The 17th of May, or Syttende Mai, is the day that Norwegians and everyone else living here celebrate the Norwegian National Day. They raise red, white, and blue Norwegian flags at home before heading out to crowded parade routes where they wave miniature flags at passing marching bands, buy overpriced balloons for children who sit perched atop their fathers' shoulders, and eat hot dogs and ice cream before heading home to watch the parade again on television. All of this appeals to me as an American, since I've come to expect a yearly dose of hot dogs, marching bands, and miniature flags. It's all charmingly familiar-right up to the part when we wave to the king.

The waving comes at the end of the children's parade, or barnetoget, that winds its way through downtown Oslo. It's all marching bands, too-no floats, no trike-riding Shriners, no fire trucks, no veterans buttoned into old uniforms-just grade school after grade school, sometimes more than a hundred of them. And if a school lacks a marching band, a professional band will often march with them. Years ago, I wasn't prepared for this more secular aspect of the parade and found myself shouting to my husband, “Was that Glen Miller?” as one of the adult bands went by. He nodded and laughed, and laughed harder later in the same parade when I yelled, “Hey, they're playing Elvis!”

The people watching the parade are as much of an attraction as the parade itself because, unlike their American cousins, Norwegians dress up on Independence Day. Granted, Oslo in May is cooler than Peoria in July, but they go all out here in their avoidance of T-shirts and shorts: they wear wool. It's called a bunad, whether you're man, woman, or child, and it's a festive national costume based on 18th century folk dress. Both men and women wear long-sleeved white shirts topped by jackets or vests, with knickers for the men, embroidered, ankle-length skirts for the women, and Pilgrim-style black buckled shoes for both. Women's bunads are the most expensive, lavishly embroidered by hand and then ornamented by as many sterling silver buttons and brooches the wearer can afford (I bet even some of those shoe buckles are sterling).

There is no designated bunad for foreigners. I was feeling a little oafish, looking around one May 17th at all the lovelies swinging by in their lavish, if bulky, bunads, and casually asked my husband which sort resident foreigners like me generally wore. All I got for my trouble was a sidelong glance. He was right, of course: my ancestral district is Chicago and, more broadly, the Midwest-what would I embroider my bunad with, cornstalks and skyscrapers?

The answer is, everyone wears the nicest they've got. If you're Japanese, you break out your kimono. If you're from India, your sari. If you're from Scotland, you wear your kilt and bring your bagpipe. And if you're American, you leave your T-shirt and shorts at home and wear something your mother would call presentable.

After all the schools have passed, The Royal Guard's marching corps and a row of mounted police go by, signaling the end of the parade and official permission to jump into the street and walk the rest of the route behind them up to the palace. After craning on tiptoe for so long it feels a little funny to step out into the street with only a kid or a flag to hang onto, but then you walk along with everyone else under all the pennants and flags, past Parliament and the Grand Hotel, past the National Theater, and you find yourself standing in front of the palace, waving to the king.

The royal family watches the entire parade from the palace balcony, waving to each school and band as they pass with flags lowered. People here sometimes say that the royals earn their salaries on May 17th-they stand on the balcony for four hours during the parade, and they make multiple appearances that day at celebrations outside of Oslo while the rest of us are already back at home with our feet up. But first they have to wave to the rest of us.

It's quiet after the parade, and we all stand there, packed in tightly, in front of the palace. As for the waving, you take turns. First the king and his family wave, and then the crowd waves. Then we wait for a while, squinting up at the row of them looking back at us from beneath the brims of their hats. Then the royals wave again and the people wave back. This goes on-quietly, no cheering-for several rounds, until the royals wave one last time and then go off for their afternoon engagements. It's all I can do not to cry while we're waving to King Harald and his family. It's as silly and sober and touching a thing as ever I've seen.

After that, if you're hungry, you head off to have your ice cream and hot dogs quayside. Sitting by the glittering Oslo fjord, smiling at my daughter's ice cream-smeared face, it's easy to feel proud of my small, adopted country each May 17th, even as I miss the surge that comes of seeing the Stars and Stripes at the head of an American Independence Day parade. Privately, I wish it were hotter out; that my hot dog was tucked into a bun rather than wrapped, Cleopatra-in-the-carpet style, in a potato lompe; that Norwegians didn't reserve fireworks for New Year's Eve, even though the nights aren't dark enough here in May to see fireworks; and that I was headed home to a barbecue. Still, the similarities satisfy, and in a country in which any girl can grow up to be queen (Crown Princess Mette-Marit used to be a waitress), I can't be surprised when my daughter and I are greeted at her kindergarten the next day by a row of smiling children saluting us with a perfect royal wave.

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Its average temperature remains in the 70 degree F level throughout the year and sunshine appears almost every day. Many tourists like to book for a Wailea beach front condo to enjoy the sunshine and the scenery of the beaches.

With its beautiful sand and shimmering water, the beaches in Maui are great places to enjoy the sunshine and swimming. In fact, the beach voted the best in the world is located right on Maui, which is Wailea Beach. Wailea Beach is one which tourists must see while on vacation in Hawaii.

Apart from watching the beautiful views of beaches and swimming in the water, you should include one more activity in your Hawaiian vacation: Taking in the luaus.

A luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast. Long time ago, it was a combination of big parties celebrating special occasions such as a king¡¦s birthday. visits from foreign nobles or to honor an important chieftain. These parties often lasted for three days featuring dancing, drinking, eating and singing. Now there are many commercial luaus to choose from, where you can be treated like a king yourself.

As far as I know, there are three kinds of Maui luaus. They are The Old Lahaina Luau, The Feast at Lele and The Ka anapali Beach Luau. All the luaus are enjoyable. Whatever luau you choose, you will have a good time.

If you are looking for a traditional Hawaiian experience, The Old Lahaina Luau is the way to go. Featuring only music and dance from Hawaii, this luau will take you on a tour of Hawaii from the times of mythology to the present. The goal of The Old Lahaina Luau is to provide the most authentic Hawaiian luau available on Maui.

For the honeymooning couple or any couple looking for a more private and romantic evening, consider the Feast at Lele. The feast is the only Maui luau offering table service for dinner. The approach here is much different from any other Maui luau. A premium bar is featured, and the food is served in courses, and offers some of the finest food you may eat during your entire vacation.

Families visiting Maui may find that the Ka anapali Beach Luau to be the perfect fit. In addition to the traditional luau buffet which serves kalua pork, mahi mahi, lomi lomi salmon, poi, island style chicken, sweet potato and much more, there is a children¡¦s buffet featuring comfort foods such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and pizza for the finicky eater.

The Carnival is bringing back the old times, a strange and fascinating atmosphere of odd elegant aristocrats that are dancing or singing and drinking from a cup, a rich expensive red wine - the kings luxurious atmosphere is all around and as a tourist, the first impression - if you didn't come prepared for this event - is that you are out of place, and it seems that you just stepped into a time capsule and went back in time - times of king and queens and young princes with red dresses and flowers in their blond hair - times of legends are all around you.

The main place for the event is "San Marco Piazza" the most vast area in Venice, where every year the Carnival is starting. The idea started from around 1162, when Venice being a small republic but a strong republic was victorious against Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia.

The event contains music, ballet, theater, circus and all the arts that are dear to people's hearts, but some events where lost in time as it was the "Bull Race" - that was probably a very dangerous event in the short streets, bridges and canals of Venice.

The Carnival is having a special " Venice Day" that is the most important part of Carnival. On this day the best performances will delight the participants and will culminate with the famous "Maries F?te" an event that is followed by a grand concert from the best 18th century music traditions, and will end traditionally with the Band of Venice to close a truly Venetian day.

The Mask is a symbol of the Carnival - symbol of the liberty spirit of Venice from old century's. Without an known Identity, everyone could seduce anyone, so social classes were abolished during the carnival, making the art of seduction more exciting, allowing infidelity and the mixing of the social classes. This Carnival was forbidden from 1930 by Mussolini and started again in 1979, today being a industry that is growing because if the Carnival.

The entire city of Venice, islands, peninsula, and mainland will be disguised and animated by masked faces, popular music, and dance and a unique experience that is revealing a world long vanished that is brought back in a celebration of color, music and fully colored festivities. Come and join the Carnival! It's time for you to party!