Italy travel package will

Travel to Italy and enjoy italy vacation packages at Tour Italy Now Register with us and get updates about new travel destinations and packages. In addition, you will be registered to win a week's trip to Rome for two. Italy Blog Italy Shop Mobile Phone Rental About Italy Italy Regions Information on Italy Transportation in Italy Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Press Releases Online Brochure Testimonials Italy Articles Tour Italy Now is a leading online provider of travel to Italy. An Italy travel package will allow you to enjoy this country of wondrous beauty and timeless treasures. All of our Italy vacation packages are professionally designed, offering only the very best regional food and wine, the most knowledgeable tour guides, and first-class ltaly accommodations. Travel to Italy and explore famous cities, pristine beaches, quaint villages, and medieval hilltop towns with an Italy travel package from Tour Italy Now. Bask in the beauty of charming villas, rolling hills, colorful vineyards, and lush gardens with our incredible Italy vacation packages. Unearth ancient artifacts and hidden treasures tucked away in famous museums, palaces, and cathedrals with an Italy travel package. Travel to Italy with us and enjoy all this and more when you book your Italy vacation packages. Our Italy travel package helps you experience the splendor and charm that sets Italy apart from the rest of the world! So travel to Italy with Tour Italy Now today! Travel to Italy Now ! Classic Italy Bike Across Italy 2 Italy by Train A Week in... Italy Amalfi Stroll & Roll Home | Tours | Hotels | Group Travel | About Us | Contact © 2004 Tour Italy Now. All rights Reserved. Powered by Amorbis LLC Site Map Link Exchange Resources Privacy Statement Terms and Conditions

air travelers. These proposals

Air Travel Privacy Air Travel Privacy Latest News | Resources | Identification Schemes | Profiling | FOIA Documents | Other Documents | Analysis | Previous Files The right to travel is a part of the "liberty" of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment ... Freedom of movement across frontiers in either direction, and inside frontiers as well, was a part of our heritage. Travel abroad, like travel within the country, may be necessary for a livelihood. It may be as close to the heart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, or reads. Freedom of movement is basic in our scheme of values. "Our nation," wrote Chafee, "has thrived on the principle that, outside areas of plainly harmful conduct, every American is left to shape his own life as he thinks best, do what he pleases, go where he pleases." -- Justice William O. Douglas, Kent v. Dulles (1958) Post-September 11, several measures have been considered to improve aviation security. Some of these proposals, such as improved training for airport screeners, checking all bags for bombs, strengthening cockpit doors, and placing air marshals on flights, do not implicate privacy interests and are sound security measures. Others, however, present privacy and security risks to air travelers. These proposals concern efforts to identify passengers and schemes to distinguish the "good guys" from the "bad." EPIC will make available on this page aviation security and privacy related documents it obtains from the government under the freedom of information law to promote and inform the public debate over these new schemes. In earlier responses to security threats the FAA issued a secret regulation that allowed airlines to demand photo identification and instituted a new profiling program called CAPPS (Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System) based on travel data airlines routinely collected. See Previous Files . New proposals advocate using biometric credentials for "trusted travelers" and using extensive data mining of credit history, criminal records, and travel patterns to profile all airline passengers. NASA has even suggested developing "non-invasive neuro-electric sensors" or brain scans at the security gate to see if people are having suspicious thoughts. The stated goal of these new proposals is to rely on technology to reduce the "hassle factor" in airports and to reduce security threats. The core idea is to focus security resources on suspicious travelers, while ensuring that most people are not inconvenienced by heightened security. Terrorists, however, have been known to go to great lengths to look like most people. Former Transportation Security Agency chief John Magaw refused to endorse a "trusted traveler" card, fearing that it would be the first thing a terrorist will try to obtain. New profiling and identification programs will convert airport security into all-purpose police stops where criminals, deadbeat dads, and others seeking to avoid law enforcement for non-aviation security related reasons face the risk of being arrested. The basic structure of passenger profiling is to use an algorithm to determine indicators of characteristics or behavior patterns that are related to the occurrence of certain behavior. The CAPPS-II initiative will expand the range of databases searched for suspicious activity so that each airline passenger will be subjected to an extensive profiling. John Pointdexter's office in the Defense Department is considering developing a similar Total Information Awareness system. Each structural element of the CAPPS-II profiling system, however, raises a host of complex questions: Algorithm: What logic will be used? What is the basis for developing the algorithm? What are acceptable false positive and false negative rates? Indicators: What indicators are relevant? Are these indicators available? Who will collect and store the relevant indicators? Related: How are the indicators related to particular kinds of behavior? Is that relationship reliable? Behavior: Who determines what behavior should be targeted? What types of specific behavior will the system try to catch? In addition there are several technical issues such as how reliable is the data used to make profiling decisions? What kind of data should be collected and how long should the data be retained? Who will have access to the data and for what purposes? The policy issues also need to be addressed: what will be the rights of individuals to control their personally identifiable information? What recourse will be available for someone wrongly identified or denied a service? Will profiling based on deep data-mining stand up to charges of equal protection and due process violations? The new proposals directly implicate long standing constitutional protections under the fourth and first amendments, including the right to travel, and must be clearly understood and properly considered by the public. Latest News EPIC Joins Campaign Against Biometric Identification. Civil liberties organizations have sent a letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding their plans to include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints and facial scans on all newly issued electronic passports. The letter, organized by Privacy International , warns this will lead to the first truly global database of biometric information. For more information, read the letter from the Campaign, see EPIC's biometrics page, and read a story by the BBC . (Mar. 30) EPIC Suit Uncovers Watchlist Errors. EPIC has uncovered agency documents through the Freedom of Information Act that raise important questions about how the Transportation Security Administration currently operates the "No-Fly" watchlist. The concerns surrounding the agency's administration of the list previews several potential problems with the proposed roll out of CAPPS-II , the Enhanced Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System. For more information, see EPIC's analysis of the FOIA documents. (Apr. 1) Senators Want Answers on Air Profiling. The Senate Commerce Committee has unanimously agreed to an amendment (pdf) by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) that would require the Transportation Security Administration to report to Congress on the privacy and civil liberties implications of the controversial CAPPS-II air passenger profiling system. See EPIC's Passenger Profiling page for more information. (Mar. 13) EPIC Comments on Air Travel Database. EPIC submitted comments on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposal [PDF] to create a new database of Aviation Security Screening Records on all airline passengers. EPIC argued that the proposed system did not provide sufficient information for the public to contribute meaningfully to this rule-making procedure, and that the proposed system would infringe on the Constitutional right of association and travel. See TSA Docket for more information and public comments. (Feb. 24) EPIC Criticizes Gov't Rule on Citizen Travel. EPIC has filed comments [PDF] on the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)'s proposed rule to collect passenger manifest information on all international travelers, including American citizens and legal permanent residents. The comments argue that the proposed rule is legally deficient because the INS has not complied with the Privacy Act in creating this new "system of records." EPIC has asked the INS to reissue its notice and meet the requirements of the Privacy Act. The comments also note that, by collecting and sharing travel data about citizens, the INS is placing a burden on the right to travel and the rights of anonymous association. (Feb. 4, 2003) EPIC Files Suit for "No-Fly List" Information. Seeking information about aviation security watchlists, EPIC has filed a lawsuit [PDF] against the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in federal court in Washington. The legislation creating TSA authorizes the agency to maintain such lists, which reportedly have been used to interfere with the travel of political activists. (Dec. 12, 2002) Resources EPIC's presentation for the National Academy's seminar on Concealed Threat Detection , March 2005. Transportation Security Agency Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2002 EPIC v. TSA FOIA Lawsuit seeking information on new identification and passenger profiling schemes Implementation of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act with a Focus on the 60-day Deadline for Screening and Checked Baggage House Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation, Jan. 23, 2002 Audit Reports on Aviation Security Office of Inspector General, Department of Transportation White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security web page. EPIC's Profiling Page. EPIC's National ID Page. EPIC's Biometrics Page. EPIC's Face Recognition Page. EPIC's Terrorism Page: Information on pending efforts in Congress to increase wiretapping and gather personal information. EPIC's new page on Surveillance of European Air Travelers . Identification Schemes Gilmore v. Ashcroft -- FAA ID Challenge Aviation Security Biometrics Working Group [see Steering Committee Analysis for detailed information on proposed biometric identification schemes] Airlines Plan Quick System For Identifying Passengers Washington Post , June 22, 2002 Smart Check-In Cuts Airport Lines Wired News , Feb. 5, 2001. [Trusted traveler schemes have been contemplated well before 9/11] Maximus Flysecure proposal Profiling Trading Freedom for Security . The New American Magazine , May 5, 2003. EPIC's new Passenger Profiling page. Air Security Focusing on Flier Screening . Washington Post , September 4, 2002. Intricate Screening Of Fliers In Works . Washington Post , Feb. 1, 2002. Carnival Booth: An Algorithm for Defeating the Computer-Assisted Passenger Screening System . MIT/Harvard Law School Student paper. Electronic Record Systems and Individual Privacy . U.S. Congress Office of Technical Assessment OTA-CIT-296. House Transportation Hearing on Airline Passenger Profiling . Feb. 27, 2002. ACLU Passenger Profiling Complaint Form Documents Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) EPIC Suit Uncovers Errors in TSA's Watchlist , April 2003. NASA Ames Research Center Northwest Airlines Briefing . December 10-11, 2001. Other Documents Final Report of the White House Commission. Initial Report of the White House Commission (September 9, 1996). Executive Order 13015 creating the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security (August 22, 1996) ( PDF version ) Initial Federal Register notice of public meeting of White House Commission. Revised Federal Register notice announcing that part of the Commission's meeting will be closed to the public "in the interest of national security." 1994 statute authorizing FAA research into security matters (including "behavioral research") and exempting information relating to such research from disclosure under the FOIA. Analysis Image of a person scanned using a new x-ray device from AS&E. National Academy of Sciences report " Airline Passenger Security Screening: New Technologies and Implementation Issues " Paper on the limitations of profiling , Roger Clark, Australia National University. ACLU testimony before White House Commission on "Civil Liberties Implications of Airport Security Measures" (September 5, 1996). Letter to Privacy Journal editor Robert Ellis Smith from the FAA denying Smith's request for a copy of the FAA Security Directive on identification of airline passengers. HotWired article " Fear of Flying " on proposals. (September 11, 1996). Previous Files FAA Proposes Profiling Regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration published proposed regulations on April 19, 1999, governing "Security of Checked Baggage on Flights Within the United States." The draft rules detail the use of computer profiling techniques to identify suspicious passengers. Public comments can be filed until June 18, 1999. Airline Passenger Profiling Goes Into Effect. The Computer Assisted Passenger Screening System is scheduled to be phased in nationwide beginning on January 1. Under the system, passengers who "fit the profile" will be selected for heightened security measures, which can include a thorough search of their luggage, intrusive personal questioning, tagging of luggage with orange tape, and a physical escort from the check-in counter to the airport gate by security personnel. The ACLU is providing an online complaint form for passengers targeted by the profiling system. Microsoft Chief Architect Charles Simonyi tells what happens when you "fit the profile" (from Slate ). Proposed FAA rule for collecting personal information including name, address, Social Security Number, Date of birth and next of kin for every domestic passenger. General Account Office report, Aviation Safety and Security: Challenges to Implementing the Recommendations of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security (Testimony, 03/05/97, GAO/T-RCED-97-90). The Gore Commission has released its final report recommending passenger profiling. A coalition of 17 groups has sent a letter to Gore opposing ID checks, profiling, new x-ray technologies and excessive secrecy by the FAA in making decisions. EPIC Privacy Page | EPIC Home Page Last Updated: March 29, 2005 Page URL: http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/default.html

France Travel

France Travel Guide - French Trip Planning, French Culture and Destinations  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Lose Weight with the French Diet The French eat rich foods, drink lots of wine and smoke. So why are they so thin and fit? Recent news reports have touted the wonders of the so-called French diet. Just what is the secret to the French paradox? During the time I lived in France, I ate whatever I wanted (think chocolate croissants for breakfast, tartes aux fruits rouges at night for dessert). I never dieted, and I never went to the gym. I indulged in wine. Yet I lost a significant amount of weight during that time. My theories why the French diet works are in my article, Lose Weight with the French Diet: Unraveling the Mysteries of Why it Works . Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Worst of France 2005 The year 2005 was a tough one for France, as rioting spread throughout the nation and the grand city of Paris lost its front-runner bid for the Olympics. Here is a recap of the bad headlines of 2005 for France with Worst of France 2005 . Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Top Ski Resort Hotels in France France features some of the world's best skiing, be it in the mesmerizing Pyrenees mountains lining the Spanish border or the magestic Alps along the Italian and Swiss borders. France also encompasses no less than five other mountain ranges. The hotel accommodations at some of these resorts range from upscale and luxurious to inviting and cozy. This list of Top Ski Resort Hotels in France features the best places to stay for French ski enthusiasts. Monday December 26, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) New Year's Eve in Paris and Other French Cities The French really know how to celebrate New Year's, whether it's clubbing in Paris or the sublime midnight grape-picking event in the Midi Pyrenees or an upscale, medieval celebration in a Loire castle. Find out how to plan a New Year's Eve visit to Paris or France , and which events and festivals are planned for the turn of the new year. Even if you can't zip over to Paris to celebrate, you'll also find tips on finding French New Year's Eve parties in your town or even how to plan a France-themed New Year's Eve party at your own house! Bonne fete! Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Top French Champagnes and Sparkling Wines Looking for a last-minute gift idea? Planning a New Year's Eve get together? If you plan to celebrate with some bubbly, you want to be sure you do it in style. You can get a crappy grocery store sparkling wine, but only vintages from the Champagne region are truly called Champagne. There is also a small village in France that claims it, in fact, invented sparkling wine centuries ago. Here is a list of the Top French Champagnes and Sparkling Wines for New Year's Eve, wedding toasts, celebrations or just for fun for all price ranges! Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Christmas 2005 Gift Guide for Francophiles, Travelers and Foodies Here is the Christmas 2005 Gift Guide , filled with some of the top gifts for travelers, francophiles and foodies. The guide also includes buying advice for choosing travel guidebooks as gifts, how to create a French gift basket, as well as tips on giving the gift of travel. Whether the recipient on your list loves gourmet food gifts, French wine, home decor items, is planning a honeymoon or simply adores anything trs francais , you can find the perfect gift and buying advice here. Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Most Romantic Paris Hotels Paris is the city of romance, and a tremendously popular destination for couples, lovers and honeymooners. The city is filled with cozy, intimate romantic hotels and accomodations. Be sure you get the best of this snuggle time with this list of Most Romantic Paris Hotels . Thursday December 15, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Top Budget Paris Hotels Paris is one of the world's most expensive cities, but it's also one of the top tourist attractions. Find out how to conserve your cash for the finer thinks, like a fabulous dinner or incredible shopping, with this list of Top Budget Paris Hotels . It features high-quality cheap places to stay in Paris. Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Top Upscale, Luxury Hotels in Paris If you're going to visit the luscious city of Paris and you have the means, why not do it in true style? Paris has some of the world's finest, most luxurious hotels. This is a city that is well-suited to upscale services. Get a list of the Top Upscale, Luxury Hotels in Paris , which includes prestigious names like the famous George V, Ritz Paris and even a bona fide castle outside of the city. Friday December 9, 2005 | permalink | comments (0) Hot Deal for Visiting Paris in the Springtime You've just gotta love Paris in the Springtime. But then, so does everyone else, driving up those prices. But the France Tourism Office and Gate 1 Travel are offering a hot bargain, allowing you to get a 6-day Paris spring fling for $499 per person, airfare and hotel included. Find out more on the Paris Tourism Office site. It would make an incredible Christmas gift, but be sure to consult my advice on what to do Before You Buy the Gift of Travel . For more on Paris, be sure to see: Paris Travel Guide Top Paris Travel Guidebooks Free Things to Do in Paris How I 'Do' Paris Wednesday December 7, 2005 | permalink | comments (1) Email to a Friend Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives Advertisement Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Headlines Lose Weight with the French Diet The French eat rich foods, drink lots of wine and Worst of France 2005 The year 2005 was a tough one for France, as Top Ski Resort Hotels in France France features some of the world's best skiing, be it New Year's Eve in Paris and Other French Cities The French really know how to celebrate New Year's, whether

Cheap Travel

Makemytrip.Com, Indian Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Travel Agency, TravelGuide Offering Great Air Fare Deals To India From USA Read what others have to say | MakeMyTrip in India -- -- -- ForAustralian airfares Sydney Great airfare deals to India from -- -- rou nd trip one-way from to departure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2005 2006 Any Time 00.00-01.00 01.00-02.00 02.00-03.00 03.00-04.00 04.00-05.00 05.00-06.00 06.00-07.00 07.00-08.00 08.00-09.00 09.00-10.00 10.00-11.00 11.00-12.00 12.00-13.00 13.00-14.00 14.00-15.00 15.00-16.00 16.00-17.00 17.00-18.00 18.00-19.00 19.00-20.00 20.00-21.00 21.00-22.00 22.00-23.00 23.00-24.00 return 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2005 2006 Any Time 00.00-01.00 01.00-02.00 02.00-03.00 03.00-04.00 04.00-05.00 05.00-06.00 06.00-07.00 07.00-08.00 08.00-09.00 09.00-10.00 10.00-11.00 11.00-12.00 12.00-13.00 13.00-14.00 14.00-15.00 15.00-16.00 16.00-17.00 17.00-18.00 18.00-19.00 19.00-20.00 20.00-21.00 21.00-22.00 22.00-23.00 23.00-24.00 travelers 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 adult (12-64) child (2-11) infant in lap (under 2 years) Full Search Search -- "Hello, I want to point out that all your guys are knowledgeable. Dharamvir Kansal is awesome. I am yet to see a travel professional more knowledgeable than him." Bejoy Narayana Chicago, IL Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Detroit Houston Los Angeles Miami New York Philadelphia Raleigh Durham SFO Seattle Washington Exclusive TAJ HOTEL holidays inside India Best of Karnataka US$440 Best of Golden Triangle US$538 Best of Rajasthan US$835 Best of Kerala US$1675 NEW YEAR holiday specials outside India Langkawi Magic $210 Relax in Mauritius $282 Maldives - Embudu Village $370 Alpine Splendor $525 Opinion Poll Are you willing to pay extra for a non-stop flightfrom the US to India? Yes No Email: -- Opinion Poll Would you be comfortable taking a non-stop flight to India? Yes No Can't say Indiads Code Starts. Do NOT Modify--- //-- flights | hotels | holidays | cars | rajasthan | kerala | goa | golden triangle | wildlife | ayurveda | pilgrimages weather | currency calculator | maps | about us | site map | disclaimer | payment security | faqs | contact us links | forex | insurance | passport | visa regulations (new) | 2005 MakeMyTrip.com Technology and Creative Partners Studiosmile

Germany travel guide Click

Germany (attitude Travel) Advice, Photos and Resources for Independent Travel Home > Germany attitude Travel Questions on Highlights of Travel Advice Background on Getting to Getting around Where to stay in Where to go in Culture Shock! Journals from Photos of Books about Resources for Maps of Language of Websites about Austria Belgium Bosnia Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Malaysia Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uzbekistan Germany Home Considering Germany German Travel Photos Germany Bookshop Getting to Germany Consular Travel Advice UK US AUS CAN Travelling in Germany Northern Europe attitude Travel Germany is a resource for independent travellers in Germany and a space for travellers to share original writing & photos Article Index Your questions! Travel Centre Bookshop Berchtesgaden (more travel photos...) Berchtesgaden (more travel photos...) attitudetravel.com SiteSearch Germany Profile Country Profile UK Foreign Office Germany Briefing The Economist Germany Profile BBC News Study of Germany US Library of Congress Background Notes US State Dept Cheap Hotel Rooms in Berlin Germany has convincingly established itself as the social, economic and industrial powerhouse of the European continent - perhaps to the chagrin of its nearest rivals. More maps... Travelling across the German countryside on pristine, high speed intercity trains and around German cities on efficient urban S-Bahn and U-Bahn networks, it's easy to feel the spirit of efficiency which drives the country forward. Germany's commitment to the principle of progress has a bit of a track record. For five hundred years the German lands have been a crucible of technological innovation, theological revolution, modern philosophy and radical political movements. The modern German state, inaugurated in October 1990, is a social and economic bridge between the former Eastern bloc and the European Union, and has firmly set its sights on building for the future. Berlin, a remodelled capital city with an openly gay mayor, a reconstructed Reichstag , a new city centre at the Potsdamer Platz and a brand new international airport is described today - almost to the point of tedium - as being the biggest building site in Europe, if not the world. Germany's time is coming. Independent Guides Click this icon to read a review of the website Panorama Cities Panoramic Photos Link to us on your site: Open source Germany travel guide Click above for details Travel Insurance from InsureandGo Car Hire Germany from carhire.co.uk Find cheap plane tickets on Yahoo! Travel Free Ranking and URL submission at siteranking.com Dresden and Eastern Germany © Ben Koschalka, Nordhausen, March 2003 Listen to the backpacker at Berlin Zoo station or believe many a guide book and you'd be forgiven for thinking there's nothing else worth seeing in eastern Germany. Cross the wasteland of twenty percent unemployment, drug-cheat athletes and mass neo-Nazism, next stop funky sexy Prague . More books... Or: you could at least get off that Prague train a couple of hours earlier and give Dresden a try. If you're not at least pleasantly surprised, or more likely staggered by the returning beauty of the city that used to be known as the Florence of the Elbe , you'll be in the minority. Dresden's cultural treasures were famously and tragically all but destroyed by the February 1945 firebombing and again endangered just last summer by the flood of the century, but every time I go there it seems that there are more jewels to admire. The view of the restored Semper Opera House , palatial museum and gallery complex named the Zwinger , and the Brhl Terrace along the bank of the Elbe is stunning, especially illuminated in the evening. [ article continues... ] Ben Koschalka, lectures in English at the Fachhochshule Nordhausen in Thringen. Travel Articles on Germany Dresden and Eastern Germany Article by Ben Koschalka © 1997-2003 attitude Travel A r o u n i n m e d i a publication Professional Sites Click this icon to read a review of the website Austria | Belgium | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France Georgia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Italy | Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Malaysia | Morocco | Netherlands | Norway | Poland Russia | Serbia & Montenegro | Singapore | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Turkey | Uzbekistan home | free backgrounds | bookshop | travel centre | features | travellers' cafe