Dallas: The Western Home of Elegance and Culture
Once a trading post in the 1800s, the things to see in Dallas are varied and interesting. Dallas is not just the oil center of Texas but is filled with many interesting cultural and historic places. It is a beautiful metropolis just waiting for you and your family to visit. A list of the Top Ten Sights to See will show the many interests in this remarkable city. Dallas World Aquarium: Plan on a full day to take in all of the wonder of this world ecosystem exhibit. There are five main tank systems in all and the ones from British Columbia and the rain forest from South America are just two of them. Dallas Zoo: This is one of the oldest zoos in the nation! It's been around since the 1800s[..]
Get an Emergency Passport Fast and Easy
Emergency Passports can be acquired in a few days if needed. Getting passports quickly is more expensive, but if you need your passport fast, it is worth the cost. Application Interview: First, make an appointment with an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency. Contact the State Department online or use the toll free number to find a location near you. Documentation: All passport applications require your personal documentation. Photo identification cards can be a driver’s license, military ID, or state identification card. Birth certificates, naturalization or citizenship papers are also needed. Marriage licenses, divorce and custody papers are needed if you are applying for a[..]
A Fake Green Card May Have Unhappy Repercussions
Many individuals looking to obtain a U.S. Green card do not meet the eligibility requirements as mandated by the government. Sadly, due to having a criminal record or limited resources, a large number of green card applications are rejected. To achieve their goal of living in the United States, many illegal aliens obtain fake green cards. By purchasing a fake green card, you are committing Green Card Fraud. This felony awards harsh punishment and deportation to those who are caught. If you are deported, future applications for re-entry to the United States are barred from being accepted. An advanced fraud ring knows the first requirement to producing a legitimate-looking green card is[..]
The health benefits of olives and olive oil
Since the ancient times the health benefits of olive oil have been widely recognized in Mediterranean countries. Doctors like the Greek Hippocrates and Pedanius Dioscoride were the first to highlight the beneficial effects of olive oil. However, Galeno, who lived in the II century AD at Marco Aurelius court, was the first to write a book on medical remedies, in which olive oil was the main ingredient for many preparations. In ancient and popular medicine, olive oil has always been considered good to help relieve stomach disorders, to fight pain of various origins, to relieve itching and inflammation due to insect bytes etc. Modern research has confirmed the therapeutic properties of[..]
The Capitol building in Havana City is considered one of the six important palaces globally speaking, and experts assure that this building is an almost perfect engineering masterpiece, completed during the first decades of the 20th century. Luxurious and majestic, the Capitol is a must-see place for both nationals and foreigners while in Havana City. It is classic to take a picture with one of the very old cameras that surround the building in high quantities. Today, it is the national headquarters of the Science Academy of Cuba and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA, acronym in Spanish). The Capitol was inaugurated on May 20, 1929. The area is around 338[..]
What to do About a Lost or Stolen Passport
A lost or stolen passport is no cause for panic. It will take some time and cost you additional funds, but a lost or stolen passport is fairly easy to replace. Before you can submit an application for a replacement passport, you must first report your passport as missing or stolen. Report It: If you are out of the country and lose your passport or it is stolen, you must contact the American Embassy or Consulate. If your passport is stolen either in the United States or out of the country, you are required to file a police report first, and then contact the nearest embassy or the State Department. Documentation: Once you have filled out the lost passport form DS-64, you can print and fill[..]
On April 1928, the steamship Orita coming from France docked in the port of Havana Bay. Among its many travellers, the American writer Ernest Hemingway was on the ship in his transit for Key West. It was his first time in Cuba and spent on the island only a few hours. He returned in 1932 and again in 1933 staying during his two visits in the Ambos Mundos Hotel, located on Obispo St, in the very heart of Old Havana. This hotel was both his house and office for nearly 10 years. He liked it so much due to the view he could get of the old city, the hustle and bustle of the people, the closeness to his boat (docked in the port), and the places he worshipped the most in Havana: the bars and[..]
The Best Survival Gun for a Woman
What is the best survival gun? As a woman, that is a question I’ve been asking of those who are more experience with both survival and guns. For myself I know I want something that is easy to handle, isn’t going to break my shoulder when I fire it and has affordable ammunition. Another criterion is that it has enough fire power to produce a kill shot. After asking several people, plus weighing in my own experience, I’m come to the conclusion that there are actually several guns that every woman should have in a survival situation. However, if one is limited to only having one gun my choice is a .22 rifle. Here’s what an acquaintance had to say about the .22: “Most bang[..]
How to Get a Visa to Ireland before Heading for...
Getting a visa to Ireland is easy if you are a citizen of a European Union country. For those who are not, the application is available online. The application is quite lengthy and requires information on you, your travel plans, and your financial stability. Documentation: In addition to a valid passport you will need to verify your accommodations with motel reservations and the ability to fund your visit through bank statements. If visiting relatives you will need to supply a letter with their name and address. You will also need a two-inch square passport photo. Application: Before you can get a visa to travel to Ireland, you must fill out the application. These are available online[..]
Steps to Renew a U.S. Green Card
A U.S. Green Card is also known as a Permanent Resident Card. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that issues and renews green cards. Green cards expire ten years from the date they are issued. To maintain proper green card status, a form I-90 or Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, should be filed. You can also use this form to replace a lost, damaged or stolen card. A Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence is also known as form I-751. This type of application should be filed instead if you received your green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen. Only legal copies of these forms are accepted and can be ordered by[..]
It is as easy as one-two-three when you are applying for a passport. Step by step guidelines online will help you start the process. When: Since the application process can be lengthy, experts recommend that you apply for your passport at least six months before your expected departure date. Occasionally special circumstances require that you get a passport sooner. Passport Agencies and Passport Acceptance Facilities can help guide you through this special process. Where: Larger cities have Passport Agency offices to assist people with passport applications. Smaller towns generally have Passport Acceptance Facilities. Many Acceptance Facilities are located in post offices, libraries,[..]
The Valley of the Sugar Mills - A Memory of the...
The Valley of the Sugar Mills, located near Trinidad, is one of the most photographed landscapes in Cuba, as well as a must-see place in every tour made in that village. The monumental value of the 65 sites that form the valley increases the interest to visit this place, where important vestiges of the island's sugar colonization still survive. During the 18th and late 19th century, the rising national and foreign middle class who had earned their money from sugar production settled in this vast valley; and there, one of the most important commercial and financial sugar empires in Cuba and Latin America was promoted. In its fertile lands between 75,000 and 140,000 sugar cane arrobas per[..]
Havana City Guide - Touring the Seafront
Without a doubt, the Morro Castle and its Lighthouse highlight Havana City; however, to tourists, the Havana Seafront becomes more familiar because of its beauty, history, extension, and because it is the most popular spot in the city for the amusement and recreation of Cubans. Its history began in 1819 when the so called urban expansion area of the walls was put into practice owing to the fact that the city was fast growing, and the coastal line between the entrance of the Havana Bay and Saint Lazarus Tower was just an open space of rocks and sea: a beautiful spot known as "Vedado Mount" where some aristocratic families would take sea baths. In 1859, the urban railroad began to[..]
Cuban Culture - The History of the Guayabera
This elegant, comfortable, and cool piece of clothing has been worn by several generations of Cubans and lots of foreigners. Coming with a great acceptance in the tropics because it is made of cotton or fine linen, it is believed that it was created by the wife of a countryman in the region of Santi Spiritus, Cuba, around 1709; designed actually as a comfortable piece of clothing for field labor. Another version tells that it was created by a Spanish immigrant from Granada who, in his tailor shop in that village, sold long shirts with comfy pockets for keeping cigars and pipe tobacco. Originally the shirt was known as yayabera because it was used in the region near the Yayabo River. As[..]
Cuba Culture Guide - Origins of Cuban Cuisine
Cuban cuisine has been the result of the convergence of the same factors that allowed the formation of the Cuban nationality: a mixture of Spanish customs as well as those of the aboriginal groups and African descendants; more recently the Chinese and Yucatecan immigration has also had an influence on the common dishes. The national dish is the ajiaco (a stew prepared with root vegetables, vegetables, and meats of several types). The typical Cuban dishes (besides all the possible combinations of dishes using rice) are fried or roast pork, fried plantain (cut in circles and smashed before frying), pork cracklings, and ground beef, this being the Havana style, which is the most widespread[..]
Cuban Religion - El Cobre and the Virgin De La...
El Cobre is a small town 11 miles from Santiago de Cuba. Its name dates from 1544 when a townsperson discovered a mountain of a light-green mineral he believed was gold. Around 1558 the mining exploitation began (this mine is considered the oldest in Cuba) and its miners/workers settled in cabins and huts on the same grounds where today the Cobre Town stands. However, the small town never thrived and more than once its people were treated as slaves. Around 1612 or 1613, some countrymen had gone to the Bay of Nipe to look for salt and they found an image of the Virgin floating over the dark waters. The image carried a label that read "I am the Virgin de la Caridad" on a plank, which[..]
The "tinajón" (large earthenware jar) is the symbol of Camagüey par excellence. The tinajón has its roots in the Catalan and the Andalusian pots, used to store grains, wines, and oils, brought to Cuba by Spanish immigrants that settled in the village by 1700. The permanent lack of water of the first settlements made the tinajones change their function from a traditional use to serve as water storage containers. It's been assumed that the tinajones were elaborated en masse in the region since the 17th century; however, there is evidence of their elaboration and use in Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Jamaica, and even in Chile and Peru. To manufacture a "tinajón camagüeyano", red[..]
Discovering Eastern Cuba - Baconao Park - Sun,...
Nature and Art harmoniously combine in the so well known Baconao Park, a large region situated approximately 20 km from the Eastern city of Santiago de Cuba. It is a pristine place, with isolated communities, and fantastic beaches completing the landscape of intense green and abundant vegetation. It is one of the touristic destinations most visited by national and foreign travellers. Its name is closely related to that of a small aborigine boy of the Pre-Columbian tribes who was living in the region at that time. History mentions a magic tree called "bacona" that gave the child the special gift to get music out of the snails of the lake. This gift was inherited by the surrounding trees[..]
A Cuba City Guide - Matanzas
Located on the banks of the San Juan River, on the northern coast of Cuba approximately 55 miles away from Havana, Matanzas City was founded on October 12, 1693, although it is known that this territory had been populated since 1510, approximately when the aboriginal people living there assaulted and killed a group of Spaniards. This historical fact is very relevant because even though the conquest and colonization of Cuba had not yet begun, this bloody action gave the name to the region. The settling in the village was a direct consequence of the occupation of the New Spanish fleet by the Dutch admiral Pieter Hein in 1628. Due to its closeness to Havana and its magnificent open bay,[..]
Hurricanes in Cuba
Having the experience of being in Cuba during a hurricane is very impressive, and not particularly dangerous. All the hotels have a modern structure or have been rebuilt to withstand the impact of the strongest winds; such hotels have had more than one chance to prove it. Cuba also has an internationally known service of Civil Defense and a Meteorology Institute of excellence; institutions that are part of the vigilance program for the formation of tropical storms in the Caribbean area. Knowing the natural threats Cuba faces is always very important. The main dangerous phenomena that accompany a cyclone are the surge of the sea (a rapid rising of sea levels at the coastlines), the[..]
Cuba Nature Attractions - Topes De Collantes
Topes de Collantes Grand Park, stretching for 200 square kilometers and 800 meters over the sea level, is a real paradise in the very center of Cuba, just 22 kilometers from Trinidad City. The thriving nature has created a healthy environment polished from the pollution of contemporary life, stress and anxiety. With a very humid climate and moderate temperatures the whole year, the conditions of the place have the perfect ecological features for promoting a richness of flora and fauna, with a high level of endemic species. Numerous grottos bored through its almost vertical faults, open valleys with underground drains, narrow rivers of fast waters, beautiful waterfalls and water jumps[..]
When Diego Velazquez, the governor, started conquering and colonizing Cuba, the first seven villages were founded in Cuba under his mandate. Santiago de Cuba was one of them, founded on July 25, 1515. Precisely on the corner of Cespedes Park in this city is located the stately house of the conqueror that settled the first Spanish colony in America. This year the "Land of the Sun" turns 495 years old. Santiago de Cuba is the second most important city in Cuba and it is well known worldwide for the hospitality always offered by its inhabitants and for its cultural and historical traditions. Around its geographical environment, the main liberating revolutions took place; and the main[..]
The western stretch of Pinar del Rio, and Cuba, is called Guanahacabibes, an indigenous name that has survived. Nowadays, the area is a Biosphere reserve National Park and is highly protected. Many are its charms, but its 14 virgin beaches are particularly attractive to tourists and sea turtles. Along with the turtles, there are another 670 species of flora and a huge variety of animals that call the area home. Guanahacabibes also gathers numerous archeological sites where evidences of a possible ritual burial were found. It's been called "El Camino del Sol" (The Path to the Sun) because of its geographical layout oriented to the West. It's an excavated path on limestone near the coast[..]
Historical Cuba Attractions - Guanabacoa
Guanabacoa, an aboriginal name that means higher palm grove, was founded with the name of Indian Town in 1554 southeast of the Havana Bay. Its first settlers were free aboriginal population or Cuban natives, but its population began to grow quickly with the settling of Spanish colonists who brought along their slaves, due to the fact that this village was intended for agriculture and cattle raising. The climate and the waters surrounding the village were reasons enough for the Havana aristocracy to decide to make their residence there some years later, building churches and mansions on its streets, each of those with a story to tell. As everlasting witnesses, some of these constructions[..]
Cuba City Guide - Remedios, the 8th Original...
Located in the center of the island, 9 kilometers from the Caibarién harbor and approximately 50 kilometers from Santa Clara, Remedios is a National Monument, rich in history and cultural traditions. Although the Village of San Juan de los Remedios was founded in 1578, the 8th village founded by the Spanish colonists, there are documents testifying that the first houses of the village were settled by 1515. By the beginning of the Colonial period Remedios was a victim of attacks from pirates and buccaneers, and as a result the town decided to move away from the coast more than once. It's a small city, with excellent buildings, beautiful promenades, lively parks, schools and monuments.[..]
Coastal Cities. Matanzas, the Athens of Cuba
In this city and its surroundings, it is recommended to take not only tours of the city sections between the rivers Yumurí and San Juan but also to do some cycling, bird watching and fluvial tours. Cycling: For those who take cycling seriously, a cycling tour in this area would ideally begin in Havana and end in Varadero. The optimal is to take the Via Blanca highway but not up to Matanzas City. Instead take a small road to the right about 5 km after the bridge over the Bacunayagua River and descend till the Yumurí Valley. Bird watching: The Yumurí Valley offers some good areas for bird watching, with best population density by the trees next to the heights that border the Valley.[..]
Havana Attractions - Cuba's National Botanical...
The National Botanical Garden of Cuba was founded in 1989 in the south part of Havana City with an extension of 600 hectares and which shows today around 4 thousand vegetable species. This Garden is part of the University of Havana, and its main goal is to promote the care of nature and the recognition of the vegetable world, especially, the autochthonous flora. It has been organized in several restricted areas with certain characteristics: plains of Palm trees, pine forests, Eastern humid forests, wilderness, Mogote vegetation (mogote is a rock formation typical from Pinar del Rio), coastal scrublands; and a sample of the tropical flora from Asia, Africa, The Americas and The Antilles,[..]
Cuba Architecture Guide - Colonial Influences
The term Cuban Colonial Architecture covers all the civil and military constructions built in Cuba from the 16th century to the end of the 19th century. The ancient cities in Cuba seduce the visitor with its mystery and the way they have survived time and natural disasters. The architecture from that period of time is marked by the use of columns, arcades, banisters, stained-glass windows, doors, and everything that necessity, good taste, and the weather allowed constructing. The best exponents of this architecture were built in Havana, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, and Santiago de Cuba. Spanish and Cubans thought alike and dedicated a great part of their wealth to demonstrate the[..]
Cuba, beauty in simplicity, a haven, a paradise, an experience. One of the largest Caribbean islands, Cuba is all you can dream of and a little more. Endless sandy beaches, captivating culture, old-age architecture, friendly locals, delicious cuisine, it is a place you would not want to leave. Cuba consists of the main island, the Isle of Youth and about 4,195 keys commonly known as cayos. It is 140 kilometers from the Bahamas and 180 kilometers from Florida. Cuba's 11,200,000 inhabitants predominantly speak Spanish. Journey with us as we take you down the alleys, past the favorite haunts and experience with us the true magic of this virgin holiday destination. Join us as we rediscover[..]
Cuba City Guide - Santi Spiritus - The Village...
Santi Spiritus City, approximately 640 miles east of Havana City, was founded in June, 1514 by Diego Velazquez, but in 1522 it was transferred to its current location on the banks of the Yayabo River while searching for economic improvements. With its church finished in 1680 after 60 years of construction, its bridge over the river finished by 1825, and its great increase in population the town was granted the title of Spanish City. Among its many attractions, the visitor can go to the old historical part of the village, where more than 2 thousand buildings with architectural value stand high and where different construction styles coincide: reminiscences of Spanish and regional Baroque[..]
Ten Destinations That You Should Reach in Cuba
Cuba is recognized as the largest island in the Caribbean Islands. It is further subdivided into three provinces; namely, the Western Cuba, the Central Cuba, and the Eastern Cuba. This is a wonderful country to visit as it has lots of beautiful places for visitors to explore as well as a very rich culture to share. Listed below are the popular tourist destinations in Cuba. 1.) Havana Havana is Cuba's capital city, and it is also one of the most popular tourist spots in the country as well as the world. Here, there are lots to see like the Museum of the Revolution as well as the Capital Building, and you should certainly visit the Havana Club Rum Factory as well as the Plaza de la[..]
Baracoa, meaning "high land", comes from the Taínos natives living in the surrounding mountains at the time Christopher Columbus discovered the island. The first village of the island, Baracoa was founded on August 15, 1511 by Diego Velázquez, the first Spanish governor of the island. In 1518 it was nominated a city, and it was also the first capital and bishopric in the island. Baracoa is not a big colonial city. Its charm stems from having preserved, throughout so many years, the essences of a provincial one-horse town, tied to the land and to some very pristine habits, not to mention the magnificence of its surrounding nature. Also present are more than 60 Taino archeological sites;[..]
The founding of Camaguey in central Cuba dates back to the early 1500's. Since that time, the city has seen a rich history, ranging from numerous pirate attacks, the construction of beautiful churches, Cuban independence fighters, and tinajones, the symbol of the city. Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe was the name given to the village once founded on the northern coast of the island one February 2nd, the day of our "Senora de la Candelaria", the patron saint of the village. However, the area chosen for the foundation was extremely arid and it was transferred to the shores of the Caonao River in 1516 and, after an uprising of aborigines, they definitively settled down between the[..]
The National Ballet of Cuba is one of the most prestigious dancing companies in the world. It was founded in 1948 under Alicia Alonso, its main creator and the first figure of the company. In 1950, the Alicia Alonso National School of Ballet was added to the professional company. From the very beginning, the artistic line followed was based on the respect for the romantic and classical traditions, stimulating at the same time the creative works of choreographers that wanted to look for the national and contemporary creation in their dances. With the Revolution of 1959, the company was reorganized and became the National Ballet of Cuba, and Alicia Alonso became the leading figure and main[..]
Cuba and Cane Sugar
Cane sugar has been known by humankind for several millennia before Christ due to its sweetness; according to descriptions of travellers to India, the inhabitants of the Indo Valley chewed the cane in order to obtain the juice of it some 500 years B.C. In Spain, the cane sugar made its entrance during the Moorish period, and Christopher Columbus included the cane among the animals and plants he brought during his third trip to the New World (August 30, 1498). Planted in the soft lands of Santo Domingo and due to the weather of the tropics, the sugar cane grew so fine as to produce the best of its sweetness. Already in 1506, Brother Bartholomew of las Casas made reference to the first[..]
La Isla de la Juventud (The Isle of Youth) is located to the South of Havana, a Little more than 100 kilometers from the Surgidero de Batabano (The emergence of Batabano). Stretching for around 2200 square kilometers, it's the largest of the 672 keys and islets that make up the the Archipelago of Los Canarreos. The island is rich in legends, adventures and traditions, and it's called the island of 1000 names because of the many nominations it has received throughout the years. Its capital, Nueva Gerona, was founded on December 17th, 1830, under the name of Queen Amalia, in honor of the then wife of King Fernando VII. The preserved architecture of the area is eclectic, with some[..]
Cuba Nature Travel - Las Terrazas Eco-Tourism
Just 60 Km from Havana, along the Western Highway, lies the natural paradise of Las Terrazas. The whole area is protected and you need to pay before entering. There is also an information desk with maps, guides, and you can even reserve several services being offered by the complex. Once inside, the first thing to admire is the impressive vegetation of pines, eucalyptus, cedar trees, and mahoganies more than 50 years old and 40 meters high. You may find it hard to believe, but this whole place was an area of semi-desert by the middle of the 20th century because of the deforestation that took place over more than 4 centuries. In 1968, they came up with a plan to reforest around 50 square[..]
La Isla de la Juventud (The Isle of Youth) is located to the South of Havana, a Little more than 100 kilometers from the Surgidero de Batabanó (The emergence of Batabanó). Stretching for around 2200 square kilometers, it's the largest of the 672 keys and islets that make up the the Archipelago of Los Canarreos. The island is rich in legends, adventures and traditions, and it's called the island of 1000 names because of the many nominations it has received throughout the years. Its capital, Nueva Gerona, was founded on December 17th, 1830, under the name of Queen Amalia, in honor of the then wife of King Fernando VII. The preserved architecture of the area is eclectic, with some[..]