Fantastic Fort Worth

One of the most unique places in the state of Texas is the city of Fort Worth. I have been huge cities and tiny towns all over this great state and have not found any other place that is like Fort Worth.

Fort Worth has a city limit population of 700 thousand and a metropolitan population over 6 million. Yet, when you are there it feels like the city is nowhere near that big. There are many residential districts that draw in the aristocracy but, everyone there still seems to be nice. Many students go to the esteemed Texas Christian University located in Fort Worth. In downtown Sundance Square offers the feeling of being in a big east coast city. In Sundance Square there are many modern restaurants and high rise buildings. Another attraction to this city is the nice botanical gardens and professional zoo.

But the most interesting part of Fort Worth is referred to as the “Stockyards.” The streets are red brick and many of the shops are located right off the main street. You feel as if you live in the old west and are fixing to head out on a cattle drive. Twice a day real cowboys drive long horned cattle down Main Street, many tourists watch this daily occurrence. There are many shops that specialize in selling western boots, saddles, western jewelry, and Texas Country music. The restaurants are always packed. People come from all over the world to try steaks from Cattleman’s and H-3. The Love Shack is a restaurant that serves burgers, fries and milk shakes. The Love Shack is located outside and offers only outdoor seating. This is my favorite place to eat in the stockyards. You can have a great burger, a thick cold milkshake, and watch everyone having a good time off the balcony as you eat. Another well recognized and good restaurant is Risckey’s BBQ which has been in Fort Worth since 1927. There is never a time that live country music cannot be heard in the stockyards. Small bars hold concerts for upcoming artists such as the Jeremy Martin Band or Scott Copeland. Then there is “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk” called Billy Bob’s Texas. Billy Bobs is a huge venue that can hold 5,000 people. Mostly famous country acts perform on Billy Bob’s stage, but I have seen Hootie and Blowfish and ZZ top there as well. There is also bull riding on every weekend night at Billy Bob's.
If you are ever near Fort Worth, Texas I highly recommend spending the night and experiencing the stockyards for yourself. There is no other place like it and I guarantee you will enjoy your time there. Once you go it’s in your blood and you will have to go again!

Tel Aviv

This is the city referred to as the jewel of the Middle East. With a population of over three million this city is the second largest in the region. The city that people come from all over the world to visit is Tel Aviv, Israel.

This glorious city was founded in 1909 on the outskirts of the ancient port city of Jaffa. Artifacts discovered in Jaffa date back to back to 2000 B.C. subsequently, there are many historical sites that can be visited. In April of 1949 Tel Aviv and Jaffa were combined to create the formal municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo. A very popular beach in Old Jaffa is Givat Aliya Beach, it is a very beautiful beach. The water there is very rough and rocks line the beach but its beauty is so majestic it draws visitors despite being difficult to swim near. This beach is often used as a setting for weddings and romantic dates. Of course the port itself is what attracts many visitors to Jaffa. You can stand were so many people have stood waiting for the joys that sailors brought with them. This port is the oldest still functioning port in the entire world. Many people go to the pier to purchase the day’s fresh catch from local fisherman. There are also small restaurants and art galleries located off the narrow cobblestone streets.

Tel Aviv is a city filled with sky scrapers and very modern architecture. It is very busy, modern, and metropolitan. Many of the neighbor hoods are toured; just because for many outsiders it is shocking to see how nice the Mediterranean cottages that line the streets are. Then there are the high rise hotels and resorts that attract the many of the tourists. Most hotels are line along the multiple beautiful beaches that Tel Aviv has. The most luxurious beaches in Tel Aviv are Hatzok and Tel Baruch, both require attendance fees. Tel Aviv is said to have some of the most beautiful women in the world with many modeling for large companies. There are also markets, parks, theaters, and shops for those who are not interested in being on the beach. To get a great bird’s eye view of the city, you will want to visit the Azrieli Observatory. It is located on the top floor of Tel Aviv’s tallest building, which is 49 floors. There are guides which point out main attractions in the city below.

Tel Aviv is a city that can appeal to the metropolitan person and the one who appreciates the outdoors.

Jamaica

There is a small island in the Caribbean that is one of the most popular countries and vacation destinations in the world. Though it is roughly the size of Connecticut, Jamaica still has a diverse landscape and offers many attractions to tourists.

The culture of Jamaica is very diverse due to the great amount of immigrants that moved there in order to try and find a better life. The most popular races represented are Africa Nations, Americans, English, Irish, Spanish, German, Indian, and Chinese. The African race if represented by the faces of people nine out of ten Jamaicans are black. African culture has also made a mark in the art, religion, and customs. The Spanish, English, German, and Irish influences can be seen in language, architecture, names, and governmental systems. Chinese and Indian influences are mostly represented through the food of Jamaica. So, if you travelled to Jamaica you could easily feel at home and not alienated from the inhabitants of the country. Commerce in local markets selling items such as shirts, food, crafts, and memorabilia and be made easy by Jamaica sharing the same language as America.

The most popular of destinations would have to be the gorgeous beaches that Jamaica has. There are even a variety of beaches on this tiny island. There is white sand to dark sand beaches, rocky beaches, coves, and some beaches even have waterfalls flowing onto them. The most popular beach is referred to as Dunn’s Beach or Dunn’s River Falls. This beach is located on the northern part of the island near Ocho Rios. There are tons and tons of natural mineral springs that are said to have healing powers. There are also many caves that can be toured and explored. Visiting waterfalls is also another natural wonder that can be appreciated in Jamaica. Most waterfalls are monitored by staff for safety reasons. You can swim in the pools created by the waterfalls, cliff jump, and cane dive at many of the waterfalls located on the island.
To experience a little more of the culture you can take a tour of places where pirates hung out and where slaves hid when they ran away. Jamaica also has a prominent night life. There are a great amount of night clubs where Jamaican dance and music can be experienced.

There are some fancy restaurants on the island where they serve the generic upscale dinner. To experience the best food you must go out into a local market and sample the street vendor’s food. There is an assortment of food served by street vendors; commonly served dishes are Jerk Chicken, Curried Goat, and peppered shrimp. Jerk is the most popular of these dishes. It is a spicy dish prepared a variety of ways depending on the region you are in, much like the way BBQ is treated in the U.S.A. Though it can be prepared different the key ingredients in all jerk prepared meats include, thyme, onions, pimentos and Scotch Bonnet pepper. Jerk is often served with a side of yams, sweet potatoes, or bread. Due to the spiciness of the food, Jerk is served with a Red Stripe Beer of coconut milk.
So if you are looking to really be integrated into the culture and customs of the destination you are visiting Jamaica presents a great opportunity to do that.

Incerdible Ireland

Although it is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland would be a great place to visit. The country has a total population in the neighborhood of six million people. Most of the people there are Roman Catholic, Methodist, or Anglican. The industrial and more populated area of Ireland is along the eastern coast, with large cities being Belfast, Cork, and Dublin.
There are many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed on Ireland’s beautiful landscape. If you enjoy equestrian sports anyone who visits Belfast; Down Royal Racecourse draws in equine admirers’ year after. This course has been holding races since the late 1600’s. There are hundreds of beautiful golf courses that dot Ireland’s rolling green hills. You can enjoy a round of golf at The Curragh Golf Club, which has been open since the late 1800’s. There are also many opportunities to cycle, fish, trail walk, rock climb, horse riding, sailing, off-road driving, and recreation shooting. Ireland has a plethora of outdoor activities to be appreciated.

Though Ireland is appealing to the outdoors man, if you have a little more modern taste Ireland can satisfy those desires as well. The city of Dublin has many chic designer shops and boutiques for the people who enjoy shopping for modern clothes. Dublin also has the Abbey Theatre which features Ireland’s most famous playwright’s works. Seeing that pubs are a very popular social destination for locals and tourists, many pubs are tourist destination. Pubs represent much of what Ireland’s culture is like. The most frequently visited pubs in Ireland are DeBarra’s located in Cork and The Stag’s Head located in Dublin. Ireland’s culture is family oriented and laid back. Another famous tourist destination that can be visited is the Guinness Brewery. Guinness is Ireland’s most popular beer; it has been brewing since 1759.

St. Patrick’s Day is the most widely celebrated holiday in the country. This holiday of Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and green beer serve as another reason to visit Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th to mark the day of holy obligation for Irish Roman Catholics. Dublin holds the largest St. Patrick’s Day which draws over half a million people during the five day festival.

Beautiful Brazil

One of the places my heart desires to go the most is a place south of the equator. This is a place of uncharted jungle to some of the most densely populated regions on planet earth. It is a land that is mysterious yet technologically advanced. The beautiful and amazing place that everyone needs to know about is the country of Brazil.
The majority of the country’s population is concentrated along the coast. These cities are huge urban areas the most popular cities are Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Rio de Janeiro is a very popular travel destination not to mention that it has a population over 7 million people. It is a very fun city with prominent arts and nightlife fueling the fun and lighthearted atmosphere of the city. The geography city of this huge urban area is like nothing here in the United States. Rio is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean allowing it to have white sand beaches but, if you turn around you will be astounded to see the cliffs, thousands, of feet tall, that tower over the city. It is said that you can go 15 minuets out of the city and feel as if you are lost in an uninhabited jungle. All of these features are a main reason why the 2016 Olympics are going to be held in this city.

If you would like to get out of the shadows of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo you can head to the smaller port of Recife. Recife is a fishing village with architecture that is less modern. Many people that live here make a life out of being fishermen or working jobs, working in the port, or being seamen. For the people who want get really adventurous there is tons of jungle to be explored. Not to mention that the world’s most important freshwater river, The Amazon, cuts its way through Brazil’s landscape. Coming in at over 4000 miles long and up to 11 miles wide at some points the Amazon makes for a popular destination for people who appreciate the power of Mother Nature.