Now I'm not into touristy areas or big throngs of people, but Chicago's Navy Pier tourist trap does offer FREE fireworks every Wednesday at 9:30 and Saturday at 10:15.

The best part is that you don't have to go onto Navy Pier to see them, you can watch them from one of the many Chicago beaches or rooftops in the area. I personally recommend Oak St. Beach.

Local Chicago Radio Stations will also synchronize their music to the fireworks. I don't know any

better way to end an evening than hearing Bruce Springsteen's 80's driving music to giant explosions over Lake Michigan.

Every tuesday in Grant Park the Chicago Park district projects some great movies... FOR FREE! Were not talking about lackluster B films that your friends enjoyed five years ago.

Heres a rundown of the lineup for this summer. All films start when the sun goes down, don't forget a blanket and a cooler of beer!

The 2008 Movies in the Park lineup:

The museum of Contemporary Art isn't chock full of hoity-toity tourist thinking they're cultured (well maybe some.) The MCA is full of abstract displays, interactive art, video projections, audio rooms and a plethora of stimulation. This summer don't miss the Jeff Koons Exhibit, which runs until the 21st of September.

Best thing about the MCA and the reason it made this list, is that it is ABSOLUTELY FREE every Tuesday, all day, all summer long.

So weather you're into a string of christmas lights laying on the ground where the name placard seems to have more thought, or a giant room covered floor to ceiling with Vinyl records, the MCA is for you.

Just Walk east on Chicago Avenue until you see the car that appears to be wrecked into the building.

The Good Chicago Beach

The beaches around Chicago are great. The best part about them is that they are also free!

Many beaches are extremely overcrowded, such as North Avenue Beach. To find some better spots, and a place to actually lay out, try the north side of Montrose Beach or Foster Beach. These beaches are bigger than North Avenue and generally have about a quarter of the number of people.

Bring a cooler and make some sandwiches, or find some local vendors for a tasty regional treat.

Be careful of the water as well, Lake Michigan is known to have had incidents of high levels of mercury. So look out for three eyed fish and mermaids, but if your the adventurous type paddle on out and enjoy a dip. The lake is warmest in Late July and August.

The Baha'i Temple is in Cook County, but north of Chicago in the neighboring suburb of Wilmette. Hop on a bike and enjoy a day trip north along Lake Michigan's biking trail then spend some time at the temple.

The Temple and grounds are gorgeous, standing 140 ft tall and made of white concrete and exquisitely adorned. Spend some

time walking around and don't forget a camera.

You can visit the Baha'i Temple any day of the year, until around 7pm.

So get out there and enjoy summer, because activities are best when they're free. And as Chicagoans know, nothing beats a Chicago Summer, but you sure pay for it in February with the cold.

Constable Country is a mainline train journey from London, through beautiful green countryside. The artist John Constable captured its beauty on canvas and today you can still see Willy Lott's cottage in all its glory.

There are taxis at Manningtree station that will take you on the short journey into the heart of the county of Suffolk countryside bordering with Essex.

If you do not want to go further than Manningtree then take a short walk or taxi ride (approx 10 minutes by foot for able bodied) into the town, it is the smallest town in Britain, it is also famous for being the hunting ground of The Witch Finder General, Matthew Hopkins. The narrow streets and old buildings that border the river Stour makes for a refreshing break from the hub bub of the city. There are rooms available in the local eateries and pubs. There is an award winning curry house and a Chinese take away should you wish for the spicier things in life. Should you wish to self-cater there is a large supermarket next to the river walk, a great place to sit and eat a sandwich.

The author Catherine Cookson chose Manningtree as a refuge when in troubled times, walking along the linking river road towards Mistley, known as the walls, you will also find time to unwind and clear your head. There is a small animal sanctuary along the road that welcomes visitors daily and is a great treat for children. The day out should give you a little piece of the Essex and Suffolk countryside to add to your collection of memories of when you visited Great Britain, it is tour guide free leaving you independent and a little richer in the pocket, there is a public library housed in a grand building in the centre of the high street where you will find more places to visit another day.

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When driving by Red Deer on Highway #2 you would not expect that it is cultured or has major public works of art. In fact you may think all Red Deer has to offer is fast food restaurants, gas stations, and RV sales lots. This is because Red Deer's city planners, to avoid downtown congestion, created an area called Gasoline Alley. This strip effectively keeps Highway traffic out of its' downtown area. However, if you take the time to venture into downtown Red Deer there is a thriving cultural community and the city has invested in public works of art.

What I refer to are the statues affectionately referred to as The Ghosts of Red Deer. These incredibly well detailed, life size, sculptures are scattered throughout down town Red Deer. All these ghosts are of real people, with a couple of exceptions, which are real animals. There are plaques explaining the stories behind the statues.

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The first Ghost I saw was an older gentleman sitting on a bench downtown, he had a briefcase and was remarkably well done, I admired the sculpture, but until I saw another, I had not realized that this was a special feature in the city. I soon discovered many more. I have not included a photo of this chap, you will have to discover him for yourself.

There are two sculptures that I was especially drawn to, one because of its magnificent size, attention to detail in an action pose, and the other because of the story behind it.

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The Ghost of a horse drawn fire wagon is truly impressive. The expression on the horses as well as the two human figures is very strong. No question about it, this is an intense moment caught in time. It is the largest Ghost Sculpture, complete with two frightened horses, one driver in the fire wagon, and a man who is trying to control the horses. A rein has broke and they are loosing control of the team, who typically are used to charging full speed to the fire.

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Francis the Pig is my other favorite. This little guy made an escape on route to the slaughter yard, he evaded capture for quite some time. During this time Francis made himself a town celebrity and earned this statue from his days on the run.

All in all, seeing these lovely works of art, in an unexpected location gave me quite an thrill. Red Deer is about one hour north of Calgary, and one and a half hours south of Edmonton, should you find yourself passing through Red Deer, I suggest you turn off the highway, and go into the downtown area and look for these ghosts yourself. Bring a camera.

First, when referring to the fascinating culture of modern Japan, there are NO basic rules or guidelines, meaning that there is nothing basic about them. When traveling for pleasure, perhaps in a large city that is familiar with tourist interaction, the standards of proper protocol are slightly more lax. To the natives that actually live in the city, they are every bit as prominent as anywhere else in Japan, but a city-dweller is more likely to recognize and accept your ignorance to their customs.

Some things, however, they will most likely hold you responsible for knowing despite how ignorantly foreign you may appear. The as-basic-as-its-gonna-get survival guidelines are as follows:

1. In Japan, cars drive on the LEFT side of the road. If you, for any reason, feel the urge to avoid Japan's fabulous, fuel-efficient and cost effective public transportation system and pilot a car for yourself, you are not likely to be easily forgiven if caught barreling down the highway into oncoming traffic, shaking your fists and cursing at the other crazy drivers going the “wrong way.” Most locations have a wide variety of inter-city travel options, such as busses, trains, trolleys, and subways designed to provide maximum mobility for even the most culturally impaired of tourists.
2. Carry a dictionary. Yes, language is an important tool for communication in pretty much every form, and no, not every member or every other country in the world knows English. If you find yourself lost, or in need of any other vital information, it is not always wise to walk up to just anyone and start asking them where stuff is in English. It is true, most Japanese citizens were required to take English as a language at some point throughout their high school education, but a surprising few have actually retained it or are exceptionally willing to use it. Japanese people may appear to be very friendly and overwhelmingly helpful, and most all of them are, but if they cannot understand what you are saying, then you are both likely to only end up frustrated and further confused. In some horrifying and rare instances, Japanese people have been known to shake off insistent, ignorant tourists by simply pointing them in a random direction without having the slightest clue what anyone was asking, just to get rid of them (*raises hand). If this happens, and you find yourself stranded in a shady part of town after dark, find a police officer (they often patrol on most major streets in large cities, making them easy to find) and ask directions from them. Most have had extensive training in English and handle confused-tourist woes all the time. Normally, if you can feed someone a few key words from your dictionary, they'll be able to figure out what you need, but the trick with that is understanding what they're saying when they've accurately assessed your needs and then try to offer help.
3. Japanese money is not American money. In Japan, they use Yen, and it is exceptionally important to become familiar with the exchange rates of Yen to dollars and reverse, and what the Yen value of certain products and services is. If you don't go in knowing what you SHOULD be paying for something, it is easy for merchants to take advantage of you and try to sell you a pack of gum for the equivalent of five American dollars.
4. Try to have a plan and know exactly where you're going before you try to get there. That's pretty much standard anywhere you go, but is especially important when navigating yourself through some of Japan's uniquely maze-like cityscapes.
5. Avoid the subway at rush hour. You will be literally “packed in” with an impossible number of sweaty strangers. It is not uncommon, quite seriously, for limbs to be broken during the transit or for babies to be smothered. If your destination is within a mile or two, do as the Japanese do and walk. You will see much more of the city that way and experience a lot more of the colorful, pleasing bouquet that is Japan. If you wish to travel a considerable distance, take a bus, trolley, or cab, if available. WOMEN!!: The subway is one of the few places where it is important to be exceptionally aware of yourself and the people (men) around you. Understanding that most men are very proud, mostly quiet and reserved, while Japanese women are meek, passive, and non-confrontational, can give you a better insight into why certain things Americans deem inappropriate, such as groping strangers on the morning transit to work, does not appear to seem inappropriate to many Japanese men. Many female tourists get violated on the trains, and if this should ever happen to you, treat the situation exactly as you would in America. Slap, kick, mace, do whatever it takes to get the point across and draw as much attention to the offending pervert as possible, and then alert the nearest authorities.
6. Avoid eating while walking. It's considered very rude. To be safe, try not to eat in public at all.
7. DO NOT LITTER. You should notice pretty quickly how amazingly clean and virtually litter-free most places in Japan are, even the big cities. They take a lot of pride in their cleanliness and frown heavily upon those who disrespect their clean streets. In Tokyo, it can be hard to find trash cans out-of-doors, as they give a bad appearance to the layout of the sidewalks, so keep that in mind while walking around.
8. Don't tip the waitress. I know that sounds off, but in Japan, waitresses will normally not accept tips, and some will consider it an insult if you try. They are paid like any other employee, so additional money is not considered a part of their fair wages. If one truly desires to show their gratitude to a waitress in a tangible manner, leave them a small gift, but it is certainly not required or expected.
9. Some tourists live and die by the way they wield their chopsticks. You probably won't be expected to know all the rules right away, but some basic ones include (1) no sucking on the chopsticks (2) no pointing at other people with the chopsticks (3) no sticking the chopsticks in rice (4) no passing food from chopstick to chopstick and (5) no serving food or passing food to another plate with the eating end of a chopstick. If you are uncomfortable with your chopstick skill level, carry your own fork with you. Not many restaurants can readily provide them, but I have never known a Japanese person to be offended by their use.
10. Some personal products are not so easily available in all of Japan. Certain items that can sometimes be tricky to find include deodorant (don't ask me why), tampons, and specific shades of makeup. Bring your own. Also, many of the hair products available, such as shampoos and conditioners, are designed for Japanese hair, which is often considerably coarser than what most Caucasians have, the result being that the Japanese products will often make your hair much more oily than what you may deem comfortable.
11. Just eat it. Don't always feel like you have to ask what's in a specific dish. Sometimes, you may not like the answer. If you open yourself up to simply try as many things as you possibly can, you are more likely to find unusual, unique dishes that you enjoy.
12. Respect the shrines. Tokyo is dotted with innumerable shrines and temples. Most of these are open to the public, but be respectful when visiting these landmarks as they are often historical and hold some religious value to many citizens.
13. Don't mess too much with the buttons on the toilets. Unless you have a taste for adventure of an unusual breed, some of the functions of the toilet require some mental preparation. Before actually “using” the toilet, fiddle a little with the control panel to find out which button does what, and mark the symbol for the button for “flush” somewhere where you can refer to it later.
14. If you are involved in an international incident of any kind, have the number to the American Consular on speed dial. If you lose your passport, or require legal assistance, they'll be your best friends.

Japan is a fascinating, beautiful, and thoroughly enjoyable country for those who have the proper common sense to survive out in the general public. Try not to let the rules and customs overwhelm you or make you hesitant to experience the country to its fullest potential. Japan has so much to offer to those who are genuinely interested in making the most of its hospitality.

This is the world's largest public square but is dotted with political offices instead of any pretty flowers or plants. This area serves as the final resting place for the communist chairman Mao Zedong. This square is famous for the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in China which ended in bloody civilian deaths at the arms of Chinese soldiers. In many regards, this is the center of Chinese political power and the birthplace of communist China. The long name for the square is Tian'an Men Guangchang or the Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace. In this area, you can visit the numueros government offices, monuments and the Chinese National Museum.

The Forbidden City

The city of the emperors once reserved for only members of the imperial court now is open to visitors from near and far abroad - the largest and greatest of palaces complexes from the “old” China. Over 24 emperors issued their edicts from the halls of this grand monument for over 500 years and still serve as the symbolic center of the universe for the children of Han (China). The palace has since been converted to a “Palace Museum” and opened to the public since 1949. Another many things to see is the Imperial Garden and the hall of Supreme Harmony (the throne room). This collection of buildings takes all of its visitors back to ancient china and even see places where historic moments were made.

The Great Wall of China

Within 40 miles from Beijing, the Great Wall of China is the most famous and visible of China's cultural and ancient history. The wall was created by numerous rulers after the unification of China into one empire by Qin Shi Huangdi in 221 BC. Most hotels in the region offer tourists the visit to the Great Walls and to the Ming Tombs that house the dead emperors of China's forgotten era. You can visit the four sites that have been preserved from the damage that have occurred to the walls and check out the Great Wall Museum which shows the history of the area from the Neolithic time period. Overall, this trip is an adventurers and a archeologists wet dream.

The Lama Temple

One of Beijing's most attractice places of worship is the Buddhist Lama Temple. It is made up of five different sections or halls, where each section or hall is taller than the pervious. Thus walking through the temple represents walking from earth into the heavens. The temple was originally the home of Yongzheng who became the Qing Emperor in 1722. There are many sites to visit including the Hall of the Wheel of Dharma, which shows the statue of Tsongkhapa who is the founder of Yellow Hat Sect of Buddhism led by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama of Tibet. The temple has gone through extreme persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities but slowly it is coming back. Now over 70 monks serve in the temple which was built to house over 1500 monks.

Hou Hai

The area is the cental hub for the city life in Beijing and the shopping center. Hou Hai has traditionally been the home to nobles and the wealthy in aristocratic China and most of the houses here offer a glimpse back in time. Many of the lakside restaurants, bars and vafes offer attratice views and waterfront terraces for visitors. There are many activities to do including Boating, Skating, and a cheap Rickshaw tour of the entire city. During the day time, it is perfect to visit the area to shop, visit the historic landmarks and homes. But at night, it is a romantic sight to behold. Candles are lit and floated into the waters while you enjoy your romantic dinner at the waterfront glimmering in the night's beauty. Hou Hai really captures the essence of modern China trapped within its past.

The city which divides Asia and Europe is truly a place which has a lot of culture, tradition, the new meeting the old and history and a lot more perhaps.

Sultan Ahmet

Being the first time to Turkey I think it is a good idea to stay over in Sultan Ahmet area since this is the heart of where the backpackers stay and this area could be classified as the centre of the city as most of the monuments in Istanbul can be reached over walking distance or easily through the transport network. Arriving in Istanbul airport and taking the metro to Sultan Ahmet I was just overwhelmed by looking at this city for the first time and not certainly the last one

Places of Interest

The Grand Bazaar, Kapali Carsi, Blue Mosque, Top Kapi palace, Aya Sofia Mosque and the area around the grand bazaar can easily be done on foot and perhaps as I realized it's much better as this is how you come into contact with more people and see more.

I stayed at Cordial House which is a moderately priced hostel at 15 Ytl a night for a dorm bed and the staff is pretty friendly besides the area where it is located is generally safe even at 2 am at night although it's better to take precautions by taking as little cash or valuables with oneself.

I befriended a lot of locals and they took me to a lot of places.

The open air theater is a place to go to. It's near the Hilton. I went there to see the Leila Majnu folklore and although it's in Turkish but one can easily understand what's happening if you have a local along to do some translation. Besides the place being open has a great ambiance for shows of this nature and with some slight drizzle you wouldn't mind feeling romantic!

Taksim

Any trip to Istanbul would be incomplete without going to Taksim and Beyoglu. These are the areas which are famous for being the heart of Istanbul nightlife and these places rock at night. Firstly passing through taksim with its different souks and the performers and jugglers showing there skills or sharpening them is a treat especially since we don't need to pay. Furthermore the small streets unwind into great coffee places and the party area but the clubs are mostly empty on regular days and only fill up on weekends. The coffee places generally are full. The Turks love hanging out especially the young Turks with their multitude of friends. Besides in this area you would find people of all ages and all classes so its very cosmopolitan but be careful after 12 am because the public transport stops and you need to hire a regular taxi not a dolmush to take you and the taxis at this time are very expensive. So bring a tent over or party the whole night!!!

Bogacizi University Surroundings

The area around Istanbul University is also a place to pay a visit and this is the place where you can find a lot of young people honing their skills of English so if you speak English you can get first hand information from these students but be prepared to be patient if they don't understand what you mean.

The area around the Bosphorous is a treat especially if you if book a ferry ride from the local companies on the terminal and this is cheap. I feel there is no need to take a guided tour. Once on the ferry one can easily savor the different architecture of the Anatolian and the European side and how Istanbul is such a great city because of the enmeshing of these two cultures and how it could not be Istanbul if one of the cultures is removed. The bridge over the Bosphorous is also a great landmark.

Once you are finished with the ferry trip you can easily go around the area where there are lots of small clothing stores and electronic outlets as well as restaurants. The food tastes great and so does the Turkish desserts like baklava and other ones I just tried them for free. The Turks also love their ice creams and one can easily observe the ubiquitous ice cream stalls although it could leave a hole in your pocket if you are on a tight budget in indulging in all these pleasures but then life doesn't come more than once so just go for it.

Top Kapi Palace

The Top Kapi palace is a big landmark to visit. The articles on display are simply amazing and mind boggling. Most of the articles on display are off limits to taking pictures which is why I believe they are full of mystery and opulence. If the sultans lived in such times they would have been the most ingenuous and crafty people to say the least and the fact that these have been preserved very well is testament to the Turks ability to take care about their legacy.

Fran's Burgers is one of the best places to go in Austin for a reasonably low cost and great food. They have juicy burgers that come in three choices of large, larger, and huge. There's no place that offers such large burgers like Fran's. The atmosphere is also very old fashioned since it used to be a drive in. The interior and exterior is not polished up at all and looks like they just moved into a building that was falling apart. However, the food tastes great and it is not expensive which is what counts.

Stubb's BBQ is another nice little restaurant that offers good food for reasonable prices and they have live entertainment. The type of food at this restaurant is Texas barbecue food and it has been around since the mid 80's. The one thing I enjoy about this place is that you can listen to a live band while you eat.

If you like Japanese food then there is a restaurant that I would recommend as a place with good food and good prices. The place is called Zen and they offer very big portions that you could share with another person. It also serves chicken, steak and shrimp.
Galloways Sandwich Shop is located off of East 12th Street. They don't have sandwiches but they offer other types of foods including fried chicken and pork chops. They also have breakfasts available with pancakes and fried eggs. Galloways is a very small place but good food with good prices.

A couple of other restaurants to check out are Hoovers which specializes in Southern food and Eddie V's which is located near the arboretum downtown. You may pay a little more at these restaurants since they are near everything but you have to think about the convenience as well. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Austin that have good food for an economical price.

Some of the best places to visit in London are the London Bridge to start. I took photographs near the bridge by a park and up on the bridge. There is even a tour that will take you up into the bridge itself where you can look out into the ocean and the city.

Buckingham Palace is a must-see. The beautiful architecture is a sight to behold. The black and gold gates are striking especially when the bobbies stand next to them. I had a picture taken with one. The guards are also switched out every couple of hours and it is intriguing. Many people will stand outside the gates to try to get a glimpse of royalty.

Abbey Road Studios is located off St. John's Wood and isn't open to the public but you can take photos there. You can check out the place where the Beatles crossed the street for their album cover Abbey Road.

St. Paul's Cathedral is an amazing Catholic Cathedral to take a tour in. It has several sections. The first section reaches a walkway called Whispering Gallery. The next section is an outdoor walk. These sections continue to go into higher levels and eventually you will get a spectacular view of London.

Portobello Road is opened daily and it is a type of flea market that sells antiques. It is a cool place to visit when you are looking for a bargain.

The National Gallery in Trafalgo Square is a good museum for those that enjoy going to museums on vacations. They display works of Leonardo De Vinci and have several Egyptian artifacts and antiques as well as Ancient Greek sculptures. It is one of the better museums in London.

Finally, there are a few more places to visit while in London. Take a walk to the West End where you can catch a show. It is considered the Theatre District. Go to the Tower of London which is best seen at night. If you have a chance to do so go visit the Big Ben and take a bus tour around the city.

Every year, millions of tourists come to Turkey to see the natural beauties of my country. Most of these tourists are Russian, German and people coming from North Europan countries like Finland, Sweden and Norway. There are many historical and touristic places in Turkey but most of them are found in Aegean and Mediterranean region. Izmir, Antalya, Didim, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum and Ephesus are all great examples to these beauties. All of these places are located near the sea. Some of them have a historical background while some don't have. This article is about a small town Patara.

Patara is an ancient town in Mediterranean region. It is located in city of Kas which is one of the touristic cities of Antalya Province. According to the historians, Patara is the birth place of Saint Nicholas who is known as Noel Father in Turkish culture. Most of you know him as an old man who drives his deers and gives presents to the children in Noel nights. He lived all his life nearby Patara, in the town of Myra..

Patara was founded by Patarus. So, it is known with his name. Patarus was one of the sons of famous Greek commander Apollo. In the past, Dorians coming from city of Crete lived in this small town. It witnessed many wars of Greek and Egyptians. In 1. century B.C, it was joined to Roman Empire and Rhodians occupied the ancient Patara. It was joined to Pamphylia in the year of 43. According to the quotes in Bible, Paul of Tarsus and Luke changed their ships in Patara.

Patara has a small hill and a ruined temple on one side of the hill. Currently, It is under ruins. Every year, Europan and Turkish archaeologists come to Patara to search about ancient civilizations living in this region. Excavations are made.Most of those excavations are made on the hill and ruined temple nearby. Off-shore part of Patara is under sand. After the latest excavations, archaeologists announced that Patara has a main street and amphitheatre.

One day, if your steps take you away to Turkey, you should visit Patara. Sure that, you can find many interesting things which have not been discovered yet.