This was my first impression of the City. It was Fourth of July weekend, and this huge flag hanging in the middle of the bridge was so beautiful! To be honest I was scared to death driving in the middle of this  but it was accelerating to say the least.

This is me, with the city scape in the back ground. I was so excited just to cross the ferry and see the inside of this majestic place. Thoughts flooded my head of what I would see and do here. Excitement!

Ground Zero was our first stop once we arrived. I must say it was the saddest place I have ever visited. Thinking of everyone this tragedy had affected. Not only the victims but all of America. I was a bit disappointed that they have not erected a memorial to visit, but I guess this will come with time. Tears flowed the entire time I was here. As close as all the buildings are in this city I am kind of surprised more buildings were not taken. God must have been holding onto her that day in some sort of strange way.

We did find the make shift cross erected in front of the church. How emotional and sad it was to look at this. As with most of us, I still have a hard time when I think about all that took place on 911. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that tragic day. I am sure we all do.

Ahh...Wall Street was next. It was weird standing in front of this building knowing how much money passes through this place on a daily basis. Honestly I expected it to be much larger, but I guess lots can be done in small places...lol...With all that is going on there now, Who knows what the outcome of the New York stock exchange will be now.

Yahoo...Time Square.  I have always wanted to make the trip New Years to this place where so many wait for that ball to fall, but I never have. I loved it here, so busy, so much to see. It is smaller then I thought too. I expected to see but I was not disappointed. We had lunch here. It was raining this day and it was so funny seeing all the umbrellas walking down the street. I was so wet by the end of this adventure, because I like the rain and didn't stay under the monster umbrella most of the time...lol

Our final stop was of course the Lady that watches over the bay, The Statue of Liberty. This was an emotional time for me also. With my son being in boot camp, this fourth of July was a very special one. Liberty and freedom took on a much different light. I cried when I saw her, but I am nothing but an motional wreck all the time. Emotional, thats me. I have tons more pictures but these are my highlights of our trip to the big city. I would reccommend every one to visit this place at least once. I know I will make this trip again, maybe it will become one of my places to visit at least once a year. I was thrilled by the enormity of this place. So much happens here and for a few days I was a part of it. It is instilled in my memories of a life time.

It is a country that has been blessed with many tourist attractions, its ministry of tourism was created in the 1970's to encourage investment in this sector. Tourist attractions include amongst others; wildlife parks, highlands, lakes, Mankon Fondom (kingdom) and museums.

Despite government's efforts over the past decade to boost the sector, its growth has been hampered by poor infrastructure and mis-administration. However, this has not deterred foreigners from visiting the country's attractions.

Tourists Climbing Mount Cameroon

One of the main sites that attracts many foreigners and nationals alike is "Mount Cameroon" also known as "Mount Fako". It is situated in Buea, in the Fako division of the South West province of the country.

It measures 4100 kilometres, the highest point in Central Africa and the second highest point in Africa after Mount Kilamanjaro in Kenya. The mountain rises from the coast through tropical rainforest to a bare summit which is cold, windy and occasionally brushed with snow.

The Mount Cameroon forests are under threat from uncontrolled forest exploitation and encroachment for agricultural production. A population of approximately 350,000 people live within its immediate vicinity, around half of this population live in the urban settlements of Limbe and Buea.

The Bakweri, Bomboko and Balundu people traditionally live on and around the mountain, together with the coastal Bimbia clans; the livelihoods of these people are directly or indirectly supplemented through the harvesting of the forests resources such as timber and non-timber products such as removing bark for medicines, gathering wild vegetables, collecting rattans for making furniture and hunting.

The mountain has erupted six times in the previous century, the latest recorded eruption was in March/ April 1999. During the eruption, the lava flow destroyed farmlands in localities found on the slope of the mountain such as Bakingili, Batoke and Upper farms.

In local folklore the God of the mountain is known as Efasah Moto, it's believed to be composed of two halves, i.e. man and stone; it is also believed that it takes care of people by providing them with water, shelter and food during their journey up and down the mountain. Visitors are allowed to harvest what they can consume while on the mountain but are not allowed to take away anything provided by Efasah Moto. Belief in the God provides an interesting cultural link to ecotourism and sustainable use of resources.

Apart from individuals or groups who go for excursions on the mountain, there is an annual international race that is organised by the Government known as the "Mount Cameroon Race of Hope". The initiative was started in 1995 by the company that brews Guinness.

The race usually brings together hundreds of athletes with scores of them coming from abroad. The starting point of the race is the Molyko Omnisport stadium and participants pass through upper farms, huts 1,2 & 3 before reaching the summit and returning back to the starting point. Participants are divided into male and female categories, they are then further sub-divided into professionals, youths, and amateurs.

The first winner of the male category usually takes just over four hours to complete the race while that for the female category usually takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes. Prize money is in the region of two thousand pounds.