Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and is also the largest city in the country. Lisbon covers almost 33 square miles and is home to about 564,477 people. Lisbon is considered as a financial hub because of its rapid economic growth. The city is considered as the richest city in Portugal, which can be clearly seen from the fact that Lisbon alone makes 37 percent of the total GDP of Portugal. As it is the capital of the country so all the politicians also have houses insides Lisbon which makes it a political city as well. Lisbon is considered as a big market place for different types of businesses.

Lisbon is located in the west side of the country, basically on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The climatic conditions are one of the mildest in Europe. Almost throughout the year the city receives beautiful sunshine. The summer season is very warm and somewhat hot as the temperature ranges between 25 to 30 degrees. On the other hand winter season is cold with heavy rainfalls throughout the season; the temperature varies between 8 to 15 degrees in winters. On average Lisbon receives about 750mm of rainfall. The city mostly gets its rainfall season from October to May.

Lisbon is culturally very rich with architecture and some beautiful sights which has made it one of the top destination for tourists. Classical structure of buildings as well as the modern ones can be seen all over Lisbon. Among these beautiful sights Museums are also of major importance. The National Museum of Ancient Art is regarded as the biggest museum in Portugal. Also the museum (Lisbon Oceanarium) is the world’s second largest museum.

In the field of sports, football is the major sport in Portugal so there are two Lisbon based clubs which compete in the top division. One is named as “Benfica” and the other is “Sporting Lisbon”. Both clubs have a very rich history and are considered as the top dogs in Portuguese football. Benfica have also competed several times in the UEFA Champions League, while Sporting has produced some of the great football talents which includes the legend Luis Figo and their latest product has become the most expensive footballer in the world, recently signed by Spanish Club Real Madrid from England’s Manchester United is Christiano Ronaldo. Basketball and handball can also be seen commonly in the streets of Lisbon.

In the education sector Lisbon is not behind the other cities of Portugal. As the city has many schools which include primary schools, secondary schools etc. The city of Lisbon is also home to some great universities of Portugal. Among these universities “The University of Lisbon” is sometimes also referred to as the classical university of Lisbon as the university was established in 1911 and is the oldest university of Lisbon.

Economically the Lisbon region is considered as the strongest and richest economy in all of Portugal. As the statistics tell that Lisbon alone has a contribution of about 45 percent of the total GDP of the country.

If you want to go on a holiday to San Juan, you are in for the experience of your life. San Juan is a place that is an eclectic mix of history, culture, beaches and friendly people. Old San Juan was a walled city, which is a retrospect to the ancient Spanish colonies.

It is now a square mile of restored architecture, plazas, forts and a spectacular sea facing esplanade. The beaches and resorts are plentiful in the Isla Verde area and the Urban Condado region.

Santurce quarter is popular for its performing arts, theatres, and a burgeoning marketplace. For the more urbane people, casinos, restaurants and clubs are in plenty.

Cultural mix

San Juan is a place, which is filled with cultural diversity. Being a part of the ancient Spanish colony, it absorbed Spanish and Caribbean culture and now that it is a part of the United States, American culture was added to the mix.

The people of San Juan or the San Juaneros call their culture a blend of tradition, values and American modernism. You can find people talking on their swanky little cell phones in the middle of 16th century forts and 30 storey skyscrapers.

Family spot

San Juan is well known as a traditional and family oriented place, where families going on holidays feel right at home. Everyone including hotels, car rental companies and even the priciest restaurants are more than willing to accommodate families, catering to requirements for car seats, high chairs or even bibs.

Entertainment and activities are available for the whole family. The children can enjoy a visit to the Museo del Nino, which is the Children’s museum. It is fun, creative and interactive for kids.

The park Luis Munoz Marin Park is great to take children to spend all their pent up energy. The whole family can visit the historic fortresses and underground hidden passages or guided tours.

You can end the day and your sigh seeing venture by a visit to the Plaza de Hostos where you can cool off with frozen treats.

Activity filled days

San Juan, which is in Puerto Rico, always has the most beautiful summer weather, with warm nights and cool summer breeze. Filling your days with outdoor activities while in San Juan is not at all difficult.

Isla Verde, which is actually a big stretch of connected beaches, is the hub of water sports and other beach activities. One can indulge in games of volleyball, handball or Frisbee on its cool white sands or just lie under the shade of a leafy palm tree enjoying the cool breeze and catching up on a bestseller. Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular water sports here.

If you love playing tennis and want to continue enjoying it whilst on your holiday, then the tennis courts at central park are available from dawn to dusk, at a nominal fee.

Hell’s Kitchen is a vibrant neighborhood in Manhattan with a long history. It went from being a dangerous stomping ground for gangs to a seedy hangout for artist types to a popular and coveted area suitable for anyone who can afford the high rents. The area still retains some of the soulful grittiness it once had, but it is fast disappearing. Hell’s Kitchen’s borders are difficult to define but they’re thought to stretch from 57th Street to the north down to 34th Street to the south and from the river in the west to 8th Avenue to the east.

Considering its location in Manhattan, you can still find a few bargains relative to the cost of other nearby neighborhoods (but still expensive by any standards). It is possible to find a studio in the area for under $2,000 but that is most likely to be in one of the older buildings, possibly complete with lopsided staircases, warped floors and maybe even bedbugs which the neighborhood is known for having. Most of the older buildings are walk-ups meaning they have no elevators. Newer, flashy, glass buildings are springing up all the time and, while they are very expensive, they are said to have amazing views.

Hell’s Kitchen is made up of all types of people but it still retains a neighborhood-y feel to it. It’s popular with recent graduates and students due to the relatively low rents for Manhattan. It also has a lot of rent-controlled buildings meaning that there are lots of long-time residents of all races and nationalities. The area is especially gay-friendly. Though Hell’s Kitchen has had a reputation in the past as being violent, today it is generally safe. It feels safe because there are usually people out and about until all hours of the morning.

Hell’s Kitchen has the city’s largest park on its doorstep. Central Park has anything an outdoor enthusiast could possibly want including kid’s playgrounds, basketballs, volleyball and handball courts, baseball diamonds, walking trails and plenty of open space to kick back and relax. If that all sounds too healthy then you are lucky because there are plenty of options in Hell’s Kitchen for indulging on great food or a variety of booze. Ninth Avenue is one of the best streets in New York for eating with places from all sorts of different cultures represented.

Hell’s Kitchen is right in the thick of the action of New York City. It’s close to the Theatre District, next door to Central Park and handy for just about everywhere else due to good transportation links. The cheaper rents make it a good place to live for new arrivals or students who have their heart set on staying in Manhattan.

The beach experience isn’t always just about sun and sand. One of the most enjoyable parts of any time spent at the beach is checking out everything and everyone around you. At most beaches, that means skimpy bikinis and the odd kite-flying youngster. At Venice Beach in Los Angeles, it’s a different story entirely. On any given day, juggling street performers delight the crowd, caricaturists draw unflattering works of art, and straining weightlifters glisten in the heat. All of this makes Venice unlike any other beach in the world, certain to thrill every visitor.

“Venice of America” was created as a beach resort in 1905. The initial grounds came complete with an aquarium, bathhouses, and an amusement park. Developers dug several canals to drain marshes, establishing the parallel with the Italian city of the same name. Few of the original canals remain, but the houses running alongside them have been renovated and restored to their original grandeur.

From its initial development until the 1950’s, the Los Angeles municipal government maintained a hands-off policy towards Venice Beach. As infrastructure crumbled in the latter half of the 20th century, the city stepped in and ordered the demolition of over 550 buildings. This rebirth infused Venice with a new energy, and as the 1960’s opened, characters from across the board began pouring in. In many ways, Venice Beach was the Haight-Ashbury of southern California. The liberal, free environment gave rise to acts like The Doors.

This atmosphere still prevails today, with the population of Venice a veritable melting pot of different races, cultures, and attitudes. All of these people come together to make Venice one of the funkiest spots in America.

While the three mile long beach is available for swimming, that’s not what most people envision when they think of Venice. The most famous icon of Venice Beach is the Gold’s Gym, once home to now-Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, an enormous “weight pen” supplies wannabe Terminators with the equipment they require, all while spectators gawk from bleachers.

Running along the boardwalk are a number of shops and eateries that cater to the eclectic tastes of Venice Beach residents and visitors. You can purchase anything from t-shirts to tattoos. That’s not the only art in Venice. Most buildings are adorned with grafittied murals depicting a variety of subjects. Formerly a free for all, artists must now obtain permits before starting their work.

Even though the majority of the action takes place on the boardwalk and streets, the beach itself certainly deserves some mention. Venice has one of the better surf breaks in Los Angeles. Volleyball and handball courts abound, inviting you to work up a sweat. There are also a ton of picnic benches and tables, so takeout from any of the great restaurants on the promenade can make for an inexpensive, fun meal.

Venice is a great spot to check out while you’re in LA. Don’t be intimidated by the brawny weightlifters and tattooed outcasts: everyone can enjoy the madness that makes up this incredibly unique beach.

While you enjoy your comfortable stay at East Village Apartments, make sure to experience some sweet leisure time at the Tompkins Square Park, one of the most popular destinations in New York City. The park is named after Daniel D. Tompkins (1774-1825), Vice President of the United States.

The square shaped park is located in the East Village neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is spread over 10.5 acre (42,000 sq. mi). Just like most of the landmark locations in NY, Tompkins Park also has a rich history behind it, and is associated with various events, though some of them not very positive.

On January 13, 1874, the Tompkins Square witnessed a major riot as the police clashed with labor protestors numbering in thousands. This incident was a major event in area of labor conflict. In a similar incident in 1877, around 5000 people clashed with the National Guard as they amassed to hear communist revolutionary speeches in this very park.

By the 1980s, Tompkins Park became a centre-point for New Yorkers’ social problems. The park was frequented by many homeless people and even became a hub for drug-use and various other illegal activities. This led to a riot in August 1988, when the city police attempted to free the park of such elements.

During the 1990s and 2000s, however, Tompkins Park went through a major facelift and witnessed a gradual gentrification of its surroundings. With its many playgrounds, basketball courts, handball courts and built-in outdoor chess tables, the park today attracts youngsters and decent family crowd from across the globe.

Among the major landmarks in the East Village neighborhood, Tompkins Square Park is today home to various events such as Howl Festival, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and Tompkins Square Dog Run.