat headquarters. The city’s growth as a technology hub in the entire continent of Africa has attracted the attention of technology giants such as Google and Cisco Systems, who have established their continental headquarters there.
Major Attractions The main tourist attraction in Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park, the only one in the world located in a capital city. The park hosts a wide array of wildlife including cheetahs, buffaloes, and hyenas and over 400 species of birds. Other attractions in the park include an animal orphanage and the Safari Walk. Located 7 kilometres from the CBD, the National Park can be accessed via road or air (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport).
Food and Accommodation Nairobi hosts several world-class hotels, which tourists and other visitors may find suitable for short-term accommodation. The Sarova Stanley, Intercontinental, Hilton, Nairobi Serena and Norfolk are some of the luxury hotels located in the heart of the city. The Safari Park Hotel is 15 minutes drive from the CBD off Nairobi-Thika super highway. The hotels serve a wide range of international cuisines as well as the country’s popular version of barbecued meat that the locals refer to as “Nyama Choma”.

Nightlife and Partying Many tourists don’t leave Nairobi before they’ve visited the Carnivore restaurant, which is home to the Simba Saloon night club. The club is located about five kilometres from the CBD towards Langata. Other night clubs in the city include Betty’s in the CBD and Changes in Westlands area. There, revellers are treated to a combination of hip hop music, reggae and local tunes popularly referred to as “Genge” or “Kapuka”.
Transport International visitors arrive at the city via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Alternatively, visitors entering Kenya via Moi International Airport in Mombasa may commute by rail, road or air to Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about 15 kilometres from the CBD and is accessed via cabs (taxis). Visitors from Mombasa may choose to commute by train, which is relatively slow and may take up to 16 hours to get to Nairobi. Movement around the city or to towns nearby is possible via taxis or car hire services. Many tourists don’t use public transportation except in cities served by rail or long-distance luxury bus companies. This is because only these guarantee passenger safety and professionalism.
Security Nairobi’s CBD and all other areas of tourist interests are for the most part secure. Ever since the 1998 bombings of the American embassy in Nairobi, security has been beefed up around the city and an elite tourist-protection police unit set up. However, the American government has issued and lifted travel advisories against Nairobi more than once since 1998. Thus, the city, especially US, European and Israeli interests, remain potential targets of terror attacks. However, visitors that avoid city estates and areas such as the Kibera slums and Eastlands remain safe from day to day threats to security.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius

by Aurelija Brazenaite

Vilnius is the biggest city and the capital of Lithuania. Vilnius is located in the Southeast of Lithuania and even two beautiful rivers flow through it. Vilnius is one of the greenest capitals in Europe. More than 40 % of territory is covered with green trees and plants. Vilnius has five Tourism Information Centers. Go there and get your free maps and the best advices.

There are many interesting and attractive sightseeings that must be seen and many activities that you should try. From the Gediminas Castle hill you can admire green and historical Vilnius panorama or an amazing sunset, which all colors in red. If you really enjoy watching town’s panorama, you also should go to the Hill of Three Crosses.

The Old Town with small streets is worthy for tourists attention as well. There are several museums like Museum of Genocide Victims and the Cathedral in the heart of Vilnius. Vilnius is very rich with many churches of different styles and epochs. The most famous is gothic Ona Church. Once you are in Lithuania, do not miss your chance to visit very cozy artists’ district called Uzupis.
Nature lovers will be amazed by beautiful and very green Verkiai and Pavilniai National Parks. Also, there are other beautiful parks such as Sereikiskiai and Vingio.
Couples, singles or families can rent bikes, canoes. Also, you can take long promenades in the most beautiful parks or have some extreme sports like climbing trees.

Vilnius is full of restaurants, cafes and night clubs. If you are searching for places where to eat or have
fun, you will find it without any efforts. You should be aware that only 18 years old or in some places only 21 years old can enter a night club. Do not forget that most of night clubs are opened on weekends.
Lithuanians are friendly, but at first sight it may look contrary, because not everybody likes to speak with strangers, especially in other language. Mostly older people do not know English, but they know Russian language very well. You should ask younger people for advices or other help.

Try to avoid visiting sleeping dorms, dark places and market zones, where you can be robbed and cheated. Also, if possible never allow yourself to be provoked by drunken clubbers. You should know that prostitution is illegal in Lithuania, so be very careful with some women.
Most of Lithuanians are Christians and they do not have any special customs. They celebrate all National and Christian holidays. It is very common to say hello by shaking hands between men. Women kiss each other into cheeks only if they are very good friends.


People living in Vilnius often go to eat in local restaurants or cafes. Most of restaurants bring outdoor furniture for warm seasons. You can sit outside and watch passers-by and admire the town. You should try a cold soup called Saltibarsciai. It is made of kefir, eggs, cucumber, beetroots and onions. It is the best dish for the hot day. Also, do not forget to eat Cepelinai, which main ingredients are potatoes and
minced meat.

Lithuania is very famous for its tasty beer. Try our local live dark or light beer.
If you are a fan of fast food, you can go to McDonald's or Hesburger. Mostly Lithuanians do not eat fast food very often. They prefer cooking at home.

Vilnius has very good public transport infrastructure. Students, young persons and retirees prefer going by bus or by trolley. Working people usually go to work by car. You should be aware that you can stick in traffic after working hours.
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