Detroit Once Called the Paris of the West

I got fascinated with Detroit after seeing the beautiful ruins of the city in Eminem’s videos and a TV series Detroit 187. Detroit went from being the fourth largest city in US in 1930s to the eleventh in 2009. It went from being known as the Paris of the West to being called the beautiful ruins of Detroit. Will it rise again to its glory time?

Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River. It was founded on July 24, 1701 by the Frenchman Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Strategically located by the Great Lakes, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. The city has grown steadily from 1830s till 1960s. In 1896 Henry Ford built his first automobile. In 1903 Ford founded the Ford Motor Company. Ford with the other automotive pioneers such as William Durant, the Dodge brothers, Packard, and Walter Chrysler earned Detroit the status of the automotive capital, therefore nicknamed as the Motor City. In 1930s with the growth of auto industry, Detroit became the fourth largest city in US. In the 1950s, it was the fifth largest city in US. However, the gasoline crises of 1973 and 1979 impacted the US auto industry as small foreign cars made into the US roads. In 1970s the developments slowed and eventually began to reverse. During the 1980s, vacant structures were demolished to make way for new developments. In the 1990s, the city began to receive a revival rising with new centers, casinos, stadiums, and hotels. In 2009, it was the eleventh most populous city in US.

The late 19^th and early 20^th century was a period of beautiful architecture shaping the skyline of Detroit. The Gilded Age, the era of rapid economic and population growth, created mansions and buildings that earned Detroit the name - the Paris of the West. The city has a variety of architectural styles. The Art Deco style, which originated in Paris in the first part of the 20^th century, is a mixed style of different historical influences seen in such buildings as the Guardian Building, Penobscot Building, Fisher Building, and the Cadillac Place. The last two are among the city’s National Historic Landmarks. Prominent structures include Fox Theatre, Detroit Opera House, and Detroit Institute of Arts. Historic neighborhoods include Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, and the University District.

Ste. Anne de Detroit was founded in 1701 and is the second oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the US. It displays French influence of Gothic Revival with flying buttresses. St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1873, is an example of Detroit’s ecclesial architecture, a mixed style of different historical influences. 

Wayne County Building is an example of Roman Baroque architecture built from copper, granite, and stone. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Fort Shelby Hotel is one of the successful attempts to restore the glory of Detroit. The hotel was renovated and reopened after standing empty for 30 years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The Michigan Theater, on the other hand, is a sad part of Detroit. It is a former theater with richly decorated ceilings, now used as a parking garage. It was featured in two movies 8 Mile and The Island.

The Belle Isle Park with a view of the city is the largest island park in the US. A highlight of Belle Isle is a botanical garden and the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.

The Financial District is a historic district in downtown Detroit located along the International Riverfront. It includes 33 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

The Renaissance Center, also, located on the International Riverfront is a complex of seven interconnected skyscrapers in downtown Detroit. It is owned by General Motors as its world’s headquarters and it is one of the world’s largest office complexes. The central tower, the Marriott hotel, is the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.

The International Riverfront is an area that borders Detroit River. It stretches from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, covering 5 1/2 miles and encompassing many parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas. The development marks a step forward for Detroit’s potential for the 2020 Summer Olympics.  

The first Impressions of Bombay - India

A friend of mine is in Mumbai now, on a job training. She gave me such valuable information that I have decided to share her first impressions of the city.

In her words, you have to see it yourself to believe it. The skyline and traffic of Mumbai reminds her of NYC, but with much more people on the streets. The extreme difference of luxury next to poverty is a sad reality of Mumbai.

Homless people living on the streets with whole families including small children. Their home, an old rag serving as a roof. Their food is being made on the sidewalk in the middle of the city.

Mumbai is a fast growing city with skyscrapers, becoming as expensive as NYC. Bandra is a booming area comparable to Manhattan, located by the Arabian Sea. Bandra is a place for business people and Bollywood actors. The food is excellent. People are very welcoming and eager to learn about a newcomer, their ambition and hard work makes you motivated to do even better.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the most populous city in India and the second in the world with population of 14 million.  It is the richest city in India. It is also the commercial and entertainment center of India. The city is home to important financial institutions, stock exchange, headquarters of many corporations, film and television industry known as Bollywood. Mumbai's business opportunities and higher standard of living attract migrants from all over India.

Humanitarian Acts

Humanitarian act is an act of kindness and sympathy extended universally to all human beings. Humanitarianism originating in Christian acts was an important influence in European thought. It became expressed in philantrophy and social welfare. Philantrophia in Greek means loving what it is to be human. It was to end suffering, torture, and cruel punishments. It continues to be an act to end human poverty and creulty.

Bono (U2) and the Gates (Bill and Melinda) in 2005 were named the Persons of the Year by the Time magazine. Their common goal is to make poverty history. In 2005, Bono convinced the leaders of the world's richest countries to forgive $40 billion in debt owed by the poorest nations. So now, those countries can spend the money on health and schools instead of interest payments. He named his organization DATA for debt, AIDS, trade, Africa to capture what he stands for. The Gates built the world's biggest charity with a $29 billion endowment. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ The inventor of the Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, in 2010 was named the Person of the Year by the Time magazine. On Dec. 9, 2010, Mark Zuckerberg joined forces with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett pledging to give away at least half his wealth over the course of his lifetime.

"Be the Change: Save a Life is a global health initiative to bring attention to today's most pressing health challenges, and to inspire people to act. It is devoted to gathering stories, offering solutions, and acting as a clearing-house for people who want to know more, get involved, or volunteer." You can read stories and learn about solutions at http://www.saveone.net/

Scott Harrison the founder of Charity: Water went from promoting top nightclubs and fashion events in NYC to volunteer in the world's poorest nations and ultimately creating the humanitarian organization. "Charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects. Almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war." You can read more at http://www.charitywater.org/

Sean Penn, actor and founder of The Haitian Relief Organization, is another great humanitarian trying to make a difference in the world. His organization stands for "saving lives and bringing sustainable programs to the Haitian people quickly and effectively. You can follow Sean Penn's progress at http://jphro.org/

CNN Heroes are everyday people changing the world. You can learn more about the heroes and their humanitarian acts from past years or nominate a hero at http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/

Mother Teresa, born in Albania, moved to Calcutta, India, to serve the city's poor. She devoted her life to the poorest of the poor and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work. In 1950 she established the Missionaries of Charity. The mission was carried to five continents in 87 countries. She said "I have been told I spoil the poor...well, at least one congregation is spoiling the poor, because everyone else is spoiling the rich."

Dr. Albert Schweitzer born in Germany in 1875, was the world's greatest concert organists, who at the age of 30 entered medical school to have his share in ending "the misery which lies upon the world." In 1913 he sailed to now Gabon and opened a clinic. He ministered to the sick of Africa until his death in 1965. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.

Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-born, made his fortune in steel industry. In 1901 he sold his company to J.P. Morgan and devoted his life to giving his money away. He wrote "this, then, is held to be the duty of the wealthy to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer...in the manner which, in his judgement, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community." In 1911 the Carnegie Corporation was born and became a model for philanthropy.

The Red Cross was founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant in Geneva, Switzerland. The worldwide movement is to care for the war victims, the victims of natural disasters and to prevent and relief suffering. In 1881 Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. The Red Cross exists in almost every country in the world. It was awarded Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions in 1917, 1944 and 1963.

Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy, was a son of wealthy cloth merchant, who went from living the high-spirited life to living in poverty and nursing the lepers. He preached on the streets and collected the followers. He founded the Franciscan Order, which grew quickly. In 1228 he was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX. He is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment.

The Silk Road

The Silk Road was a trading route of ancient Chinese civilization connecting Asia with Europe and Egypt. The Silk Road got its name from the Chinese silk trade, a major reason for the connection. However, silk by no means was the only item traded. China traded silk, spices, teas, and porcelain. India traded ivory, textiles, precious stones, and pepper.

Marco Polo became the best recognize Silk Road merchant. He was from Venice and learned the trade from his father and uncle. He died in 1324. Their pioneering journey inspired Colombus and others.

The Silk Road passed through many small desert kingdoms, each with a green oasis as its center. The oasis of Kucha was known for growing many species, such as plums, pears, peaches, and almonds.
Samarkand (Uzbekistan) today is known for its tile covered buildings.
The Gobi Desert (Mongolia) is known for many unusual animals living there.
The Turfan Depression or The Land of Fire (China) is the second-deepest inland depression in the world.
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves - originally were used as palace temples and later travelers on religious missions could rest there.

You can travel the Silk Road with:

http://www.classictraintravel.com/tours/Russia/silk_road.htm

http://www.chinahighlights.com/silkroad/

http://www.advantour.com/silkroad/

The Seven Wonders of the World

A wonder of the world is about inspiring the observer. A wonder must be unique and historic. There are many lists of The Seven Wonders of the World, but only the The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World are undisputed. They were first published around the time of Christ and the list has been confirmed by many writers since. The other Seven Wonders of the World are compiled by an individual writer.

The Seven Ancient Wonders:
The Pyramids of Egypt - the pyramid's fame rests on its size, accuracy, inner mysteries, and age.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon - located between two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, Mesopotamia (Persia, today's Iran) were wide terraces (300 feet in height) of trees, flowers, and grasses with rooms under the archways, royal staterooms at the upper levels and grain storage in the basement.
The Statue of Zeus (Jupiter) at Olympus - (Greece) 43 feet tall, besides the size, the statue comanded attention for its beauty.
The Temple of Diana (Artemis) at Ephesus - Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Artemis, 342 feet by 163 feet with 127 columns 80 feet tall, the whole temple was made of marble except the roof.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - tomb built for King Mausolus was recognized for its aesthetic located in Asia Minor (today's Turkey).
The Colossus of Rhodes - was a statue of Greek god Helios on the Greek island of Rhodes, 107 ft high was one of the tallest statue at the time.
The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria - a tower built on the island of Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt. Its purpose was to guide sailors into the harbor at night time. For many centuries, it was the tallest structure in the world, estimated between 120-140 ft tall.

The Seven Technological Wonders:
English Channel Tunnel, UK/France
Panama Canal, Panama
Itaipu Dam, Brazil/Paraguay
Dutch Dikes, Netherlands
CN Tower, (Toronto, ON) Canada
Gateway Arch, (St. Louis, MO) US
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Japan

The Seven Archeological Wonders:
Stonehenge, (Salisbury, England) UK
Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Mesa Verde (Colorado) US
Chichen Itza (Yucatan) Mexico
Easter Island (Pacific Island) Chile
Angkor Wat (Angkor) Cambodia
Machu Picchu (Cuzco) Peru

The Seven Architectural Wonders:
The Great Wall of China
Borobudur (Java) Indonesia
The Taj Mahal (Agra) India
Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem) Isreal
St. Peter's Basilica (Rome) Vatican City
Palace of Versailles (outside Paris) France
Neuschwanstein Castle (Bavaria) Germany

The Seven Natural Wonders:
The Grand Canyon (AZ) US
Mt. Everest, Nepal/China
Serengeti Plains, Tanzania
Iguacu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
Great Barrier Reef
Iceland
Mammoth Cave (KY) US

The Seven Continents:
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia with Oceania
Europe
North America
South America

The Seven Wonders of the World on the Travel Channel

Traditon

Word 'tradition' comes from Latin meaning 'handing over, passing on.' It is a belief or custom tought by one generation to the next. Some traditions are influenced by religious beliefs.
 

Polish and Irish due to being mostly Roman Catholics should fast on Fridays, therefore fish is a popular dish for a Friday dinner.
 

Shrove Tuesday marked the beginning of the 40 day Lenten fasting period when the faithful were forbidden to consume meat, butter, milk or eggs. In order to use all those products (before going bad) before the Lenten, a tradition was born of Shrove Tuesday for making pancakes. This tradition is practiced in Western Europe, US, Canada, and Australia. In UK it is known as Pancake Day. In France and New Orleans, US, it is known as Fat Tuesday.

 

In Poland, tradition is on Thursday a week before Ash Wednesday, therefore it is called Fat Thursday and paczki are made (donuts filled with jam). In Russia, blins are made.

In Sweden, on Fat Tuesday (Fettisdagen) semlors are made (buns).
 

Originally, traditions were passed from generation to generation without writting them. For example, baking breads has been Irish tradition passed from mother to daughter.
 

The tradition of baking cakes for ceremonies and festivals has been an important part of many European countries.
 

The tradition of preserving is still alive in many European countries.

Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection. Easter eggs are hard-boiled and either elaborately handpainted with some motives or just tinted.

The Romanian New Year's dinner often includes rabbit or goose. Since the New Year's is the celebration of future, in certain regions natives insist that it must be pork, because pig charges forward and when birds dig in the earth, they kick it backwards.

If you'd like to learn about traditional Greek foods, you can follow Simposia at http://simposia.blogspot.com/