NEW YORK

Country: USA
Capital: Albany

16th century:
- it was inhabited by Native Americans at the time of its discovery by Europeans (with
Giovanni da Verrazzano)
- Henry Hudson, an english navigator working for Dutch, sailed up the river that bears his
name and described the island that the Indians called Man-a-hat-ta (heavenly land)
- European settlement began with the founding of a Dutch fur trading post, later called “New
Amsterdam” (first name) in 1624, an it becomes the British colony of NY in the 1670s

19th century:
- the city was transformed by immigrationn and development
- In 1904, the opening of subway helped bind the new city together

20th century:
- The first half of the century, the city became a world centre of industry and commerce
- New York had become the city we know today

Early 1920s, NY become the most populated urbanised area in the world
Early 1930s, became the first megacity in human history

The population today, about 8.5 million New Yorkers live in the five boroughs: more than one third
are of various ethnic groups and have adopted a common culture, which has given the city of
nickname of “melting pot” (indicates what type of society people living in)

5 boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

- Most of the things tourists would like to see on their first visit to New York are in
Manhattan.
- The most iconic symbol of New York
- This monument, located at the entrance to New York Harbour, has welcomed countless
immigrants.
- The 93-metre high statue stands on a pedestal set within the walls of an old army fort.
- In one hand Liberty holds a torch while in the other is a book inscribed July 4, 1776. The
rays of its crown represent the seven seas and seven continents.
- Groups of 10 people at a time can climb up to the crown. The best way to get a really good
view of the statue is to go on a boat tour around the harbour.
- Nearby Ellis Island was, for years, the main immigration station where immigrants had to go
to be processed before they could enter the United States.
- The site today houses the three-storey Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
- There is no other place where the 'melting pot' that formed the character of the nation is
better explained.
9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
- The city was one of the sites of the September 11, 2001 attacks, when nearly 3000 people
died in the destruction of the World Trade Center.
- A new World Trade Center, designed by Santiago Calatrava, has been built on Ground
Zero. The Memorial opened to the public in September 2011.
- Its focus is two large pools with cascading waterfalls set in the footprints of the north and
south towers.
- Bronze parapets surrounding the pools are inscribed with the names of those killed in the
attacks.
- A museum pays reverent homage to those who died in the destruction of the Twin Towers
and at the same time recognises the thousands who survived and all who showed
extraordinary courage in the aftermath of the catastrophe.

THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

- rivals the Statue of Liberty as an emblem of the city.
- The tallest building in the world for over forty years, and currently the tallest building in New
York
- Is an Art Deco classic with excellent views of the city from the observation decks on the
86th and 102nd floors.
- Construction began in 1930 not long after the stock market crash, and by the time it opened
in 1931, commercial and residential space was so difficult to rent that it was nicknamed the
Empty State Building.
- Only the immediate popularity of the observation decks saved the building from bankruptcy.

ROCKFELLER CENTER
- A National Historic Landmark, was built in the 1930s and five new structures have been
added to the original fourteen Art Deco buildings.
- It is often referred to as a city within a city because it was the first project to combine retail,
entertainment and office space.
- The views from the open-air observation deck of the 'Top of the Rock' are absolutely
stunning; on a clear day you can see quite a distance across the river into New Jersey.
- In winter, the ground floor outdoor space is crowded with ice skaters.

THE FLATIRON BUILDING

- At the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23" Street, you can find the famous 1902
Flatiron Building with its distinctive triangular shape, similar to the flat metal base of an iron.
- It was New York's first iron-frame skyscraper and the world's tallest building until 1909.

CENTRAL PARK
- Is the most distinctive landmark of Upper Manhattan.
- The park splits Manhattan into two halves and provides green space and recreational
opportunities for residents and visitors.
- One of the most popular tourist activities is to rent a horse-drawn carriage or hop into a
pedicab.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
- situated on the eastern side of Central Park, over five million visitors a year is New York's
most popular single-site tourist attraction.
- The Met houses treasures that span 5000 years of culture from all over the world.
- Over two million works of art are held in the Met. It is one of the world's largest art galleries
and rooms not to be missed include Egyptian art, American paintings, European paintings,
Modern art, Greek and Roman art.

NEIGHBOURHOODS
- There are various parts of NYC where people of different nations have settled.
- Chinatown is home to the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Visiting Chinatown
is a feast for the senses because of the blend of Chinese, Cantonese and Vietnamese
customs. Little Italy the Italian district, is constantly shrinking.
- Harlem is located north of Central Park and almost entirely inhabited by Afro-Americans
and Puerto Ricans. The poorest of the Manhattan districts, Harlem has attractive streets
and is rich in diverse cultural activities.
- West (Greenwich) Village known by most visitors as Greenwich Village is home to many
writers and artists. This popular neighbourhood is the birthplace of the gay-rights movement
as well as the former home of Beat poets and well-known artists.

WHAT TO DO
Shopping
- New York is a shopper's paradise, with beautiful displays in shop windows and a surprising
variety of goods for sale. Everything from fashionable boutiques to cut-price computers can
be found in Manhattan.
- Among the city's department stores Bloomingdale's and Macy's or Barneys are
exceptional and world-famous.
- Fifth Avenue, with its high-class reputation, has been immortalised in films and songs and
extends from West 143rd Street in Harlem to Washington Square Park.
- Along this stretch you will find a range of famous stores that have made Fifth Avenue
synonymous with luxury goods throughout the world.

Special events
- There is never a dull moment in New York. Located in midtown Manhattan is St. Patrick's
Cathedral, New York's finest Gothic Revival building and the largest Catholic cathedral in
the United States.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade in March is a celebration that expresses New York City's strong
Irish heritage.
- In summer there are several outdoor events, such as the US Open Tennis Championships
at Flushing Meadows where professional tennis players from all over the world compete in
a Grand Slam Tournament.
- Street festivals are the norm for community celebrations of the Fourth of July
(Independence Day).
- The Christmas shopping season kicks off with the annual extravaganza of massive
inflatable figures in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
- The Chinese New Year parade takes place in January.
Entertainment
- There are few images more universally iconic than the glittering orb dropping from Times
Square on New Year's Eve.
- Times Square hosts the productions of Broadway, famous as New York's official Theater
District, with dozens of Broadway and off-Broadway theatres.
- Tourists are amazed by the choice of music in New York as you can find everything, from
jazz to hip-hop, from opera to rock. The nightlife is legendary!

SAN FRANCISCO
Country: United States
State: California
Named after: Saint Francis of Assisi

In 1776, colonists from Spain established a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named St.
Francis of Assisi on the site.

The California Gold Rush of 1849 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth, increasing the
population and transforming it into the largest city on the West Coast at the time. After
three-quarters of the city was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was
rebuilt, hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition nine years later.

Today, San Francisco is the major seaport of the Pacific coast and one of the world's most beautiful
cities. Its mild climate, exciting scenery, fine restaurants and unconventional places to visit give the
city a special charm.
San Francisco is also renowned for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, cable cars and an
eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture.

The metropolitan area of San Francisco includes nine counties:

- San Francisco and San Mateo counties cover the southern peninsula.
- San Jose blends the technology of Silicon Valley with fine museums and Spanish colonial
architecture.
- Marin County, with its abundant wildlife
- Muir Woods, a forest of giant redwoods, is on the northern peninsula.
- On the eastern shore of the bay are Contra Coast, Solano, Santa Clara and Alameda
counties. On the northern part of the bay are Sonoma and Napa counties.

WHAT TO SEE
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
- One of the most important landmarks and perhaps the most iconic symbol of San Francisco
is the Golden Gate Bridge. It was opened in 1937 and connects the city with Marin County.
- This world-famous landmark offers breathtaking views.
- The bridge has six lanes for vehicles plus a free pedestrian walkway.
- Ships pass in and out of the bay beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world's largest
suspension bridges.
- The term 'Golden Gate' actually refers to the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to
San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
- It is generally accepted that the strait was named Golden Gate by John Fremont, around
1846. It is said it reminded him of a harbour in Istanbul named Golden Horn.
FISHERMAN’S WHARF
- This is the historic waterfront where fishermen have been mooring their boats for several
generations.
- Today, Fisherman's Wharf is the top tourist destination in the city, offering seafood
restaurants, shops, museums and great views. Ferries to Alcatraz or boat trips across the
bay can also be taken from the nearby piers.

PIER 39
- A tourist area along the waterfront is the Wharf's hub, offering views of Bay Bridge and
Alcatraz.
- Pier 39 has opportunities for shopping, dinings out, and entertainment.
- Californian sea lions can often be seen basking in the sun at the marina of Pier 39.

ALCATRAZ
- is an island located off the coast of the San Francisco peninsula.
- Alcatraz means “pelican” in Spanish and refers to the first inhabitants of this rocky island.
- In 1859 the US Army established a fort here that guarded San Francisco Bay until 1907
when the fort became a military prison.
- From 1934 to 1963 it served as a maximum-security federal penitentiary.
- Named “The Rock” by prisoners, it housed some of the most infamous criminals like Al
Capone.
- Though the prison is now closed, it can be visited as part of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area which offers gardens, tide pools, bird colonies and breathtaking bay views.

NOB HILL
- It is the highest summit of the city itself, rising 103 m above the bay.
- It is San Francisco's most celebrated hilltop, famous for its cable cars, plush hotels and
views.
- The name 'Nob Hill' is thought to have come from the Indian word Nabob, meaning
chieftain

LOMBARD STREET
- is a principal arterial road that is co-signed as US Route 101.
- It is best known for the one-way section on Russian Hill where the roadway has eight sharp
switchbacks or turns which have earned the sorer the distinction of being the 'crookedest
street in the world.
- The crooked section of the street, which is about 400 m long, is reserved for one-way traffic
travelling downhill and is paved with red bricks.
- The speed limit in this section is 8 km/h. The sight of cars manoeuvring down the winding
road has become a popular tourist attraction.
- The best thing to do is to leave the car at the parking lot and take the cable car which stops
at the top. The quarter-mile block is lined with beautiful houses with lush gardens.
NORTH BEACH
- is a neighbourhood in the northeast of San Francisco adjacent to Chinatown, Fisherman's
Wharf and Russian Hill.
- It is also known as 'Little Italy', because it has historically been home to a large
Italo-American population.
- In the 1960s it attracted bohemians and writers, including the leading representative of the
Beat Generation', Jack Kerouac. Today, North Beach is one of San Francisco's red-light
and nightlife districts as well as a residential area.

THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT

- the business heart of the city is an area of skyscrapers, dominated by the elegant
Transamerica Pyramid.
- Capped with a spire on top of its 48 storeys, it is the second-tallest building in the city.
- Designed by William Pereira, it was finished in 1972.)

HAIGHT-ASHBURY
- is a district named for the intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets.
- The street names commemorate two early San Francisco leaders.
- The district stretches from Buena Vista to Golden Gate Park and was the centre of the
Hippy world in the 1960s. Originally a quiet, middle-class suburb it changed dramatically
into one of the most unconventional places in San Francisco when in 1967 it became the
focus of a worldwide youth culture in search of free love, music and drugs.
- The area still maintains its bohemian ambience and the neighbourhood remains a thriving
centre of independent local businesses.
- It is home to a number of restaurants and bars, as well as clothing boutiques, booksellers
and record stores.
- One of its most interesting social and artistic aspects is the cohabitation of different cultures
such as New Age, punk, rock, political and computerised cultures. The neighbourhood is
home to many restored Victorian houses.

GOLDEN GATE PARK

- with more than a thousand acres of woods and lakes, extends from the Pacific shore to the
centre of the city.
- It has miles of bridle paths for horseriders and two stadiums for athletic events. It also has
an amazing science museum, the California Academy of Sciences.
- Designed by Renzo Piano, the building houses an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest
and other great displays.
- Right across from the Science Museum is the de Young Museum, which offers a
permanent collection of American art from the 17th to the 20th centuries as well as works
from nearly 30 countries.
- And not far from here you will find the old wooden Conservatory of Flowers, one of the first
buildings in the park.

THE PRESIDIO
- to the north of Golden Gate Park, overlooks San Francisco Bay.
- Originally a Spanish army post, then a military base for many years, in 1994 it became a
national park with many hiking trails, bike paths and beaches.
- The Presidio Museum houses artefacts relating the long history of the Presidio.
WHAT TO DO
San Francisco is diverse and multicultural, with a long history of immigration. With its many
neighbourhoods, rich with cultural influences, including Chinatown, Little Italy in North Beach,
and Japantown, San Francisco has a plethora of things to do for visitors and residents alike,
including cultural events and a wide variety of food.

Shopping
- From luxury boutiques to funky specialty stores, shopping in San Francisco is a 'complete
experience that allows a glimpse into the city's culture.
- Huge retail department stores such as Macy's and Neiman Marcus offer an outstanding
selection of goods and services.
- The city is home to the famous Levi Strauss & Co., which has been making jeans since
1853.
- The city has an abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetable outlets, while seafood and
wines from the Napa Valley Winery Exchange figure among the city's best buys.

Entertainment
- San Francisco offers visitors an unending variety of high-quality entertainment: films, plays
and shows. During the San Francisco Opera season, which runs from September to
December, you can enjoy many concerts and ballets. Rock clubs and places to hear live
jazz and blues are also very popular.
- And there is a summer Shakespeare Festival, which is held in the Presidio.

WHAT TO EAT
Of all the states in the country, California has perhaps the widest variety of places to eat. California
cuisine, light food prepared using locally grown ingredients, is now internationally recognised. The
large variety of ethnic cuisines reflect the state's many cultures. In seafood restaurants, the famous
San Francisco sourdough along with clam chowder is recommended to tourists. Chinatown offers
places where you can experience some good Chinese food.