Cities around the world
CITIES AROUND THE WORLD
A city is an urban
area which is differentiated from a town or village by size, population,
density, importance or legal status. A city usually consists of residential, industrial and business areas. A large share of a city's area is
primarily taken up by housing,
which is then supported by infrastructure
such as roads, streets and often public transport
routes.
Towns and
cities have a long history, although opinions vary on whether any particular ancient settlement can
be considered to be a city.
Older
European cities and some American ones have historically intact central areas
where the streets are jumbled together, seemingly without a structural plan. This
is a legacy of earlier unplanned or organic development, and is often
perceived by today's tourists
to be picturesque.
There are
different schemes of modern city. The most common pattern is the grid, almost a
rule in parts of the United States,
and used for thousands of years in China. In Medieval
times we see a preference for linear planning. Good examples are the
cities established in the south of France.
Other
forms may include a radial structure in which main roads converge on
a central point. Many Dutch cities are structured this way.
One of my hobbies and
even goals for life is traveling. Therefore I have already been to some of the
largest and most beautiful cities of the world, for example Saint Petersburg,
Paris, Cairo, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and plan on
visiting more. However, there are so many of them that one’s lifetime perhaps
won’t be enough to visit all of them.
My favorite foreign city
is San-Francisco. It is located in the State of California, on the western
coast of the USA. Its population is 4 million people and in this regard it’s
the fourth largest city in California and the fourteenth in the US after New
York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc. Besides, San Francisco is the
second most densely populated major American city after New York (population 4
million people, total area – 120.9 km²).
The first Europeans to settle in San
Francisco were the Spanish, in 1776; the
city is named for St.
Francis. With the advent of the California gold rush in 1848 the city entered a period of
rapid growth. It is today one of the most recognizable cities on the West
Coast.
San
Francisco has a unique mix of characteristics, including its months-long
episodes of fog, its steep rolling hills, its eclectic mix of architecture
(including Victorian
style houses and modern high-rises), and its being bordered on three
sides by the Pacific
Ocean or the San
Francisco Bay.
Tourism is the
mainstay of San Francisco's economy as it is one of the top ten tourist
destinations in the United States and one of the top fifty in the world. I
love it for the romantic atmosphere that the blue sky, the ocean and the
enormous and magnificent bridges create. Some of the most famous attractions of
the city are: Chinatown, Pier 39, the Fisherman’s Wharf, the Cable Car ride and
of course the no longer acting prison of Alcatraz.
San Francisco is the
great havens for the fans of sea food. Fisherman Wharf one of the places which
attracts lots of people during the day. It’s an open air fish market where you
can get any seafood you wish: fish of all kinds, lobsters, mussels, huge crabs,
shrimp, etc. You can either buy it fresh and cook at home or have it cooked
right there in front of your and eat it straight away with crispy French fries
and souses. It’s delicious!
There are also great
China, Mexican and Indian restaurants and cafes. During my latest trip there I
found out that it would take you more than nine years to visit all the eateries
in San Francisco, given that you go out every night. It’s unbelievable for me!
Questions
What is Moscow famous for? Does it attract a lot of
visitors?
-
Moscow is famous for its historical places as the Red Square and the
Kremlin, for its monasteries and the Bolshoi Theatre, for the beautiful
architecture of its churches, buildings, bridges and even underground stations.
The Arbat Street is very popular among foreigners. It’s an ancient stone-paved
street with lots of little shops and restaurants, plenty of market stalls
selling all sorts of souvenirs from matreshkas and flags to fur hats.
-
In the present it attracts more and more visitors from countries around the
world, especially from Europe and the US. Most tourists come to visit Moscow
during the summer, but some arrive here in the winter just to see the snow and
enjoy a climate different from the one they are used to.
What is the busiest place in the evening in Moscow?
- Apart from Moscow underground, I
think that the Arbat and Tverskaya Streets are the busiest places in the
evening.
What do people do there? Are there buskers or
eateries?
-
One won’t get bored in the Arbat Street. Apart from shops and eateries
there are buskers, who play their guitars or key boards, sing, put up shows,
tell jokes or even dance.
Which places would you recommend?
- I would
recommend a Russian Pub Restaurant near the Sokol underground Station. It is my
favorite one for the outstanding Russian cuisine, design and friendly
atmosphere. Servants are also very polite. Sometimes they have live concerts
and one is able to enjoy the best of Russian folk songs.