Smag31

Eiffel Tower Although the top of the Eiffel Tower can be seen above rooftops across the city, one of the best views of this Paris landmark is from the Seine. The Pont d’Iéna lies at the foot of the tower, bridging the river to link it to the Trocadéro Gardens. The tower, illuminated at night, … Read more

Les Misérables The 1862 novel by Victor Hugo (1802–85) is an all-too-vivid portrayal of the poor and the dispossessed in early 19th-century Paris. At its centre is the tale of nobleman Jean Valjean, unfairly victimized by an unjust system. The younger character of Marius is based around Hugo’s own experiences as an impoverished student. Plaque … Read more

The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery Located adjacent to each other at the top of Trafalgar Square, these comprehensive galleries make up the core of Britain’s art collection . The National Gallery Tate Modern Housed in a huge converted power station on the south bank of the Thames, this exciting new gallery covers modern … Read more

British Museum The oldest museum in the world, and one of London’s most fascinating, contains treasures and artifacts from all over the world . Natural History Museum Life on Earth and the Earth itself are vividly explained here using hundreds of traditional and interactive exhibits . Science Museum This exciting museum traces centuries of scientific … Read more

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra: www.berlin-philharmonic.com Deutsches Theater: www.deutsches-theater.berlin.net Staatsoper Unter den Linden Both the theatre troupe and the orchestra of the venerable Berlin Opera enjoy top reputations. No where else can you see so many top stars of classical music. During refurbishment from mid-2010 to 2013, performances will take place at Schillertheater, Bismarckstr. 110. 030 20 … Read more

Ice-cold Mojito cocktail Tresor Club Berlin’s first techno club, Tresor Club opened in 1991 in the basement vault-rooms of the former Wertheim department store. Today, this institution is located in a giant former power station, situated over three floors including the +4 Bar, which has views of the old power station ruins. The club continues … Read more

Exploratorium Kids can experience one of the finest, uniquely San Francisco interactive days at this superb science museum. They’ll learn all about their senses and how they work, as well as delve into all the laws of physics through first-hand experiments. The top draw, however, is the Tactile Dome, a totally dark sphere in which … Read more

War Memorial Opera House and San Francisco Ballet The San Francisco Opera Company is the second largest in the country and performs from June to January. The excellent San Francisco Ballet, one of the nation’s oldest, mostly performs at the Opera House, too . 301 Van Ness Ave 415 864 3330 War Memorial Opera House … Read more

US Botanic Garden The gleaming glass-walled conservatory building is a beautiful home for this “living plant museum.” Microclimates, such as desert, oasis, and jungle, reveal the variety and beauty of plant adaptations. Don’t miss the primitive ferns and other plants dating back 150 million years. Outside is the variegated National Garden with an environmental learning … Read more

Lincoln Memorial The majestic monument to the president who preserved America’s unity and began the long process of ending slavery is built in the form of a Greek temple. Daniel Chester French designed the enormous statue of a seated Abraham Lincoln in 1915, and it is among America’s most inspiring sites, especially for its association … Read more

Piazza Navona The elongated oval of Rome’s loveliest square hints that it is built atop Domitian’s ancient stadium . This pedestrian paradise is filled with cafés, street performers and artists, milling tourists, kids playing football, and splashing fountains. Bernini designed the central Fountain of Four Rivers, and added the Moor figure to the most southerly … Read more

St Peter’s Basilica Should the opportunity arise, don’t miss seeing the basilica’s cavernous interior when all the lights are on – only then can you fully appreciate this giant jewel-box of colour . Santa Maria del Popolo Legend recounts that on this spot, where a magnificent oak grew, Nero died and was buried. The site … Read more

Cape D’Aguilar It may be only 7 miles (11 km) directly south of Hong Kong’s busy Central district, but Cape D’Aguilar feels like another world. The wild coastline has wave-lashed rock formations and a marine life so rich that researchers have discovered 20 species “new to science” in these waters. Hoi Ha Wan The long … Read more

Bank of China, Cheung Kong Centre and HSBC HSBC Building Sir Norman Foster’s striking, Bladerunner-esque edifice cost a whopping HK$5.2bn, making it the world’s priciest pile when it opened in 1985. The headquarters of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation are reputed to have some of the best feng shui around – the building … Read more

Zoo–Aquarium Madrid zoo is currently rated one of the best in Europe – within its confines you’ll find more than 2,000 animals representing 500 species, including endangered ones such as the white tiger. Young children, in particular, will enjoy the koalas. Free-flying birds of prey are the main draw of the aviary while sharks and … Read more

Carriage Ride through Central Park The horse-drawn hansom cabs lined up at the edge of Central Park are romance personified. The driver, appropriately attired in fancy dress and top hat, will help you up as you nestle in for a 20-minute trot past park landmarks . Carriage rides through Central Park Dinner at the River … Read more

Jardin des Tuileries A stroll through the beautiful Tuileries Gardens is one of the must-dos of Paris. Before the Revolution this was a prime spot for the aristocracy to show off their latest fashions. The gardens are now part of the Musée du Louvre . Jardin des Tuileries The Left Bank A very Parisian walk, … Read more

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace Hampton Court The finest piece of Tudor architecture in Britain, Hampton Court was begun by Henry VIII’s ally Cardinal Wolsey in 1514 and later given to the king. It was enlarged first by Henry and then by William and Mary, who employed Christopher Wren as architect. Its many rooms include a … Read more

Sherlock Holmes The famous but fictitious detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle first appeared in 1891. He still gets regular fan mail sent to his equally fictitious address of 221b Baker Street . Sherlock Holmes, London’s famous detective Charles Dickens The great Victorian novelist and social campaigner (1812–70) lived in Doughty Street for two years … Read more

Berliner Filmfestspiele The Berlinale is the only top German film festival, and is attended by Hollywood stars and German starlets alike. Until 1999, the film festival took place all around the Zoo-Palast cinema; today the traditional festival draws thousands of cinema fans to the area around Potsdamer Platz. Filmhaus Potsdamer Platz 2nd and 3rd week … Read more