Often featured in the media as the seat of government of the European Union (EU), Brussels is much more than a city of bureaucrats. It is a meeting point all the diverse cultures in Europe, and exudes a unique multicultural energy.
Brussels is not only the heart of the European Union. The Belgian capital is a diverse and stunning city in its own right, a town rich in history and full of places to see. Designated the cultural capital of Europe in 2000, Brussels is no mere town of faceless bureaucrats. It has its own tale to tell.
A fortress in the middle of a river.
The name Brussels (Bruocsella) is first written about in the year 966. It means "chapel in a swamp", and likely refers to its location on the Senne River. The settlement itself had probably been founded between three and four hundred years previously. The earliest fortification on Brussels Island dates back to around the end of the tenth century.
Central Brussels.
The story of Grand Place (in French, or Grote Markt in Dutch), the town square located at the middle of Brussels, leads us on a trip through the city's history. Grand Place was created as a market and business square, but soon attracted the trade guilds and city officials.
They designed lavish guildhalls and government buildings as a demonstration of their power and affluence, Brussels became one of Europe's most important trading and banking centres during the High Middle Ages and would remain so until 1695, when French cannons shelled the city for three days, levelling Grand Place and reducing much of the city to soot and ashes. It was rebuilt quickly, and the guildhalls that currently stand on Grand Place bear witness to the city's renewal.
Grand Place remains a favourite meeting place for residents and tourists alike. Many of its countless restaurants, cafes and hotels are open around the clock.
Brussels city hall.
The Hotel de Ville (Brussels city hall), completed in 1450, is an architectural masterpiece even among the grandiose guildhalls and buildings surrounding it. Its facade was one of the few structures to survive the French bombardment of 1695. With its 96-metre-tall tower topped by a golden statue of St. Michael and the dragon, the Hotel de Ville is Brussels' most recognizable landmark, visible from every part of the historic old town.
A different kind of city emblem.
Most visitors to Brussels consider the statue called Manneken Pis (literally, "the boy peeing") at the corner of the Rue de l'Etuve and Rue des Grands Charmes to be the emblem of Brussels. Just who the little boy in this work by sculptor Heironimus Dusquesnoy is supposed to be is an unsolved mystery. In any case, the cheeky lad is certainly one of the city's main tourist attractions. Meanwhile, his girl version, the Jeanneken Pis, can be discovered at the end of a cul-de-sac called Impasse de la Fidelite near La Grand Place. The habitants of the city have always been in favour of equal rights, and if that meant commissioning a statue of a similarly naughty little girl, so be it. The statue was dedicated in 1987.
The giant molecule.
The 102-metre-high Atomium is another symbol of Brussels. It began its existence as an exhibition hall built for the 1958 World Fair. It represents an iron molecule, magnified 165 thousand million times. The tubes connecting the nine atomic particles are actually conduits containing escalators and walkways.
Due to its use of futuristic materials and non-traditional design, it has long been considered both an architectural masterpiece and an impressive piece of grand monumental sculpture.
Inside, the Atomium still houses the occasional exhibition on topics related to nuclear technology, aeronautics, astronomy and meteorology. Inside the uppermost sphere is a restaurant that affords a beautiful view of the entire city.
Looking for cheap flights and cheap airfares? Visit Flight Centre. Flight Centre has a selection of unbeatable deals on major airlines including tiger airways. BSFC0905-2
The Island of Zitny Ostrov – Slovakia
Ranging from Bratislava to Korman in southwestern Slovakia, Zitny Ostrov (Rye Island) is Europe's largest river island. It is so large that most tourists are not aware of being on one. It lies between the Danube, and its slower flowing off-shoot the Little Danube, in the Danubian Plain.
Several rivers flow across it and the rich alluvial deposits make it the most fertile land in Slovakia. The island also contains central Europe's largest reservoir of high quality drinking water and it has the warmest and driest weather in Slovakia.
A beautiful area of marshes, natural and man-made lakes and rich agricultural land, the south has been designated a Protected Landscape. The calm waters of the Little Danube provide excellent boating through the alluvial forests. While on the water, the controversial hydroelectric dam at Gabcikovo may also be visited.
Zitny Ostrov has two main towns, both of which have deep Hungarian influences. DunajskA Streda has a majority Hungarian population, though the only reminder of a significant Jewish minority is a 1991 memorial. There is also evidence of Bronze Age settlement here.
In the late 1990s the town centre was rebuilt with unique white buildings capped by towers and elaborate tiled roofs. A large thermal park offers year-round swimming in naturally heated water.
Komarno, Slovakia's principal port, is located on the Hungarian border — a bridge leads into Hungarian Komarom, which used to be part of Komarno. Here 66% of the population speak Hungarian and the street signs are bi-lingual.
Europe Place is a large shopping and tourist centre built in a variety of European architectural styles. A native son of Komamo, Franz Lehar, is honoured with a biennial music festival, whilst the annual Komarno Days Festival celebrates Slovak and Hungarian culture.
Looking for cheap airfares, holiday deals or cheap domestic flights? Escape Travel are the experts in travel packages for honeymoons, recreational travel or short breaks. Call or visit Escape Travel today.
Several rivers flow across it and the rich alluvial deposits make it the most fertile land in Slovakia. The island also contains central Europe's largest reservoir of high quality drinking water and it has the warmest and driest weather in Slovakia.
A beautiful area of marshes, natural and man-made lakes and rich agricultural land, the south has been designated a Protected Landscape. The calm waters of the Little Danube provide excellent boating through the alluvial forests. While on the water, the controversial hydroelectric dam at Gabcikovo may also be visited.
Zitny Ostrov has two main towns, both of which have deep Hungarian influences. DunajskA Streda has a majority Hungarian population, though the only reminder of a significant Jewish minority is a 1991 memorial. There is also evidence of Bronze Age settlement here.
In the late 1990s the town centre was rebuilt with unique white buildings capped by towers and elaborate tiled roofs. A large thermal park offers year-round swimming in naturally heated water.
Komarno, Slovakia's principal port, is located on the Hungarian border — a bridge leads into Hungarian Komarom, which used to be part of Komarno. Here 66% of the population speak Hungarian and the street signs are bi-lingual.
Europe Place is a large shopping and tourist centre built in a variety of European architectural styles. A native son of Komamo, Franz Lehar, is honoured with a biennial music festival, whilst the annual Komarno Days Festival celebrates Slovak and Hungarian culture.
Looking for cheap airfares, holiday deals or cheap domestic flights? Escape Travel are the experts in travel packages for honeymoons, recreational travel or short breaks. Call or visit Escape Travel today.
North Stradbroke Island - Straddie at Its Best
Sometimes known as Straddie by people from
It lost its aboriginal name of Minijerribah in 1827, when Captain H. J. Rous, or Viscount Dunwich, Commander of the HMS Rainbow, named the haven after his father the Earl of Stradbroke, the main town after his own title, and Rainbow Beach after his vessel.
A cluster of three picturesque villages — Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout — act as convivial bases for many of the islands local and international visitors.
Dunwich was once a prison colony and quarantine station, and, as is often the case, its graveyard is a telling record of the islands interesting past. At Point Lookout, the aptly named Whale Rock is the best spot from which to scan the vast oceans in search of migrating humpback whales, dolphins and turtles.
In the 1960s, sand mining operations began to impact on the fragile island environment, but by the 1990s environmental issues came dominant and half of the island became a national park. Mining is still very active on the island, but mainly away in the restricted southern end.
Point Lookout on the eastern surf side of the island is a natural attraction. Spreading across Straddies single rocky headland it overlooks a string of white beaches. The western side enjoys the calmer waters of the bay and is safer for boating. The island is famous for its angling — with the annual Straddie Classic every August being one of
Looking for holiday deals, Australian holidays or even cheap family holidays? Flight Centre is the holiday expert and can match your budget and holiday requirements to a great holiday package.
Wellington City Profile
Wellington, situated on the southern tip of New Zealand's Northern Island is the southernmost capital city in the world. The harsh winds that blow persistently off Cook Straight have earned it the nick name "Windy City".
Wedged between steep hills, Wellington's limited space for expansion has forced the city to build high in order to accommodate increased demand for commercial and residential building. Victorian structures fell victim to new construction and modernization, giving Wellington the most modern skyline in the country.
The Maori people called the area around Wellington "the Head of Maui's fish", a reference to an incident in the Polynesian Maui Cycle when the hero, Maui, battled his brothers over a great fish, leading to the land being cut up both by the fish's thrashing tail and by their knives.
When James Cook made a side trip here in 1773, the rough landscape of the bay was densely settled. Maori tribes fought one another constantly for the best coastal locations. This, along with the strong, unfavourable winds, may explain why Cook did not drop anchor and go ashore.
European settlement began with the landing of the warship Tory on 20 September 1839. In January of the following year, William Wakefield, commander of the first expedition of the New Zealand Company, "bought" the area from the Maoris for one hundred muskets. Wakefield therefore became the founder of Wellington. The city was named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and England's national hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Wellington was named New Zealand's capital on 26 July 1865.
Wellington is more than the political centre of the country; it has also made a name for itself as a city of culture. Wellington is the home of Te Papa, New Zealand's pioneering, interactive national museum, as well as to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and such national treasures as the original Treaty of Waitangi.
New Zealand's most famous writer, Katherine Mansfield, was born in Wellington and published her first short stories in a local literary magazine. New Zealand's capital is remarkably diverse topographically, with mountains and hills embracing the compact city and its wide harbour.
At the summit of Mount Victoria, which can be reached by a cable tramway built in 1902, visitors can enjoy the beauties of Kelburn Hill and the Botanic Gardens. The gardens, established in 1869, now cover 26 hectares.
Watch out for penguins
Wellington is almost certainly the only capital city in the world where penguins freely roam the streets. This encourages visitors to walk alongside them; the city centre is best experienced on foot. Visitors (and penguins) can wander through its shopping arcades, lovely cafes and, less happily, constant traffic.
Nowhere else in the country is urban life lived as intensely as in Wellington. Unique adventure tours are available along the Kapiti coast and hiking trails run all along the craggy coastline, just off the coast, the world famous bird sanctuary of Kapiti Island attracts visitors from afar.
The environs of Wellington are known for their luxurious country lifestyle. Many great estates lie inland, just over the hills. Directly north of Wellington is Hutt Valley, where visitors can arrange bush and coastal hikes, SUV trips, golfing, mountain biking and fishing.
For cheap flights and great deals from Melbourne airport, Sydney airport or Brisbane airport, contact Flight Centre today.
Wedged between steep hills, Wellington's limited space for expansion has forced the city to build high in order to accommodate increased demand for commercial and residential building. Victorian structures fell victim to new construction and modernization, giving Wellington the most modern skyline in the country.
The Maori people called the area around Wellington "the Head of Maui's fish", a reference to an incident in the Polynesian Maui Cycle when the hero, Maui, battled his brothers over a great fish, leading to the land being cut up both by the fish's thrashing tail and by their knives.
When James Cook made a side trip here in 1773, the rough landscape of the bay was densely settled. Maori tribes fought one another constantly for the best coastal locations. This, along with the strong, unfavourable winds, may explain why Cook did not drop anchor and go ashore.
European settlement began with the landing of the warship Tory on 20 September 1839. In January of the following year, William Wakefield, commander of the first expedition of the New Zealand Company, "bought" the area from the Maoris for one hundred muskets. Wakefield therefore became the founder of Wellington. The city was named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and England's national hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Wellington was named New Zealand's capital on 26 July 1865.
Wellington is more than the political centre of the country; it has also made a name for itself as a city of culture. Wellington is the home of Te Papa, New Zealand's pioneering, interactive national museum, as well as to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and such national treasures as the original Treaty of Waitangi.
New Zealand's most famous writer, Katherine Mansfield, was born in Wellington and published her first short stories in a local literary magazine. New Zealand's capital is remarkably diverse topographically, with mountains and hills embracing the compact city and its wide harbour.
At the summit of Mount Victoria, which can be reached by a cable tramway built in 1902, visitors can enjoy the beauties of Kelburn Hill and the Botanic Gardens. The gardens, established in 1869, now cover 26 hectares.
Watch out for penguins
Wellington is almost certainly the only capital city in the world where penguins freely roam the streets. This encourages visitors to walk alongside them; the city centre is best experienced on foot. Visitors (and penguins) can wander through its shopping arcades, lovely cafes and, less happily, constant traffic.
Nowhere else in the country is urban life lived as intensely as in Wellington. Unique adventure tours are available along the Kapiti coast and hiking trails run all along the craggy coastline, just off the coast, the world famous bird sanctuary of Kapiti Island attracts visitors from afar.
The environs of Wellington are known for their luxurious country lifestyle. Many great estates lie inland, just over the hills. Directly north of Wellington is Hutt Valley, where visitors can arrange bush and coastal hikes, SUV trips, golfing, mountain biking and fishing.
For cheap flights and great deals from Melbourne airport, Sydney airport or Brisbane airport, contact Flight Centre today.
Brazil's Florianopolis Island
Florianopolis, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, is located on the wonderful island of Santa Catarina, which is itself widely referred to as Florianopolis.
This vibrant destination has the best standard of living of any in Brazil, and the inhabitants know how to enjoy themselves.
The island is famous for its long stretches of sugar-soft sandy beaches, succulent seafood and traditional Azorean hospitality. The tropical climate, exotic landscapes and incredibly relaxed way of life make the island a firm favourite with holidaying Brazilians, but it is also becoming more and more popular with the international crowd.
Most of the population lives on the north end of the land mass. Although originally settled by the Portuguese who came from the Azores, the city has strong German and Italian influences.
In the high season, from December to February, the population of the city trebles and the beaches closest to the city centre, Canasvieiras, Jurure and Praia dos Ingleses, are packed with tanning bodies. But there are plenty more not far away.
To the east the lush green hills give way to the wide, sandy beaches of Galheta, Mole and Joaquina. Here the big, exciting waves attract surfers looking for that perfect ride. In the south-east of the island looking out into the Atlantic are the rugged, deserted beaches of Campeche, Armacao, Lagoinha do Leste and Naufragios, which can only be reached by track.
Ribeirao da Ilha, on the west side of the island, bears testament to Azorean immigration. The wonderfully preserved Azorean and Portuguese fishing villages boast colourful buildings and friendly locals. The historic centre, in Frequesia, has a beautiful plaza with the Igreja Nossa Senhora, da Lapa do Ribeirao church, and an interesting cultural Museum. The area is accessible only via a narrow, winding and picturesque seaside track offering stunning vistas of Baia Sul and the green hills of the mainland across the water body.
The Lagoa da Conceicao is a famous tourist attraction in the centre of the island. The large lagoon is partially bordered by sand dunes and its shallow waters and high winds make it perfect for wind-surfing. Here are also some of the best eating places and nightlife on the island.
It doesn't matter if your looking for holiday deals to Brazil, domestic flights within Australia, or you want to stay at home and have Gold Coast Holidays, visit Escape Travel.
Mexico City - a Strange Mix of Chaos and Beauty
Endless lines of vehicles wind their way along the broad avenues, filling the air with exhaust. Mexico City appears unconcerned. At first glance, visitors may be overwhelmed by Mexico City's noise, dirt and chaos, but look again.
Mexico City is the largest metropolis on the American continent and it is still growing. Despite the problems that inevitably accompany unrestrained growth, there are superb architectural treasures hidden behind the rather dull facades of this huge city.
No other Latin American city boasts as many baroque churches, monasteries and colonial palaces. It also has a number of acclaimed modern buildings, some of which are decorated with monumental paintings by the famous Mexican muralists, and world-class museums house still more art and treasure.
The eagle, the snake and the cactus.
In 1325, the Aztecs, who called themselves the Mexica, migrated into what is now central Mexico, where they founded their capital city, Tenochtitlan. They had chosen the site well, with a little help. According to legend, the Aztecs received a vision that told them to wander until they found an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its talons.
In the Valley of Mexico at an elevation of more than 2,000 metres they came upon this very scene in a swampy area scattered with lakes and islands. From a strategic standpoint, the location was ideal. They colonized the islands in the middle of a shallow lake, which protected their settlement well. The wandering Mexica had finally settled down.
Later, they built dams and causeways between the islands, which developed into a complex hydraulic system with canals, drawbridges and sluices. Tenochtittan grew in size to cover more than 13 square kilometres. The Aztecs ultimately conquered the entire high valley by force of arms, and soon controlled nearly all of modern-day Mexico, as well as other parts of Central America.
Hernan Cortes and the Fall of the Empire
The precipitous fall of the Aztec Empire began in 1519 when Hernan Cortes landed on the Gulf Coast of Mexico with just a few men. What Cartes achieved is incredible. With a small force, a few horses and indomitable will, not to mention a good dose of brutality and recklessness, he subdued an entire empire. His total command consisted of 500 Spanish soldiers, 16 mounted fighters, 6 cannons and 400 Indian mercenaries. The Aztec population he confronted numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
On 8 November 1519 the Aztecs' fate was sealed. The Aztec ruler Moctezuma II received Cortes unarmed, possibly because he thought Cortes was the god Quetzalcoatl. This was an invitation to disaster. The Spaniards quickly took Moctezuma hostage and massacred the assembled priests and nobles.
The Aztecs were at first able to push back the interlopers and force them to retreat. Unfortunately, this only postponed their demise by a few years. In 1521, Cortes moved in with fresh troops, completely overwhelming the Aztec forces. The Spanish rulers then built their own city with churches and palaces on the foundations of the old one. Most of the lake was drained, as more and more land was needed. Tenochtitlan disappeared under a Spanish city. Parts of it, such as the Tempio Major, have since been excavated by archaeologists and are on view again after hundreds of years of obscurity.
Looking for cheap holidays, Australian holidays or even family holidays? Flight Centre is the holiday expert and can match your budget and holiday requirements to a great holiday package.
.
Rhode Island USA
Everyone is aware that Rhode Island, actually the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is the smallest state in the USA. But not everyone knows that the state and island that gives it a colloquially abbreviated name are not one and the same.
Indeed, the Rhode Island part of the longest state name in America is unofficially called Aquidneck Island to differentiate from the state as a whole.
Now that's cleared up, what of Rhode Island? It is the largest of several in Narragansett Bay, with its southern shore facing the Atlantic Ocean. The area of this well developed island is 117 sq km (45 sq ml) and it is connected to the mainland by three bridges.
The Newport Bridge goes to Jamestown on nearby Conanicut Island, and then on to the mainland on the western side of the bay. The Mount Hope Bridge in Portsmouth connects the northern side of the island with Bristol. The same area is served by the Sakonnet River Bridge over a narrow saltwater channel to Tiverton. The nearby Stone Bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Carol in 1954. The island is divided into three municipalities: Newport, Middleton and Portsmouth.
The island's population shrank by 20 percent in the ten years after the US Navy reorganized its major base at Newport in 1973, but is growing again, with over half its area now built over as housing demand increases. But wetland and woodland still occupy a third of the island and there is an active preservation society trying to keep it that way.
After the naval base, the island's principal source of revenue is tourism. Narragansett Bay is a magnet for visitors and they come to Rhode Island mainly for the beaches and coastline, enjoying related water activities like sailing, kayaking, sailboarding, diving and fishing.
Looking for cheap flights to the USA, or cheap domestic flights? For Australia flights and overseas flights, contact Student Flights today.
Indeed, the Rhode Island part of the longest state name in America is unofficially called Aquidneck Island to differentiate from the state as a whole.
Now that's cleared up, what of Rhode Island? It is the largest of several in Narragansett Bay, with its southern shore facing the Atlantic Ocean. The area of this well developed island is 117 sq km (45 sq ml) and it is connected to the mainland by three bridges.
The Newport Bridge goes to Jamestown on nearby Conanicut Island, and then on to the mainland on the western side of the bay. The Mount Hope Bridge in Portsmouth connects the northern side of the island with Bristol. The same area is served by the Sakonnet River Bridge over a narrow saltwater channel to Tiverton. The nearby Stone Bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Carol in 1954. The island is divided into three municipalities: Newport, Middleton and Portsmouth.The island's population shrank by 20 percent in the ten years after the US Navy reorganized its major base at Newport in 1973, but is growing again, with over half its area now built over as housing demand increases. But wetland and woodland still occupy a third of the island and there is an active preservation society trying to keep it that way.
After the naval base, the island's principal source of revenue is tourism. Narragansett Bay is a magnet for visitors and they come to Rhode Island mainly for the beaches and coastline, enjoying related water activities like sailing, kayaking, sailboarding, diving and fishing.
Looking for cheap flights to the USA, or cheap domestic flights? For Australia flights and overseas flights, contact Student Flights today.
USA Travel - Miami City Profile
Miami sometimes feels like a huge Hollywood set. The cliches about the city and its illustrious beach community, Miami Beach - nearly all of which are based in fact - are but a small part of Miami's colourful mosaic.
International financial deals are not the only thing happening in Miami. The city's concerts, theatre performances, gallery exhibits, ballet companies and museums offer plentiful cultural stimulation and world-class entertainment. Located in picturesque south Florida, Miami is a popular location for television and movie crews.
Fashion photographers from glossy magazines pose their models against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico or the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. Looking at Miami's striking skyline, home to corporate headquarters of hundreds of international financial institutions; it is hard to image that until recently southern Florida was a landscape dominated by mosquito-infested swamps. The first Spanish explorers of the region, arriving in 1513 with Ponce de Leon, declared it completely uninhabitable.
The real history of the city, which was founded on 28 July 1896, began with the advent of the railway. Freezing Canadians and New Yorkers climbed aboard to escape to beautiful, sunny Miami. In the 1920s, during the days of Prohibition, Miami was known as a city with legalized gambling and less than serious efforts to enforce the ban on alcohol. The result was a building boom. Little by little, starting with hotels and apartments, the Miami skyline began to rise.
Melting pot for Latin Americans.
After Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba in 1959, a stream of refugees poured into south Florida. The impact was enormous. Hoards of Cuban refugees arrived in Miami, settling in the neighbourhood called "Little Havana". There, salsa music resounds in the streets, men play dominos and chess in the parks, and the air is thick with the aroma of coffee and cigar smoke.
A trip along the palm-tree-lined Ocean Drive, Miami Beach's famous boulevard in the heart of its famous Art Deco district, offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the beach and, of course, the rich and famous. With its uniquely "Miami Style" Art Deco architecture, the entire district is under historic protection today Rich with pastel colours and full of eclectic details, there is no other cityscape like it on Earth.
Unfortunately, the building boom of the 1920s also caused considerable damage to the natural environment. Over 120 hectares of the unique Everglades wetlands were drained to provide Miami with water and sewage facilities and dry land on which to build. Even today, south Florida draws millions of litre of water from the Everglades.
Interrupting the water cycle that supplies this magnificent natural landscape with moisture and nutrients diminishes the vitality of the biosphere. At present, national parks and wildlife preserves protect barely 20 per cent of the Everglades watershed.. The unique flora and fauna of the Everglades were added to the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage Sites in 1979. Still, the environment was classified as endangered in 1993.
No stay in Miami would be complete without a short trip to Coral Gables, one of the first planned communities in the country. Distinguished by its beautiful Spanish colonial-style villas, Coral Gables also boasts elegant country clubs, world-class art galleries and the University of Miami.
For unbeatable deals from Cairns airport, Canberra airport or Adelaide airport, contact Flight Centre today.
International financial deals are not the only thing happening in Miami. The city's concerts, theatre performances, gallery exhibits, ballet companies and museums offer plentiful cultural stimulation and world-class entertainment. Located in picturesque south Florida, Miami is a popular location for television and movie crews.
Fashion photographers from glossy magazines pose their models against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico or the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. Looking at Miami's striking skyline, home to corporate headquarters of hundreds of international financial institutions; it is hard to image that until recently southern Florida was a landscape dominated by mosquito-infested swamps. The first Spanish explorers of the region, arriving in 1513 with Ponce de Leon, declared it completely uninhabitable.
The real history of the city, which was founded on 28 July 1896, began with the advent of the railway. Freezing Canadians and New Yorkers climbed aboard to escape to beautiful, sunny Miami. In the 1920s, during the days of Prohibition, Miami was known as a city with legalized gambling and less than serious efforts to enforce the ban on alcohol. The result was a building boom. Little by little, starting with hotels and apartments, the Miami skyline began to rise.
Melting pot for Latin Americans.
After Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba in 1959, a stream of refugees poured into south Florida. The impact was enormous. Hoards of Cuban refugees arrived in Miami, settling in the neighbourhood called "Little Havana". There, salsa music resounds in the streets, men play dominos and chess in the parks, and the air is thick with the aroma of coffee and cigar smoke.
A trip along the palm-tree-lined Ocean Drive, Miami Beach's famous boulevard in the heart of its famous Art Deco district, offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the beach and, of course, the rich and famous. With its uniquely "Miami Style" Art Deco architecture, the entire district is under historic protection today Rich with pastel colours and full of eclectic details, there is no other cityscape like it on Earth.Unfortunately, the building boom of the 1920s also caused considerable damage to the natural environment. Over 120 hectares of the unique Everglades wetlands were drained to provide Miami with water and sewage facilities and dry land on which to build. Even today, south Florida draws millions of litre of water from the Everglades.
Interrupting the water cycle that supplies this magnificent natural landscape with moisture and nutrients diminishes the vitality of the biosphere. At present, national parks and wildlife preserves protect barely 20 per cent of the Everglades watershed.. The unique flora and fauna of the Everglades were added to the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage Sites in 1979. Still, the environment was classified as endangered in 1993.
No stay in Miami would be complete without a short trip to Coral Gables, one of the first planned communities in the country. Distinguished by its beautiful Spanish colonial-style villas, Coral Gables also boasts elegant country clubs, world-class art galleries and the University of Miami.
For unbeatable deals from Cairns airport, Canberra airport or Adelaide airport, contact Flight Centre today.