Tourists’ attractions in Dresden

　　Located on the Elbe River, Dresden is the capital city of German state named Saxony. This city is considered among one of the top tourists destinations in Germany as it is an industrial as well as cultural center and boasts of having some worth-watching historical landmarks. Tourists’ attractions in Dresden come in all shapes and sizes meaning that there is something for everyone. If you are also interested in seeing some fascinating sights and attractions then you must visit this city. Here are some of its most popular tourist’s attractions.
Zwinger Palace

It is a beautiful place to spend a summer holiday as this is a magnificent palace having an open air gallery and stunning courtyard. To your surprise, you will find four museums within this palace so if you are a history lover; a visit to this palace will just be a treat for you. Constructed between 1710 and 1732, this palace is one of the prominent landmarks in Dresden as it features the most popular Crown Gate which you can see on travel photographs related to the city of Dresden. One more thing which I must tell you is that if you love to see German-Baroque architecture then you must visit this palace as it is a fine example of such architecture. Besides its beautiful and attractive exteriors, you can also find a number of features and attractions in its interiors including Old Masters Picture Gallery, Zoological Museum and Mathematisch Physikalischer Salon.
Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)

Church of Our Lady is yet another example of German architecture in whole Dresden. It was built by George Bahr between 1726 and 1743. It is quite renowned for having hosted organ recitals by the legendary musician and composer JW Bach. This church was destroyed as a result of bombing during WW II but it was reconstructed which was completed in 2004. The current building of the church is quite similar to the older one and most of its internal attractions have managed to retain their magnificence and splendor.
Blue Wonder Bridge

It is a 620 feet bridge which crosses the River Elbe in the wonderful city of Dresden. It was built in 1893 and at the time of its completion, it was one of the longest bridges ever built without having pillars. This was the reason the bridge got such a unique name as it was considered as a technological wonder at that time. It is a bridge you must see during your visit to Dresden because the whole Elbe Valley was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 due to this bridge. Most of the attractions were destroyed in WW II but Blue Wonder Bridge is the only attractions which managed to survive. These days this bridge, painted in blue, is still standing over Elbe River allowing people to transport from one part of Dresden to the other.
Royal Palace (Residenzschloss)

Constructed in various stages between 12th and 19th century, Royal Palace of Dresden is also a popular attraction in Germany. It was former residence of Saxon royal family. Although this palace suffered a great loss in WW II bombing but still it has maintained its original magnificence and grandeur. The Royal Palace is also home to a number of museums. The most famous of them is Green Vault which is one of the Europe’s most beautiful treasure chambers having some 3000 treasures. The Coin Cabinet displays an exhibition of coins while another museum in the palace is Kupferstich-Kabinett exhibits a collection of drawings and photographs. One of the palace’s most recent attractions is Turkish Room which is also a museum and highlights a beautiful 20 meters long tent made of silk and gold.

A popular tourist’s attraction

Do you want to visit a city that is a popular tourist’s attraction for both business and leisure travelers? If yes then visit New Castle. New Castle is 162 Km away from the city of Sydney and is considered as one of the most important cities in Hunter area. Being one of the biggest cities of Australia, New Castle is home to several attractive tourists destinations which draw million of people round the year. Some of its major tourist’s attractions are:
King Edward Park

King Edward Park is located at Ordnance Street in New Castle and boasts of being one of the finest and best recreational parks in New South Wales. The major attractions which you can enjoy seeing in this park are excellent ocean views which can be seen from within the park. Here you can also see Norfolk Island pines and a sunken garden. On the southern boundary of this park, you can find remains of Shepherd’s Hills & Gunner’s Cottage which functioned from 1890 to World War II. Near car parking, you can also see some of the military leftovers. King Edward Park is not only a venue for family picnics and barbecue but also it turns into a movie venue in summer. To the north of this park, you will enjoy visiting New Castle Beach, Stockton Beach and Nobbys Head. Carriage drives, picnic facilities, playgrounds and electric barbeques are some other attractions of this park.
Nobbys Beach

Nobbys Beach in New Castle is another major tourist attraction. Here you can go for enjoying surfing and other activities as well. Nobbys Beach is closest beach to harbor and from city center and you can easily reach there as a number of transportation means are provided to get to Nobbys Beach. This beach remains crowded all year as people come here to enjoy the views of exotic beach. As I mentioned earlier, it is a best place for surfing because conditions here are quite feasible. Standard wave quality and sandy and rocky bottom of this beach make it a perfect place for surfing. Moreover wave’s length is mostly 50 to 150 meters on average days and there is also no threat of sharks on beach. In summer months, you can enjoy different sports on this beach including kite surfing.
New Castle Region Art Gallery

The New Castle Region Art Gallery is located at Laman Street and remains open for visitors from 10 in the morning to 5 in the evening from Tuesday to Sunday. This gallery exhibits a wonderful variety of things including jewelry, ceramics, textiles and handcrafted glass. Other items which you will find in New Castle Region Art Gallery are art books, paper goods and catalogues. By displaying these items, Gallery shows its commitment towards nurturing development of art work. Several tours, exhibitions, workshops and events are also held in this gallery every year for enjoyment of locals and foreigners as well.
Bar Beach

Bar Beach is 500 meters long having rocky platforms and silvery sands. A tour to Bar Beach not only offers the visitors to see natural beauty but also provides them to perform several beach activities. Bar Beach is a pleasant and safe location where you can come with your family for picnic or just for lazing around. Crystal clear waters of beach and clean sand provides visitors to enjoy panoramic views of city. Every year, during summer holidays, a sand modeling contest is also held at Bar Beach. Numerous participants come here to take part in this contest from all over the world. Another attraction of this beach is that it is adjacent to an airstrip so flying freaks can fly and explore beauty of this beach in another interesting way. Some of the other activities which you can enjoy on beach include fishing, camping and surfing. Facilities provided by this beach are:
Shaded area
Car park
Café
Public toilet
Kiosk
Parking for disabled
BBQ facilities
Public telephone
Sheltered area
Picnic area
Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley is a must-visit monument of New Castle which is located at New Castle Harbor’s entrance. It was built in 1882 to protect New Castle port from enemy. It is also known by some other names like Fort Fiddlesticks, Captain Allan’s Hill, Signal Hill, Flagstaff Hill etc. Fort Scratchely displays rich military history of Australia and today it is considered as a major landmark in Hunter Valley region. Other attractions of this Fort include four 80 pounder rifled muzzle guns and two Mark VII breech loading guns.
Shortland Wetlands Center

This attraction is located in Hunter Region of New South Wales and is a perfect nature tourism destination in New Castle. It is spread over an area of 45 hectares and provides home to more than 250 species of wildlife such as ducks, reptiles and birds. The new name of Shortland Wetlands Center is Hunter Wetlands Center. Attractions at this center include rich and diverse fauna which is due to fresh water lagoons and non-tidal fresh water wetlands. Here you will find a wide variety of animals like frogs, birds and fishes. You will also find attractive and enchanting flora at reserve which includes different species of trees like the Swamp and Mahogany. Other recreational activities at this center are:
Boardwalks
Children’s Discovery Playground
Observation Decks
Birdwatching
Dipnetting
Walking Trails
Besides children’s birthday parties, functions are also held at Wetlands along with picnics and barbeque parties.
These were some of the major attractions in New Castle, Australia. These attractions are the main reason why one should visit this wonderful place in New South Wales city.

Newtown Creek Nature Walk

In the September edition of 7STOPS magazine, Benjamin Korman took a look at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. What he found was an homage to industry, tucked between a sewage treatment plant and creek so polluted that signs warned against kayaking. What Korman evokes in his description is not one of nature — there's about as much nature here as in your average collection of potted plants — but of foul smells and poor scenery. This is where I stop agreeing with him: He considers this a drawback, and I think it's a feature.
In a city with more than 27,000 people for every square mile, room is scarce. The complaint that New York City is turning into a city for the rich is a valid one, but there is no denying that space has to be distributed in some fashion. Aside from some prominent exceptions, such as mandated low-income units, the preferred method of distribution is raising prices to reach equilibrium with demand. Usually, this price is in dollars or the price of sharing a park lawn with a thousand neighbors. With the Newtown Creek Nature Walk, the location and the smell are the price you pay.
Korman's right: The location is undesirable. Your choice of vistas is a construction site to the west, a highway to the north and the sewage treatment plant to the east and south. He's right about the smell, too, though anyone who has lived in a fishing community will come away wondering what the big deal is. But for these reasons, I have yet to see more than three people there at any time. Contrast this with the High Line or McCarren Park, where the only time you'll see just three people is at 3 a.m. or in the middle of the winter.
Am I going to take a date or a game of chess to the nature walk? No, though I should mention that I've witnessed the latter. Will I take refuge there when one of my four roommates has plugged in his amp, and I've had a long week of work? Of course, and the smell is a fair price to pay.
Dustin Coates is founder at 7STOPS, an online monthly magazine focusing on one topic a month from seven different perspectives. A Texan from childhood, he now calls Greenpoint, Brooklyn home.

Sacred worship places in Mumbai

　　There are a number of sacred worship places in Mumbai that represent Hindu faith and massive amount of Hindu gods and goddesses. If you visit Mumbai, you will be surprised to see a large number of devotees busy worshipping in famous temples of Mumbai. Your visit to Mumbai will remain incomplete without paying visit to these temples and if you are especially going Mumbai for a spiritual tour, you will never be disappointed. While visiting these temples, you will not only worship deities but also you will be mesmerized after seeing great architectural work done in these temples.
Mahalaxmi Temple
This temple is one of the oldest temples in Mumbai and is situated on locale of Breach Candy. Here in this temple, you will find goddesses Mahalaxmi, Maha Saraswathi and Mahakali. But the distinguishing feature of this temple is the flock of grey pigeons which you will see in courtyard of this temple. Along with having statues of above mentioned deities, this temple also houses statues of other Hindu Goddesses. You will be quite surprised to see that statues of all goddesses are adorned with gold and diamond jewelry. Besides this, statues of three main goddesses are ornamented with nose rings, pearl necklaces and bangles. The statue of Mahalaxmi has been shown riding a tiger. Although this temple can be visited at any time of year, Navatari is the best time to visit this temple. On the festival of Navaratri, temple is decorated and crowded with devotees from all parts of India who offer flowers, sweets and coconuts to their sacred goddesses.

Mumba Devi Temple
Mumba Devi Temple is a highly respected temple in Mumbai and is built in honor of Goddess Mumbadevi. The city, Mumbai has also got its name after this goddess which characterizes Mother Earth. Mumbadevi was actually patron deity of Koli fishermen who were original inhabitants of Mumbai. Mumba Devi temple was first built in 1737 but later it was demolished and rebuilt. The modern temple is quite attractive and spiritual as it has an idol of Mumbadevi which is dressed in a gown with silver crown. This idol is also adorned with a nose stud and golden necklace. A statue of Annupurna seated on peacock also stands to the left of Mumbadevi’s idol. Front of this temple also features a tiger which is considered as carrier of the goddess.

Babulnath Temple
Babulnath Temple is an ancient temple and Lord Shiva in form of Babul tree is the deity controlling this temple. This temple is located 1000 feet above sea level and located at end of Marine Drive and South of Malabar Hills. It was built in 1780 and since then, thousands of devotees come here to view blessings of Lord Shiva. A tall spire was also added to temple in 1900 to increase its magnificence and grandeur. Monday is the special day when temple is crowded with visitors. Months of August and September are also associated with Lord Shiva so visitors come to this temple in these months and offer milk on Shivling which is believed to be the head of Lord Shiva.

Shri SiddhiVinayak Temple
This temple is located in Prabhadevi and is featured with a small hall with shrine for Ganesha. It is a beautifully built temple having wooden doors to sanctum. Internal roof of this chamber is gold plated and has a statue of Ganesha with four arms. Tuesday is considered as most sacred day for visiting this temple and huge number of worshippers comes here to pray. Outside this temple, there is a narrow lane named Phool Gali from where you can buy flowers, garlands, coconuts and sweets.

Bhuleshwar Temple
This temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built 200 years ago. It has an amazing architecture. It has been built with black stone and has ornamental octagonal dome.

ISKCON Temple
This temple is also acknowledged as Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple which is located at Juhu. This temple has facilities for a spiritual stay so that people who feel burdened with materialism can have a pleasant stay here. The temple complex consists of restaurant, auditorium, a marble temple and a twin towered guest house where visitors can stay to take part in spiritual programs held every day.

Urbanization in China

Urbanization in China — explosive and seemingly boundless in potential — has in some cities reached a "natural" obstacle. A vast ring of post-industrial sites surrounds cities like Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Although the factories have moved further afield, the remaining land and groundwater are often seriously contaminated. As cities push outward these sites are a threat to human health and an impediment to urban growth. A comprehensive legal and technical framework for cleaning up these sites has yet to be developed, as it has in other post-industrial nations. Redevelopment practices are ad-hoc and dominated by international firms that undertake remediation as a matter of corporate, not social, responsibility.
But this may change by the end of the year, as the Ministry of Environmental Protection is expected to release a set of remediation guidelines. Modeled on practices in the North America (the Superfund Act) and the U.K. (Part IIa of the Environmental Protection Act), it will be a step in the right direction for mature and sustainable urban growth.
The real challenge, however, will be to develop a Chinese model for post-industrial site remediation and reintegration. After all, the political, legal and social context in China is unique. The potential for large-scale remediation projects is greater here than in the Superfund model, which is based on a slow and litigious process. China still has the capacity to think big and act fast. The Shanghai Expo site was perhaps a successful model for a quick and technically successful process. The Tianjin Eco-City project makes a point of remediating and building on contaminated land rather than the easily developed but crucial agricultural areas nearby.
In the North America and Europe, the post-industrial landscape inspired artists and designers in new directions and scales. Robert Smithson worked with the language of contamination (as did to some extent Agnes Denes and Christo and Jean-Claude). More recently, designers like Julie Bargmann (D.I.R.T. Studio) combined this language with technology to create beautiful and remediative landscapes. Today's "green" designs are bland and generic in comparison. A window is opening in China for another renaissance in land art in association with land remediation. Designers — both local and international — who have cashed in on China's development boom will hopefully take note.

Beaches in Indonesia

Beaches in Indonesia are popular among tourists and locals as well because of their beauty and fascinating environment. Beaches in Indonesia provide ideal weather and thousands of beach activities to enjoy. These beaches contribute a lot in development of tourism in Indonesia. Some of the most stunning beaches in Indonesia include the following.
Dreamland Beach (Bali)
Located on the Bukit Peninsula, this beach is a significant center of water sports and other adventurous activities. Dreamland Beach is covered with small cliffs and surrounded by pine and coconut trees. As I mentioned, this beach provides facilities to enjoy water sports so you can enjoy diving and surfing here. For relaxing in sun, sun decks are also provided. Hotels, inns and resorts are found for quality accommodation. Besides these, bars, pubs and cafes, restaurants and dining spots are located here to provide travelers with complete fun and enjoyment. For shopping freaks, there are some local shops from where you can buy artifacts and handicrafts at reasonable rates.

Kuta Beach (Lombok)
Kuta Beach is becoming a popular tourist spot as it offers some good reasons to be visited again and again. Like other beaches, there are facilities of diving and surfing. Kuta Beach also gives a magnificent picture of white sand and blue sea water.

Chandi Dasa Beach (Bali)
The Chandi Dasa Baech is most frequently visited beach in Indonesia. It is a white sandy beach which is named after a temple complex situated on lagoon by edge of sea. This beach is an excellent place for sunbathing but the most important attraction is the Chandi Dasa Temple itself which was built in 12th century. It houses the statue of Goddess Hariti and it is believed that Goddess grants prosperity and welfare to those who pray in this temple. A number of hotels and bungalows are also located within the surroundings of this beach to provide furnished accommodation to visitors. These hotels provide accommodation facilities at affordable prices.

Lovina Beach (Bali)
Lovina Beach is featured with black volcanic and is located close to northern tip of Bali Island. It is an ideal place for diving, snorkeling and watching beautiful scenes of sunset. During your visit to Lovina Beach, you can go out to sea on chartered boats and you can also enjoy watching dolphins playing in water. You can also make day trips to West Bali National Park as well as hot springs of Banjar. Temples and crafts centers are also there to visit and have fun.

Bira Beach (Sulawesi)
Bira Beach is named after the name of a village which is famous for its wooden houses. Also known as Paloppalakaya Bay, it is a white sand beach attracting thousands of tourists towards its beauty and magnificence. This beach is characterized by shallow water so it is considered safe for swimming and snorkeling. Here tourists also find an opportunity to see different fishes like manta ray as well as sharks but sharks live in deep waters. Another reason of popularity of this beach is that from here, tourists can go to Pulau Selayar by taking a boat ride on blue waters.

These were five most stunning beaches of Indonesia but the list is too long including:
Pasir Putih Beach (Bali)
Pulau Weh Beach (Sumatra)
Pulau Bintan Beach (Sumatra)
Jimbaran Beach (Bali)
Legian Beach (Bali)
Padang Bai Beach (Bali)
Rapang Beach (Java)
Grajagan Beach (Java)

The rich culture and several attractions's place is Ottawa

Ottawa is among one of the places in world whose rich culture and several attractions have made it very popular among tourists. This capital city of Canada has a number of architectural attractions and monuments to see. If you are planning a visit to Ottawa, you should include following attractions in your tour list as your visit would be incomplete without seeing these attractions.

Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization is most popular and most visited museum of Canada. It is located along Ottawa River and is being managed by Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. This museum is featured with four galleries which are as follows:
Grand Hall: This is the first level of the museum which houses largest colored photograph in the world. Moreover, this gallery is famous for colossal Spirit of Haida Gwaii pattern which is created by famous artist Bill Reid.
First Peoples Hall: Located at the first level of this museum, this gallery shows the history of Aboriginal People of Canada. Here you can view exhibitions displaying life styles of First Peoples. Tourists are provided with useful information on 20000 years of history.
Canada Hall: Canada Hall is located at the third level of museum and gives information to tourists on modern history of Canada. Period costumes have also been displayed here for visitors’ interest. The main features of this hall are Basque whaling ship and Airport lounge.
Face to Face (The Canadian Personalities Hall): This gallery is located at the uppermost level of this museum. It was opened in June 2007 and is featured with profile of world famous personalities of Canada such as authors, politicians and artists.
Dows Lake Pavilion

Located in the center point of Ottawa city, this pavilion is a popular tourist spot providing many recreational facilities. The best time to visit this beautiful lake is summer time because in winter, the lake freezes and you can only do skating on frozen platform of this lake. In summer season, you can visit this lake to enjoy boating in its warm waters. You can also refresh your mind and body with cool breeze of Dows Lake Pavilion. Besides outing, boating and skating, you can also enjoy a memorable dining experience as there are many refreshment corners and eateries here on Dows Lake Pavilion.
Royal Canadian Mint

Royal Canadian Mint is an organization that is known for its skills in making coins. This organization produces all Canadian coins, tokens, foreign currency, medals and Maple Leaf bullion coins. Royal Canadian Mint was actually established to produce only Canadian coins, but now it has acquired a good reputation for outstanding quality all over the world. The gold Maple Leaf coin produced by this organization is said to be 99.99% pure.
Canadian War Museum

This museum is located at the banks of Ottawa River and has become a landmark of this city. Its marvelous building is an attraction in itself and the facilities provided at this museum include a restaurant, underground parking, a theatre having 250 seats and bus pick up and drop off areas. Canadian War Museum hosts a number of interesting exhibitions which include the following:
The First Floor Gallery provides a description about history of Canadian military starting from pre-European period to the end of World War I.
The Hall of Honor displays collections related to military history through stories of 40 war heroes.
The Second Floor Gallery shows exhibitions on World War II.
Canada’s Peacekeepers Gallery shows collections related to recent military history.
The Discovery Room has some interesting and interactive displays and here, you can also try military uniforms.
Rideau Canal

If you are addicted to water sports, then Rideau Canal will prove to be a dream destination for you. This canal is very beautiful and surrounded by many lakes and rivers which are linked by Rideau Canal. At Rideau Canal, you can enjoy a number of activities like:
Hiking
Fishing
Canoeing
Cycling

While hiking, you can enjoy an opportunity to see local wildlife of this region. Local restaurants are also located here to provide you with delicious local specialties. There are also great facilities including barbecue spots, picnic areas, washrooms and much more.
These are some must-visit attractions of Ottawa which you can visit to make your trip enjoyable and memorable.

Planning your tour to Italy

　　Italy is included in those countries of the world which attract millions of tourists every year which has made Italy the most popular travel destination in Europe. The reason is quite clear. Italy has a large number of tourists’ attractions including cultural attractions, ancient monuments, spectacular cathedrals and churches and wonderful sculptures. The country is also gifted with beautiful coasts, stunning mountains and lakes. A tour to Italy can surely be full of thrill and fun. Here a description of some cities and places is given which are truly worth-seeing and you should never miss them while planning your tour to Italy.

Capital City- Rome
This city of Italy has a number of well-known places that magnetize the tourists. Some renowned attractions in Rome include:
The Colosseum: It was inaugurated for gladiator fights but now it is open for all where you can go and see its enormous structure.
Fontana De Trevi: It is another tourists’ favorite place. It is quite interesting as it is said that whoever will throw a stone in Fontana De Trevi, will come to Rome one more time.
Vatican City: It is an independent state of Rome having a large number of tourists attractions including St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum and the famous Sistine Chapel.
Duomo of Milan: Rome has another very important tourist destination named Duomo of Milan which is the largest gothic structure in Italy. It is popular because it is the second last largest cathedral in world.
Tuscany
It is another popular city of Italy and one of the most beautiful tourist destinations. This city is well-known for the great work done by painters, sculptors and architects such as that of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. So it can be proved to be the greatest place for art loving people.
Uffizi Gallery: This gallery is in Florence that has magnificent paintings by Tiziano, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Rubens and other famous and renowned painters.

Tower of Pisa: This is the most popular and worth-seeing tower. It began to lean on a side soon after its construction. That’s why it is also called leaning tower of Pisa. However it was repaired and opened for general public. More interestingly, it had honor of being one of the seven wonders of world.
Venice
Venice is the most popular and well-known city of Italy as it has beautiful canals and gondolas to attract a large number of tourists. The most beautiful thing which you should never miss in your tour to Venice is the Grand Canal Venice.
Siena
It is another city which is famous for its pizzas including Pizza del Campo.

The high volume of vacant and derelict buildings of Rome

Mailboxes on the main gate of the Metropoliz occupation site in Rome.
The high volume of vacant and derelict buildings woven into the urban fabric of Rome has provided an opportunity for those unable or unwilling to pay formal market rents to proactively reclaim slices of the city through a strategy of occupation and resistance. The marginal socio-political status of low-income Italians, immigrants and Roma population has evolved, through the forced occupation of abandoned sites and structures, into a spatial cohesion and network within the city. While some occupied buildings lie on the periphery of Rome and make their marginal status clear through location, security and protection measures to isolate and decrease visibility (Metropoliz), others are very central and integrated with neighboring areas and formal housing (Porto fluviale).

Part of a disused salami factory on the Metropoliz occupation site, reclaimed by squatters.

One of several self-organized internally segregated areas within Metropoliz — this area is home to Peruvian immigrants.
As part of an innovative workshop exploring this urbanism of resistance, the Development Planning Unit (DPU) of the Bartlett in the U.K. recently activated its inaugural summerLab, structured as a six-day immersion into contested sites in Rome. The primary case study, grounded in the Metropoliz occupation, dealt with two adjacent sites, each containing derelict factory buildings. In the past two years, both sites have been occupied by squatters, immigrants and a Roma population in an attempt to both secure a home within the peripheral urban limits and actively resist market and political pressures forcing them into marginalization.
The two sites are divided by a masonry wall, pierced in only one location by a gated opening. Within these sites, the occupation has self-organized over time, using the hollow shells of the former factory buildings to enclose self-built residential units. A natural segregation has occurred between the Roma community and immigrant communities from Peru, Morocco and others. Without the external catalyst of impending site redevelopment or building demolition, the conflict between the occupants and State authorities continues to simmer just below the surface, with the "grey" legality of occupations held in check by the "grey" legality of evictions and alternative site selection.

The open gate that controls movement between the Metropoliz site and the adjacent Roma site.
Placing this in the context of the wider housing market, Corviale demonstrates the extremes of a Modernist solution to social housing. Built in the 1970s, it is a kilometer-long structure on the very edge of Rome, with one length of the building facing the city and the other facing farmland. Its length requires a bus route to run along the front of the site, stopping at each of the five main vertical circulation cores before reaching the far end. With no clear system of management and maintenance, the building appears in some ways illegally occupied and in perpetual decline, even though this is not the case. Other more integrated and centrally located buildings, despite being illegally occupied, appear highly organized and fairly well maintained and adapted to current uses.

Corviale, a kilometer-long housing project constructed in the 1970s on the edge of Rome.
For instance, in centrally located occupations such as Porto fluviale, residents have formed their own mini-State, spatially defined by the building limits, with its own rules of governance, democratic decision-making and demarcation of communal and private space. As such, an alternative model of housing and living has developed in resistance and critique of the formality of surrounding apartments and homes. To what extent should such freedom and self-determination be allowed or even supported? What are the ramifications on the wider city's housing market and economic health?
Marginalized and secretive occupations, centrally located and transparent occupations, and failed attempts at mass formal housing are scattered throughout the city as visible evidence of a fractured urbanism. What are the underlying causes and trends behind this? Not many cities are forced to address an excess of underused infrastructure in an age of rapid urbanization; however, the unmet housing needs that this condition reveals must be addressed. Beneath the surface of Rome lie the modern ruins of an activist city of occupation and resistance. Can this model of critique transform into a constructive plan of action and renewal?
Credits: Photos by Andrew Wade.

The city of Lyon

The city of Lyon is located in east-central France and is situated between Paris and Marseille. Having a population of 480,660 people, this city is the second largest metropolitan area in France. This city is has a number of tourist attractions and because of its historical and architectural landmarks, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some famous tourist attractions in Lyon are as follows.

Aquarium du Grand Lyon
This is a popular tourist attraction among families who wish to visit a recreational as well as educational place. Here in this aquarium, you cannot only interact with fish but also see a number of varieties of sharks. Other sea creatures can also be seen in this aquarium. To buy some memories of this adventure tour, you can also stroll through huge gift shops. This aquarium also has a number of restaurants in its vicinity where you can have a different delicious food for breakfast and lunch.

Cathedrale Saint Jean Baptiste
It is another tourist attraction in Lyon. Since 4th century, this church has been the main church in the city. It is one of the most beautiful churches in France. Especially, astronomical clock which features moving figures of the Annunciation, on its façade is simply awesome. Interiors are also well- decorated and worth-seeing. You can also listen for its chimes at 12:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00.

Parc de la Tete d’Or
This park is a famous attraction in Lyon but it becomes more famous and exciting during spring and summer. This park is the largest outdoor park in France and is featured with a boating lake, walking paths, trails and biking paths. This park also provides large and spaces for boating, picnics and sports. For more fun and excitement, you can also walk along eastern border of this park along Rhone River. You will also find a zoo at northern end of this park where different animals have been kept. These animals include elephants, giraffes, tigers and many others.

Ampitheatre Gallo Romain
This admired attraction of Lyon is actually a hilltop amphitheatre that is there from times of Roman Empire. Constructed during sovereignty of Emperor Tiberius, this amphitheatre has been used for sporting events and executions.

Metallic Tower of Fourviere
The Tour metallique de Fourviere (Metallic Tower of Fourviere) is a landmark of Lyon. It is a steel framework tower which is quite identical to Eiffel Tower. Its height is 85.9 meters while it weighs 210 tons. This magnificent tower was built between 1892 and 1894. Until November 1953, it has been used as an observation tower but these days, it is used as television tower.

This was a list of some famous attractions in Lyon. You must visit these worth-seeing attractions during your visit to Lyon.

Lombok's Three Tourists Spots

Lombok is located along to eastern portion of Bali. It is actually an island which shares same cultural heritage and traditions with Bali. Lombok is a house to 3.16 million Indonesians and has a number of tourist’s attractions which include:
Gili Islands
Gili islands are located to the western coast of Lombok. These islands are the most popular tourist attraction as it provides a leisurely holiday experience. It provides an opportunity to see a beautiful beachfront as well as these islands are dotted with a number of cafes offering banana pancakes. A number of magnificent beaches are located along these islands which are equipped with facilities of a modern tourist spot. Here on these beaches, you can take part in water sports like diving and snorkeling. Gili Island is actually made up of three principal islands which are:
Gili Trawangan
Gili Meno
Gili Air
Around north of Gili Meno, you can also see sea turtles.

Pura Segara
Pura Segara is a temple which has a white walled compound. If you will visit this place in afternoon, you will find a number of fishing boats on sand just next to this temple. Being one of the oldest temples, this is surrounded by fishing villages. Painted in red, this temple has been decorated with Balinese art designs. One most significant feature of this temple is that instead of courtyard, there is an open space with back-to-back staircase and statues. These statues are beautifully colored with bright hues. Near this temple, you will also find Chinese and Muslim cemeteries.

Mount Rinjani
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano and is situated on Lombok Island. Being a part of famous Ring of Fire, Mount Rinjani is the second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia. This mountain is 3726 meters high and first time erupted in 1847. This volcano is also home to a lake but these days, both volcano and lake belong to a national park. The oval shaped volcanic crater is 6 km long and is partly covered by lake named Segara Anak. Eruptions in 1994, 1995 and 1996 formed a cone in heart of this crater. Highlands which surround this lake are covered with lush green forests. Lowlands are however cultivated and have crops of rice, cotton and tobacco. Crate and the mountain itself are considered as sacred places so they are visited by a large number of pilgrims every year. These devotees not only make offerings in lake but also dip in warm springs.

Intrepid Museum

　　
　　Located on Manhatten's westside water front at pier 86 the Intrepid museum's is in an area also known to tourist for its cruise ship terminal and the circle line, which is a famous sightseeing tour ferry. Before it was designated as an museum the u.s.s Intrepid was an navy Essex class aircraft carrier with a long and astonishing service history which include serving in world war II and the Pacific war. It was also the ship that recovered the mercury capsule and the Gemini astronauts. At 852 feet long the Intrepid is as long as a new York city block and about 10 stories high from waterline to control tower. the Intrepid Sea Air and Space museum is known for such exhibits as the world fastest jet and U.S. spy plane A10 Blackbird plus the world's first supersonic transcontinental passenger jet the Concord and a huge collection of some of the most unique military planes in the world. The museum also houses USS Growler a navy Grayback class submarine. The Fleet week annual events are held at the museum. The visiting warships are docked next door at the cruise ship terminal and the events are held on the deck of the museum. Since opening in 1982 the big war ship has been a unique part of new York City and was designated as an historical and national landmark in 1987. If you ever do travel to NYC be sure to add this one to your tour list.

The Radio City Music Hall

One of my favorite sites and also a place that's synonymous to New York City is Radio City Music Hall. Since it's opening during the Christmas holiday of 1932 it has attracted people from all over the world to see it's many event's and concerts. Located in midtown Manhattan on sixth Ave between 50th and 51st street it is part of the Rockefeller center complx. It also shares its glory with other sites famous for the area like NBC's rainbow room, FOX studio, and the Rockefeller ice skating rink. I find the best time to visit this site is during the Christmas holiday, when you can see the rockettes perform there Radio City Christmas Spectacular. There's also other marvelous on ice escapade shows and event around that season. Radio City music hall is also a regular venue for many award shows like the Emmy award, Tony awards, Grammy awards, and even MTV Video Music Awards. With its beautiful art-deco design its a major historical piece in the puzzle of the Rockefeller center area. So definitely add these one to your winter season NYC tour list. Its also a perfect place for kids, It'll leave a long lasting memorable impression on the mind.