Charlotte, North Carolina A Travel Experience

Charlotte is a fast growing city in the US Southeast, a major financial center - second largest in the United States after New York – and sports venue for the NFL Carolina Panthers, the NBA  Bobcats, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

Named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of British King George III, it is a city with many nicknames, including the famed Hornet’s Nest derived from the American Revolutionary War, when British commander General Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out by hostile residents, prompting him to write that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion." Others include: The QC, Crown Town, Home of NASCAR, the Gem of the South, The CLT, Bank Town, Char-Town and City of Trees.

A city with 199 neighborhoods radiating in all directions from Uptown, the eastbound Central Avenue corridor is known for its international population, including East Europeans, Greeks, Middle-Easterners, and Hispanics. North Tryon and the Sugar Creek area include several Asian-American communities. NoDa (North Davidson) and Dilworth, along South Boulevard and East Boulevard, are emerging and established enclaves of urban professionals. Myers Park, Dilworth and Eastover are home to some of Charlotte's oldest and largest houses, on tree-lined boulevards, with Freedom Park, arguably the city's favorite, nearby.

Park Road and South Park’s 120 acre park area have an extensive array of shopping and dining. Many students, researchers, and affiliated professionals live near UNC Charlotte in the northeast area known as University City.

Uptown Charlotte has undergone massive construction of buildings housing Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Hearst Corporation, Duke Energy, several hotels, and multiple condominium developments. 'Il Grande Disco', a bronze sculpture by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, is called 'the disco wheel' by the locals; a sister sculpture is in Milan Italy’s Piazza Filippo Meda.

Arts and Culture Charlotte is home to several fine museums and performing arts centers:

Museums the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture; Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; The Billy Graham Library; Carolinas Aviation Museum; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum; Charlotte Nature Museum in Freedom Park; Charlotte Trolley Museum in Historic South End

Discovery Place; Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville Historic Rosedale Plantation; Levine Museum of the New South; the Light Factory; McColl Center for Visual Art; Mint Museum of Art; Mint Museum of Craft + Design;

NASCAR Hall of Fame; Second Ward Alumni House Museum.

The Performing Arts The Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte; Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST); Charlotte Symphony Orchestra; Children's Theatre of Charlotte; ImaginOn; Opera Carolina; The Robot Johnson Show; Theatre Charlotte; Tremont Music Hall; The chop shop (NoDa).

A Portugal Travel Experience

Lisbon Porto and the Douro Valley

Lisbon a City of Lights and Contrasts is both Atlantic and Mediterranean, illuminated by an extraordinary light that contrasts with landscaped hills tumbling towards the Tagus river. Its architecture features ancient buildings side-by-side with modern constructions. The streets of the Baixa are laid out in a special, ordered design in accordance with the urban ideals of the Enlightenment.  The Chiado, with cafes, shops and bookstores, is the historic heart of the city and its cultural district.

The Medieval Origins of this city can be appreciated from the heights of the Castle of São Jorge, to the ancient cathedral and a descent into the streets of Alfama and its narrow, labyrinthine alleys. The seafarers who left Lisbon to discover exotic new worlds hailed from this neighborhood.
 

The Museu de Arte Antiga contains the treasures that testify to the rich cultural encounter between West and East.

The Espírito Santo Silva Foundation is a museum of decorative arts and a collection of craft workshops where artisan skills restore 18^th century aristocratic interiors.

The Museu Nacional do Azulejo holds a ceramic tiles, one of Portugal’s great art forms, with pieces from the 15th century to the present day.

The Atlantic Coast features the beaches and coves of Cascais, the seductive sea views and luxuriant vegetation of Sintra and Évora, an ancient city of narrow streets, churches, a Roman temple and a Gothic cathedral.

Porto and the Douro Valley

Northern Portugal is famous for its vineyards and granite-carved baroque architecture in Porto, Guimarães and the Douro Valley with its monasteries, palaces and gardens.

Baroque Inspirations amid Magnificent Palaces Private Gardens and Religious Architecture

Porto has a unique urban environment. The ancient district features a Cathedral with romantic and baroque elements, and the Ribeira’s ancient stone quays.

Medieval Guimarães is renowned for its castle, the Palácio Ducal, fine town houses and ancient stone squares.

The Douro Valley is famed for its vines, vineyards and views over the valley and the Douro River. Experience the local typical cuisine, the world-famous port wine cellars and a boat trip on a traditional rabelo amidst steep slopes covered in vines and cypresses.

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Düsseldorf Germany

Walking Tours, Castles, Fashion Museums and Rhine River Cruises

Düsseldorf is the cosmopolitan capital of North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany`s state with the country`s largest population. The city has close to 600,000 inhabitants and is known for its old quarter – Altstadt – with nightlife and buildings which date back to the 16^th century. Here, you can taste the famous Altbier – a dark beer.

From the old town it is just a small walk to the spectacular Rhine River, which passes through Düsseldorf on its way to the Northern Sea. You can stroll on the Rheinuferpromenade, a beautiful walkway along the river, which has become a playground for locals over the past few years, particularly in the summer months. You will find nice cafés and restaurants along the way, so just sit down, sip a coffee and enjoy the view, including the Rheinturm (Rhine Tower), Düsseldorf`s highest building at 240 meters.

 Walking along the Rheinuferpromenade you will reach the harbor area with its spectacular architecture. All these buildings have been constructed over the past 20 years. Three fancy buildings designed by architectural icon Frank Gehry have become new landmarks of this booming city.

In the evening, the harbor area – Medienhafen - is one of the most popular places to go out for a good dinner, a drink and maybe to a club. You will find many trendy places to hang out and spectacular view of the river.

Düsseldorf and Beyond Itineraries

Ruhr Region Neanderthal Museum, Mettmann, 18 miles; Zollverein World Heritage site, Essen, 30 miles; Light Art Center, the only light art museum in the world, Unna, 65 miles; Gasometer Oberhausen (obsolete gas holder turned cultural, event and exhibit space, Oberhausen, 30 miles; Landscape Park Duisburg North, an industrial site turned green oasis, 29 miles. Halde Hoheward Observatory, Recklinghausen, 43 miles.

Nearby Cities Cologne: Cathedral, Chocolate Museum, Roman ruins, 30 miles; Bonn: Beethoven heritage, museums, art, 47 miles

Other Destinations Aachen, 62 miles; Amsterdam, 150 miles; Brussels, 143 miles; Luxembourg, 150 miles; Paris, 340 miles; Munich, 394 miles; Berlin, 381 miles

As Germany`s fashion capital, don`t miss a walk over the famous Königsallee, a 1 Km long boulevard with many of the top international brands such as Armani, Gucci and Prada. You will also find two high-end shopping malls (Sevens and Kö-Galerie) on this beautiful boulevard.

Museums Düsseldorf houses and produces some of best contemporary art in the world. Several of the world’s best known artists have their roots here; among them Andreas Gursky, Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Jörg Immendorff, all graduates and faculty of the city’s renowned Art Academy.

In total, there are 100 galleries and 17 world renowned museums in Düsseldorf, including K20 and K21 (showing 20^th and 21^st century art, respectively). K21 is also a masterpiece in terms of architecture. Built on a historic site in the style of an Italian palazzo between 1876 and 1880, it was extensively damaged during the war and rebuilt between 1947 and 1949. K21 is part of the Kunstsammlung NRW, the art collection of North-Rhine-Westphalia. With a glass roof presenting a great view of the city, the museum hosts a very stylish and trendy bar/restaurant.

Benrath Castle is a beautiful baroque castle with a huge park leading to the Rhine River in the South of the city. Sometimes there are outdoor concerts during the summer season. Another very historic site is Kaiserswerth in the North – this is the most ancient part of the city with a 12^th century castle ruin. Take one of the river cruises from the Schlossturm in the old town – it takes you straight to Kaiserswerth.

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