The United States Military Academy at West Point

30 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Universities, Colleges, Academies Reading Time:  8 minutes

West Point - Aerial view © USMA Public Affairs Office

West Point - Aerial view © USMA Public Affairs Office

The United States Military Academy at West Point (also known as USMA, West Point or Army) is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. The entire central campus is a national landmark and home to scores of historic sites, buildings, and monuments. The majority of the campus’s neogothic buildings are constructed from gray and black granite. The campus is a popular tourist destination complete with a large visitor center and the oldest museum in the United States Army.   read more…

Odense on Funen

30 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Inner Harbour flats © Kåre Thor Olsen

Inner Harbour flats © Kåre Thor Olsen

The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark. Odense City has a population of 169,000 and is the main city of the island of Funen. The city is the seat of Odense Municipality, with a population of 192,000, and was the seat of Odense County until 1970, and Funen County from 1970 until 1 January 2007, when Funen County became part of the Region of Southern Denmark.   read more…

Fredrikstad in the Østfold province

29 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Old town © visitnorway.com

Old town © visitnorway.com

Fredrikstad (literally Fredrik’s Town) is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad.   read more…

Recommended reading: “Managing Your Boss: Specifications”

29 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  2 minutes

This book provides valuable insight and practical tips through case studies and examples based on real life experiences of middle and senior managers. While endless material (books, training workshops, seminars and studies) is churned out on leaderships skills, followership, the art of working effectively and harmoniously with superiors is underestimated. Valuable time and energy are spent (at the office water-cooler or family dinner-table) in crying, “Why can’t my boss be like me/like my ex-boss – more appreciative; more enterprising more considerate; more communicative; less rigid…” (the list is endless).   read more…

Exeter in Devon

28 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Exeter Cathedral © flickr.com - Charles Miller

Exeter Cathedral © flickr.com – Charles Miller

Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the County Council. The city is on the River Exe, about 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Plymouth, and 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Bristol. According to the 2001 Census, its population in that year was 111,076, while the mid-2010 estimate was 119,600. Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain. Its Exeter Cathedral, founded in the early 12th century, became Anglican at the time of the 16th century Reformation.   read more…

The city of Hong Kong

27 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  44 minutes

© Mbaeckmann / Thomas doerfer

© Mbaeckmann / Thomas doerfer

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People’s Republic of China, the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China’s south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong’s population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups. Hong Kong’s Han Chinese majority originate mainly from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.   read more…

Ulm on the Danube

27 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

© Cholo Aleman

© Cholo Aleman

Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 (2006), forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and traditions as a former Free Imperial City (German: freie Reichsstadt). Today, it is an economic centre due to its varied industries, and it is the seat of a university (University of Ulm, founded in 1967). Internationally, Ulm is primarily known for having the church with the tallest steeple in the world, the Gothic minster (Ulm Minster) and as the birthplace of Albert Einstein.   read more…

The Hanseatic city of Salzwedel

26 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Houses on the Jeetze © Schiwago

Houses on the Jeetze © Schiwago

Salzwedel, officially known as Hansestadt Salzwedel, is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salzwedel is located on the German Timber-Frame Road. Salzwedel is situated at the Jeetze River in the northwestern part of the Altmark. It is located between Hamburg and Magdeburg. The delicacies of the town are Baumkuchen, Salzwedeler (Altmärker) Wedding-Soup and Tiegelbraten (mutton).   read more…

The port city of Cartagena in Colombia

25 June 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  9 minutes

Colonial street © Cbrough

Colonial street © Cbrough

Cartagena de Indias is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department. The city had a population of 892,545 as of the 2005 census, making it the fifth-largest city in Colombia and giving the Cartagena urban area the status of fifth-largest urban area in Colombia. Cartagena is a centre of economic activity in the Caribbean, as well a popular tourist destination. Activity and development of the Cartagena region is dated back to 4000 B.C. around Cartagena Bay by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. The Spanish colonial city was founded on June 1, 1533 and named after Cartagena, Spain. Cartagena served a key role in the development of the region during the Spanish eras; it was a center of political and economic activity due to the presence of royalty and wealthy viceroys. In 1984, Cartagena’s colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   read more…

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