Montenegro is one of the gems of Eastern Europe. Since ancient times it has always existed under one name or another that translated to “Black Mountain”. Filled with stunning scenery and several nature reserves and natural history sites there are an endless number of things to see scattered throughout Montenegro. These combine to make Montenegro a wonderful spot to head whether you are wanting to go to Europe for camping and hiking or you want to learn first hand about Montenegro’s history . If you love ancient architecture you won’t be left out as there are monasteries and even the remains of ancient Roman cities nestled into picturesque views.

Podgorica , the capital city of Montenegro, is located about 9 miles north of Lake Skadar. Meaning “under the Gorica” or “under the little hill” in the Montenegrin. The city is built around five rivers that flow through the region and is the commerce center of the country. Podgorica is filled with cultural sites from museums of art and natural history to bustling shops and even religious monuments. there are even ruins and remnants of ancient cities only a few miles outside city limits. Odds are you won’t want to dedicate your first trip to Montenegro with just one city so it’s a good thing this is also a major transit hub with many connections to other cities.

Skadar Lake, also spelled Scadar or Scutari, is a popular vacation spot. Skadar is surrounded by many picturesque villages whose architecture has been preserved for centuries. Whether you decide to sped the night in one of these wonderful villages or prefer to stay at a hotel in Montenegro ’s equally lovely cities you’ll have a hard time peeling yourself away from this beautiful landscape. Swimming is a popular pastime since the warm waters of Skadar are ideal for it and other water sports and surrounded by beaches for those wanting to relax ans sunbathe though the only sand beach on the shore of Skadar lake is in Murice, near the Albania border. One of the most popular beaches on this lake is only available by sea, at the heart of the lake is a hidden beach called Pjesacac; frequented by cruises on the lake and if you get a good tour agent you may even be able to book a room near this beach.

Located just north of Podgorica, for those who like visiting ancient ruins and historical sites is Doclea . Founded in 1st century AD by the Romans and demolished about 620 AD by the Ostrogoths, the ruins of Doclea still lay scattered. Doclea was the Roman capital of the region and as such was actually quite a large city one can still find remainders of a triumphal arch, three temples, a city bathroom, and a monumental housing palace. There is even a pre-Roman church and the remains of two early Christian basilicas.

Summer is approaching and there’s no better way to cool off than going to Miami Beach, Florida. There are hundreds of Miami Beach Hotels just waiting to give you the best deals in town and the greatest accommodations. Many of the hotels are located in the Art-Deco Historic District. These vibrant, colorful buildings were built between the years of 1923 to 1943 and represent an era when Miami was heavily promoted as ‘the tropical playground’ for the rich and famous.

When you arrive to Miami Beach, the Art-Deco, besides South Beach, will capture your heart and imagination. Curvaceous, colorful designs of pastel stucco and glowing neon, will bring you back to a time when frivolity and playfulness mixed with futuristic looks of sleek streamlined designs, spires on top that look like old science fiction Buck Rogers space vessels, portholes, flaunted eyebrows and rounded corners were and still are the highlights and beauty of Miami Beach; where Turquoise, peach, and island sunsets are the colors on the palette and whimsy presides at every corner.

If you get a chance, take the Miami Beach Art-Deco walking tour; you’ll get to see the best Art-Deco structures and learn about their history, like the Post Office located on 13th Street and Washington. This structure was built in the ‘Strip Classic’ Art-Deco Design, also known as the Depression Moderne. Inside the Post Office you’ll get to see a famous WPA mural by Charles Hardman depicting Ponce de Leon’s invasion of Florida. Old City Hall, not to far from the Post Office, was destroyed by a hurricane back in 1926, but reconstructed in the Mediterranean Neo-Classical design. The new City Hall building is larger and located on Convention Center Drive, but it’s design is not as note-worthy as the Old City Hall. Too bad, Art-Deco fell out of favor in the post-war period, but at least there will always be plenty of these fabulously wonderful buildings in Miami Beach.

The charm of Positano, Italy, lying in tiers along the mountainside, is immediately apparent. With a choice of at least 32 places to spend the night , you’ll be able to soak in that charm at your leisure, with fantastic views of the town, beaches, and sea.

A short distance away, you’ll also find a series of islands, including the Isle of Capri. It’s a simple trip from Positano aboard a Capri Boat Tour to explore this island that rises out of the blue Mediterranean waters. You’ll discover here the Faraglioni rocks and the internationally known Blue Grotto (“La Grotta Azzurra”).

The Faraglioni rocks are three gigantic blocks which have managed to survive erosion by the sea and coastal landslides The rocks are known as Stella, Faraglione di Mezzo and Faraglione di Fuori, each rock stretching farther out into the sea than the one before it. The last rock is the home of a famous species of blue tinted lizard known as the Lacerta viridens faraglionensis, and this is the only spot in the world in which this lizard might be found. Evolution seems to have been at play when the lizards were separated from the mainland and adapted over time to create scales which mirrored the blue tones of both the sky and the sea.

The Blue Grotto was first described in 1826 but was used by the Romans well before that time, the evidence of which are antique statues found inside the Grotto. The place consists of a natural cavern with which sunlight pours in at one side, to illuminate the blue water. An ancient landing site has been discovered here, along with the Roman statues. The Blue Grotto can be reached via motorboat, and today tourists enter the cave by lying on the bottom of the boat as it’s rowed inside. Because of the tight enclosure of the Grotto, it’s inadvisable to visit during bad weather. For years, long before it became a destination spot, the Grotto, known to the locals as Grandola, was a place to avoid because it was supposed to be the home of witches and monsters. Apparently, the Romans before had no such problems.

Whether you decide to venture out to the Isle of Capri or stay in Positano and enjoy the view from your hotel, you should have an excellent time in this enchanting place.

Mexico City’s Historic Center is the most popular tourist attraction of this Megalopolis. The Historic Center is the roots of Mexico’s capital, it’s a plaza that occupies the original area with which the Aztecs aligned in accordance to the 4 cardinal points. Later, the Spanish retraced this core area in a checker board pattern, then it became an aristocratic metropolis and eventually has transformed into the microcosm of modernity that it is today.

Visitors will find the Historic Center to be a place of contradictions, a boisterous place, a lively place and a place that will stir-up a sense of history, intrigue and excitement. There are hundreds of Mexico City hotels within walking distance of the Historic Center, which gives a great opportunity to see up-close and personal the architecture of pink sandstone and red tezontle rock; to feel its rhythm, to walk under wrought-iron balconies; and to experience the Mexican culture and lifestyle. The Mexico Cathedral is a prominent tourist destination when at the Historic Center; its imposing and penetrating sun-bathed neoclassical, baroque facade can’t be missed and is a sight to behold, but make a note, the Cathedral is under constant restoration due to it being built on soft clay subsoil, excessive water exploitation, which is causing the structure to gradually sink and continuously move throughout the years.

There are 4 sectors or neighborhoods of the Historic Center: Santa Maria, San Sebastian, San Pablo and San Juan. These are the 4 Aztec cardinal points and are named after national heroes, saints, events and they all converge at the Zocalo , which is a massive concrete area with a giant flag, cafes and shops. There’s also an underground station at Zocalo plaza, where there is an excellent historical reproduction of the Square Artifacts that were unearthed from the ruins of a Mexican temple. The artifacts can be seen at the Templo Mayor’s museum, which is located adjacent to the station.

After checking out the Zocalo, take a walk to the east side of the plaza and stroll through the Palacio Nacional, which is a group of buildings used by the Viceroyalty. The interior has many patios, a stairway graced by murals done by Diego Rivera and beautiful corridors all representing Mexico’s colorful history.