Jerusalem is the city were the conversation of religion has the most expression. Many faiths are present in the city and it gives and opportunity, if taken, to see what the different religious faiths believe. How are the faiths the same and how are they different. People come and fill the hotel rooms every year to find out more about the religious world we live in.

Islam has a strong presence in Jerusalem. There is a beautiful museum filled with the impressive art and craft called the Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem . The collection there will open peoples eyes to the fact that the Swiss are not the only ones who make amazing clocks and watches. The Islamic community have very stylish and well crafted watches and clocks on display in this Jerusalem museum.

There are also some beautiful collections of archeological finds that have been restored and put on display. The jewelers also have their collections shared that come from all areas of the Empire. See how the people express themselves in everyday things such as embroidered rugs, chessboards and pieces, calligraphy, home decor and even some old playing cards.

Islamic Museum In Jerusalem is a post from: Zoocap

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Over twenty years ago, a crime was committed in a Turkish-occupied section of Cyprus. Thieves broke into a chapel near Lysi and and stole 13th century masterworks, tearing out a dome and an apse, cutting them into pieces and smuggling them off the island, planning to sell them piece by piece. With the approval of the Church of Cyprus, the rightful owners of the frescoes, the Menil Foundation in Houston, Texas, purchased the 38 fragments from the thieves and then restored them over a two-year period, constructing the Byzantine Fresco Chapel in which to house and display these works of art.

Free to everyone, the chapel opened in February 1997, where, for the last 13 years, visitors have been able to view the only intact frescoes in the western hemisphere, let alone in the United States.

The work includes a dome depicting Christ Pantocrator — “pantocrator” is a term more commonly understood in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic church, and rarely used in Western Roman Catholicism; it means variously “Almighty” or “All-powerful,” literally, “Ruler of All,” and more generally as “sustainer of the world” — and an apse that depicts the Virgin Mary, the Panayia — “panayia” is another title for the Virgin Mayor in Eastern Orthodoxy, suggesting an image where the Virgin Mary faces the viewer.

The chapel itself is about a 4,000 square foot space, a 4 million dollar building made of stone, glass and wood that was designed by architect Francois de Menil, the son of philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil. The intent was to create a space that could work both as an art museum and as a spiritual place. You’ll find this unique chapel and these frescoes in the museum district, near the best hotels in Houston , at 4011 Yupon Street and Branard Street. The chapel is open from eleven in the morning to six in the afternoon, from Wednesdays through Sundays.

The Byzantine Fresco Chapel in Houston is a post from: Zoocap

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Cape Girardeau is one of the historic cities of Missouri that continues to represent a great deal of its history not only in its cultural traditions but also in many of the local buildings. The downtown area retains many of its early buildings and it has the charm of an early American town. The town itself was incorporated in 1808, which was prior to the state’s incorporation. However, in 1843 it was reincorporated, though it actually existed as a trading post from approximately 1733. It was established by the French soldier Jean Baptiste de Girardot and the small trading post community would later, after the invention of the steamboat, become the largest port along the Mississippi river that existed between Memphis and St. Louis.

The city has had some interactions with fame in recent decades due primarily to some of its residents. The drama critic for the Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout, was born there. Teachout is also the chief culture critic for Commentary and has written for other major newspapers and magazines including National Review and the New York Times. In addition, Teachout has a column he authored and continues called Sightings, in which he comments on and discusses the arts in America. This column appears bi-weekly in the Wall Street Journal and you can also read his blog entries at the site About Last Night.

In addition to his critical an analytical writings, Teachout has also had some success as a creative writer. Among other things he wrote the libretto for the opera The Letter, which was based on the Somerset Maugham play. The opera was composed by Paul Moravec.  Many of the residents of Cape Girardeau are well aware of their famous son, though many of the guests who are visiting may read his column in the morning paper though never realize he is from the city as they enjoy their stay in one of the Missouri hotels.

Terry Teachout Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri is a post from: Zoocap

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This part of the trip is always the strangest.  Getting somewhere is always hard, because there are all the impossible things that have to happen before.  You leave a place, and it is almost like closing up the little shop that is your life.  It takes a lot of effort to keep that life going, so when you leave it, it almost seems as though it might not be open when you get back, and all the things that were there have changed, and the people you know have decided to move.  So all that you have of that life is what you’re carrying, and at a point you have to look at it and decide that this is enough, this is plenty of material with which to make a new life.

It’s sometimes easier in Manhattan and sometimes not.  There are hotels, to be sure, at this site, and you know that the stay will be wonderful as always.  And in New York, they have everything, so if you decide you don’t have what you need to create a life, you can find materials to keep building.  But that also reminds you that it might be easier than you’d suspected to create your life, and that the years you put into it might have been easier if only you’d known that you didn’t need that much.  So you decide to go to a gallery and see how the other artists are doing this, how they are constructing their lives.

This part is where is becomes somehow magical.  There is a lot to see, and a lot of ideas, and this is exciting, because there are people here who are just like you, and you know that you can do this too.  This is, after all, exactly what you’re doing in your own city.  This gallery has video, and painting, and performance, and this is what you know, too.  At the same time, it’s a small pinch of jealousy that comes in, because you might be here, but you’re not, and the people here seem to be so decided about what they’re doing.  A half of a conversation later, and you start to sense the same fears and doubts that you have, but they’ve decided to continue anyway.  Exactly like you’ve done, and like you’re doing, and in spite of yourself, this is becoming sweet.

NY & Memory is a post from: Zoocap

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Dennis had to tell his family and friends that he was going to move back to New York. He was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma and grew up with the ambition of being an actor. He demonstrated an early talent for the stage and everyone in his town knew that he was destined for a career on Broadway. When he was eighteen his family contributed to small moving fund for him and this enabled him to make a major move. At the young age of eighteen he headed off for the big city all by himself with the same dream and ambition that millions of other young people pursue. Well, his parents did go with him on a pre-move trip. They stayed in nice hotel like this and helped him find a studio apartment. They also looked at the theatre information boards and tried to get him settled in. He seemed to have everything he needed when they left him there on his own.

However, like many of the other people who move to New York to pursue a career in the theatre he became distracted by various other elements, like trying to make a living and pay his bills. He started working backstage at a small theatre in Greenwich Village and really only checked the audition boards a few times during his first year there. And he only actually went to an audition once. He developed some friendships at the small company and became comfortable there. His life continued in this manner for about five years when his roommate moved to Boston and he finally decided he just couldn’t afford to live in New York anymore. He packed up his bags and headed home.

His family and friends were all happy to see him and welcomed him back into the small community without judgment or criticism. He started to work at the local laundry facility and had worked there for about six months when his desire to perform started to get the best of him. Dennis considered his years in New York and the mistakes he made while there. He wondered if he should try and start a theatre company in his hometown. He thought about this night after night and it began to plague his thoughts during the day so that he couldn’t focus on anything else. He made a new plan. He was older now and would approach it with a stronger commitment and be more responsible and wise. He knew the time was right for him, but he had to face telling everyone in town that he was moving again.

Young Actor Returns to New York is a post from: Zoocap

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I have always been drawn to the style of Art Deco.  The art and the architecture seems somewhat contradictory to me, in that it looks modern while retaining a vintage feel.  I don’t know if that makes sense, but when I found myself standing in the middle of the Art Deco District in South Beach I was in heaven.  To be honest I was not sure what to expect when I was preparing for my first visit to Miami.  I have never been a bikini wearing beach kind of person, my favorite time on beaches is during storms, so I was wondering just what I would do once I got there.  I found a great hotel online at miamiluxuryhotels.com and when I checked in I explained this dilemma of mine to my bellboy on the way to my room.  He asked what I was interested in and I told him art, food, history, coffee, street markets…and he said that I must visit the South Beach Art Deco District. 

In this district there are more than eight hundred buildings of the Art Deco style.  I had my camera with me of course, and filled the memory card with images of these fabulous buildings to paint from later on when I got back home to my studio.  I went into the lounge of one of the hotels and ordered a drink at the bar.  I asked the bartender about the neighborhood and he gave the full story.  He said that most of the buildings were constructed through the 1920′s, which was also during the time of the prohibition. 

Much of the South Beach area became known for gambling and illegal liquor and speak-easies, attracting mobsters and crime.  For the next few decades the area became quite a slum.  But, he told me, the popular 1980′s TV show “Miami Vice” changed all that.  I questioned him and he said that the show had a lot to do with it, but that at the time the Miami Design Preservation League took interest in the neighborhood and restored all of the buildings to their original beauty.  The Art Deco district and all of South Beach is now one of the chicest and most visited areas of Miami.  I thanked him, and set back out on my journey to explore more of South Beach, and to discover a bit more of the history as well.

Miami, Florida: The Art Deco District of South Beach is a post from: Zoocap

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Whether it is culture, long walks along the beach, or open air markets, Toronto has it all, and when you are searching for the perfect apartment, TransGlobe Property Management will have just what you need.  The sense of community has garnered this city to placed at the top of the best cities in which to live in all of North America.  Should you wish a place overlooking Lake Ontario, you will not be disappointed.  If rollerblading, jogging or cycling is your thing, the boardwalk is the place to be.

This is a very casual and laid back section of the city of Toronto, as most beachfront neighborhoods tend to be, and although it is a suburb of the city, it is more similar to a beach resort.  Festivals occur throughout the summer months, and the restaurants and the bars are plentiful.  Just as is also true of cosmopolitan cities, there is a variety of cultures who call this city their home, and finding great experiences in Little Italy or Chinatown is a great way to grasp the feel of the many different people living and working in Toronto.

Little Italy is actually made up of two main groups, Italian and the Portuguese.  There is a great open air market that reflects the diversity that just continues to expand in this small section of the city.  Should you chose to live in this neighborhood you will find many “mom and pop” style restaurants in which to find the best pasta dishes in town.  The Kensington Market sits just between little Italy and Chinatown.

At the Kensington Market you will find everything from vintage clothing to Spanish food stalls.  This is one of the local hotspots.  Finding a place to rent in this area through TransGlobe Property Management will ensure that your life will be filled with the excitement and the energy of the constant activity.  And then to head over to Chinatown, you will think that you have just stepped into the middle of Hong Kong.  There are a plethora of restaurants, from Korean to Vietnamese, and Chinese, and your senses will be awakened by the scents and the flavors.  If fun and great times is what you are looking for in a neighborhood, this is one area of Toronto which will provide just that.

The Diversity of the Toronto Lifestyle is a post from: Zoocap

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Perth, Australia is a beautiful city that is rich in cultural history as well as the arts. It is the fourth largest city in the country, while it is also the capital and largest city of Western Australia. In addition to a progressive arts scene, beautiful geography and an interesting history, Perth has many cultural landmarks and historic attractions that entice numerous guests who stay in one of the Perth boutique hotels each year. The Round House is one example of a landmark testifying to Perth’s history, while the Art Gallery of Western Australia testifies to its contemporary significance.

The Round House dates to 1830, which is just shy of the establishment of Perth. It is the oldest building in that is still standing in Western Australia. Henry Willey Reveley designed this building that served as the Swan River Colony’s first permanent freestanding building. Its originally intended purpose was to function as a jail and it was designed with a jailor’s residence and eight inmate cells. Each of these opened into a central courtyard. It is now considered to be one of the major historic landmarks of Western Australia and is open to the public seven days a week.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia is located in the Perth Cultural Center and is nestled in among other major arts institutes such as the Western Australian Museum and the State Library of Western Australia. It was established and opened in 1979 and has an annual population of visitors that reaches four hundred thousand. The permanent collection contains over fifteen thousand pieces and includes works from the beginnings of the area’s settlement up through the 1960s. There is also a popular exhibit called Year 12 Perspectives, which is annually based and includes paintings, sculpture, digital art and more representing artists from Western Australia.

Round House and Art Gallery Testify to Perth’s Historic and Contemporary Culture is a post from: Zoocap

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A holiday in Goa is the material of dreams.  It is one of the most coveted vacation spots for environmental tourists looking for biodiversity, 24 hour party people looking for great dance music, and anyone who’s ever felt the call of the ocean, looking for the perfect beach.  Goa has all this and much more, with a rich urban life that is always moving and changing, and extraordinary architecture that is a relic of its complicated history.  It’s a splendid place to be, and it also has splendid 5 star hotels.  Goa has it going on, that’s for sure, and our hotels put you right in the center of things.  You’ll be treated to all the superb amenities and fantastic hospitality that only a 5 star hotel can offer, at the highest standards of the industry.

You’ll find yourself having an exquisite rest in our sumptuously decorated rooms, and eating superb meals prepared by world class chefs, who know secrets of international and local cuisines.  There is something in our hotels that will please our guests of all ages, and the same can be said for Goa.  It’s even a good place to take kids, as long as there’s a good supply of sunscreen, and of course, extreme caution around the water.  There are waterfalls where you can feed the monkeys along the way, a spice plantation where you can wash elephants, and animal and nature reserves, not to mention all the great facilities at our hotels, with swimming pools and in-room entertainment.  Good sun sense is really the key here.

But you might also be lucky enough to be in town when there are cultural performances where children are the star attractions, such as Balotsav.  Here, at this lively event put on by the Kala Academy, over 800 schoolchildren perform traditional dances, and show arts and crafts.  It’s a wonderful way to get to know Goa, and introduce your own children to the complicated codes implied in cultural performances.  Children will enjoy watching the intricate displays of movement from other cultures, and it will be interesting to see new faces in the audience.  It’s certainly possible to enjoy all that Goa has to offer, and to share it with your children.

Goa with Kids is a post from: Zoocap

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Symbols of Chinese culture, like fried noodle stalls and temples, are found all over Singapore. So, It wasn’t surprising when 70 percent of the population is ethnic Chinese. While it’s odd to then have a specific area called ‘Chinatown’ in Singapore, at the same time, it makes sense that Singapore sees itself as a modern multicultural city informed by Asian values, rather that call is a Chinese city. One can also, all one needs to do is take a car from one of Singapore car rentals and one will note the racial harmony among the Chinese, the Malay and the Indian communities. It’s a government’s fundamental policy. One will also note that Singapore’s Chinese community is distinct from those elsewhere. Chinese have derived much from the Malay and Indian communities, and vice versa.

When driving around, one way to look at Singapore’s Chinatown is as a celebration of the original culture at the root of Singapore. Chinatown has preserved the traditional Chinese culture which is disappearing due to the acts of communism, then followed by rampant consumerism. For example, the tea houses, while American-style cafes expand all across China and into Singapore, Tea Chapter is a institution very devoted to the ancient art of drinking tea, an oasis if you will amongst the machine-brewed corporate coffee. Tea Chapter maintains its traditions by importing all its teas directly from China. They also give calligraphy classes and sell tea and tea pots for home brewing. Musicians are showcased by playing traditional Chinese instruments. Because of the Tea Chapters innovations and traditions, a few more tea houses have sprung up and are beginning to do well also. But, a final word about China town is drinking tea is wonderful, but many people will not give up Chinese food for all the tea in China.

All the tea in Singapore is a post from: Zoocap

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